The Louisiana populist., 1895-08-16
SHREVEPORT, La, Aug. 6, '95.

| SldiI iildu "A. ID. DOOln cdlleU tnS
State Central Committee of thu
Peoples party to order at o'cloci
p. m., with Secretary H. l.. Brian
at the desk. A roll call showed 81
parishes represented, and quo
rum present.
On motion, r. w. George, OF
Caddo, was appointed Sergeant "a
arms.
Reports from the various par
ishes as to the growth of POpulism
was called for and given, and same
was very gratifying.
On motion of w. j. O'Neal, the
chairman was authorized to ap-
point Campaign Executive Com
mittee of 6 members, to include
himself as ex-officio chairman said
committee to take charge of the
campaign and report to the next
meeting of this body. The COM
mittee was appointed as follows:
1st District, r. d. Wilde; End,
A. B. Booth; 3rd, l. j. Mills; 4th,
E. c. Dillon; 5th, j. w. McFar-
land, and Hon. A. Benoit; 9th, j.
T. Howell.
On motion, adjourned to 10
o'clock a. m. Wednesday.
Wednesday, 10 o'clock a. m.
Committee called to order by
Chairman Booth, and roll call
showed 35 members present.
An address to be issued to the
people of the State, was read by
chairman Booth. After discussion
by j. T. Howell and others, on
motion, it was referred to a special
committee of five which the chair
appointed, as followe: T. j. Gulce,
j. w. Mcfarland, j. T. Howell,
j. A. Tets and Maj. NJ. r. Viii
son.
The committee on address re-
ported the following:
Whereas. it is notoriously true that
so far as obtaining any expression of
hn xxy,l1 ~ ha - fhn
fact that ballot box stuffiing, false count
ing and fraudulent returns are the
means used by the faction now in pow
er, calling themselves Democrats
And whereas, this condition of damn
able corruption is the stock in trade of
the most corrupt of the politicians and |
place hunters. who use the cry of white |
supremacy and negro domination to |
scare and cOerce our people into sub
mission;
And whereas. it is notoriously true
that the greatest strength of the cor.
ruptionists of the faction now in power
in this State, is in what is known as the |
Black Belt where they have so outrag-
ed suffrage as to count negro votes |
which were never cast nor ever existed |
in the case OF the late Con-
gressional election in the Fifth District
of this State, in which in the parish of |
Madison where there is a registered
vote of 1,038. a vote of 5J was return
ed for Benoit, (Pop). against a vote of
over 100 returned for BOatner, Dem).
a clear manufacture of ficti-
tious vote of over 800, further, so high
an authority as State Senator G.. w.
and others state on oath
that the rule in the black parishes is to
count the negro-not to vote him-thus
over-ruling and defeating large white
majorities in other parishes;
And whereas, it is degrading to the
last degree for our people to submit to
this condition of affairs-a condition
which none but the craven and the cow
ard can tolerate.
Therefore, we call upon the good
people of Louisiana to proceed at once
in forming such compact organization
as will prevent such outrages of their
rights of suffrage. for which no excuse
ran be offered. An exercise of the man
hood necessary to protect the sacred
rights of suffrage.
We call upon the people to actively
Ind Zealously continue their work of
and enrolment with the
A III oOtcA Oub OIl Tic
lay of the next election all over the
State, and go to the polls prepared to ,
'tay during the voting and the counting,
Ind with the open and avowed purpose
'f establishing the right of the people
% hold peaceful, fair, free and honest s
election to obtain an expression of the
will of the majority work in which
10 citizen is too rich or too poor to en-
'age. and to stand side by side in de-
ence of.
We do not believe our people are
uch towards, even in the submission :.
which they are now under, as to per- I
nit themselves to be further degraded
y the domination of the tools, thugs !
nd desperadoes, employed by those
vho care only to possess themselves of i,
he spoiIs of Office and care naught for |
he interest OF the people, and the well G
are of society.
And finally, we call upon the people >
q every ward in the State to proceed
nth tho enrolment of all men, who
Al -