The Progress. (Shreveport, La.) 1892-1900, 1894-09-22
NEXT CONGRESSMAN.
JUDGE J. T. WATKINS

Nindep, La, Sept. 10 Special to
Picavune 10 crowded court
house to-day Judge J. I. Watkins
announced himself as a candidate
for Congress. The following is
synopsis Of his remarks:
How I came to be q candidate? In
nv absence at Amits City, my name
appeared in the daily press, without
nv knowledge or consent. 1t came
through my friends. On my return
thew insisted that I should make the
race. Thursday some of the best and
purest men of my parish demanded
an answer. 1t was left with them.
Their decision was that l should
make the race. Only two OF us are
in the campaign. It is not to Dc
personal campaign of bitterness but
a friendly contest. I regret that a
correspondent from this place saw III
to open the campaign by throwing a
slur at some of my friends-J. u.
Mcintyre, J. NJ. Miller, }. +. HILL
and Others good men. II some OF
them are merchants so are some OF
Mr.. Ogdsn's strongest hackers ike
Mr. Sam Benjamin, and other large
merchants of our sister city OF
Shreveport. If some of them have
been in politics, so have some OF his
t strongest supporters, like the expert
: enced politician and able tactlclan'
DR.. p. J. Trezevant. His friends
, urge against me that my profession
is that of a lawyer. 1t seems lncred''
:, bic that this issue should be made
! since Col. W. H. Wise, the Learned
and elegant orator, the able and ex
perlenced attorney for the '. s, q L
y and r. & P. r. r. Companies, is tax
. ing such an active part in his cam
10 paign. But it is urged in his favo
that he is farmer. It is true tina
rs he has a plantation on Red river, bn
$ the idea of his pressing upon tn
y blow handles is amusing. There
III not man in this State who has bee
more actively engaged in polite
ly than Hon. H. W. Ogden. He is
good one, and as clever and genial {
es the most expert politicians get to b
7 like to see man take an 1ntere
to and become expert in his chosen pr
on fession. and there is no one man +
whom l have greater admiration
t;o a politician than I have for Hon.
,ra W. Ogden, my friend and my wortl
in opponent. Why did my friends !
,tv sist on my making the race? In tt
~ first place, in every important pub
issue which has arisen [ have alwa
a. taken the side of the masses agar
" the classes. One of my first acts as
,' lawyer was to petition congress to Il
'no felt the land grant to the V. S. and
R:R. Company. When the great
ap- sue was raised between the people
sec the one side and lottery on the 9th
I fought the lottery iniquity in CO
tate mon with other good people with
my might and strength. By this
in do not mean to state that good 2
It of ple were not on the other side. l
a mark of a fanatic to brand ev
ross man wrong who disagrees with b
When the great Democratic p;
was about to nominate its stands
bearer for president l openly oppo
~ Al the nomination of President Gle
land, b cause he was opposed to
when free coinage of silver. After his n
nation, as a consistent Democr
the did what l could towards bis elec'
While am a Democrat, and l an
sees factionist, I believe l am fair
have the reputation OF being cor
owl, yative. These are some OF the
sons which caused my nomlDa
no' Should / be nominated, [ will enc
"D' or to serve you faithfully. shoul'
choice fall upon my opponent, bf
sur receive my most cordial and h'
!, po,' support.
u tne There is another reason whlc
duced me to make the race. !
ne OF lieved that as a known friend Of
far rs laboring man it would bt
'tion's my power to persuade them froI
ing off with the Peoples party
meat 1t was certain that they '
oo,oo to nv support these men I