The Louisiana Democrat., 1890-09-10
GETTING PLEDGES.

The Progressive League, at it's meeting
last night, urged the voters of the State
not to make or sign at this time pledges
of how they will vote at the next ele. ton
on the lottery revenue proposition, but to
first heOr all the arguments presented by
both sides i'll the campaign which will be
carried on during the cent two years, and
then vote us they think is for the interest
and honor of Louisiana. The resolution
reads as follows:
Whereas; it is reported that certain
members of the Anii-Lottery League are
to vote with them those citizens of the
State of Louisiana who have as yet heard
only one side of this all-imp0rtaHt ques-
tioil; and, whereas, in the interest of
good government and Of all voters we he
lieye it to be % duty to protest against
such unusual and unlenocratic CON
duet be it
Resolved, That we nrge upon every vo-
ter of the State of Louisiana to preserve
his political freedom and to form his own
opinions only after mature deliberaiion
and heoring all that is to be said, to the
end that when the day of election comes
lie may 20 to the polls and vote fearlessly
and nanfully for or against the proposed
charter according to his honest and en-
lightened convictions.
This is good Democratic doctrine. The
pledges which tile Ants are now trying
to wiring from the voters are confessions
of weakness and show distrust of the
people. They are afraid to trust them,
and consequently seek to get in advance
through personal influences oil their part
or the thonghtlessness of those who sign
their papers, pledges to vote against the
lottery revenue proposition. They play
ell this trick on members of the late Leg
islature, whom they attempted to bind in
advance before the lottery matter had
been discussed, before single word pro
or con had been said about it.; and when
certain legislators found that they had
been tricked with this pledge, and that
the proposition as it came before them
was one they thought ought to be snb-
mitted to the people, the Ants denounc-
ed them in the most violent manner.
They are now trying to play the same
trick on the people. They know that the
average man is weak about signing petit
tons, pledges, etc, and that when one is
presented to him and strongly pressed
by personal friend, he far too often
signs his name or gives pledge-to re-
greet afterward that he has let himself be
entrapped and thus bound himself. The
cause is weak indeed and cOnfesseS its
weakness when it endeayors to prevent a
full discussion of any question. The
Ants are evidently afraid that full dis
cussiOn of the lottery amendment will
win over the people to it's support, and
they are, therefore, endeavOring to secure
pledge of their votes in ADVANCE
The election is two years Off. The cam
paign over this issue promises to be a
long and exhaustive one, q campaign of
arguments and facts-and these are what
the Ants are afraid of. 'sDon't listen to
arguments" they say Don't hear any
discussion at all of the proposition, but
pledge us your vote right now, before
you have heard the other side. We are
afraid that if you hear them you will not
pledge your vote, and we want your pro-
mise now.
A citizen should always reserve the
right to vote us he chooses and as he
thinks best 1t is above all mistake to
pledge himself two years ahead and sur
render his own Judgment to others. TO
those who come to him now with re-
quests for pledge, let him answer: Il
will vote according to my best Judgment,
after hearing all that both sides have to
say on this subject, and after weighing it
thoroughly. i am not giving my vote
away now as a pledge to any one. can
ia Ike care of it as well rs you. l can be
trusted to vote right and to the hest ill.,
terests of the State. will not put my
self i'll your power, or surrender myself to
you. / will give no otlfrr pledge than
this: That two years from now will vote
on the question as think best for Lou
isiana. Il -Frimes-Democrat, September I'd.