The Louisiana populist. [volume] (Natchitoches, Natchitoches Parish, La.) 1894-1898, 1895-01-11

has preached his doctrines all over
the South, but said yesterday that
he was not working up ballot re-
form for political purposes, as all
men of all political faiths are in
vited to take part in the cOnven-
ton. He wants to see the day, he
says. when it will be disgrace and
a crime against the law for n man
to stuff a ballOt-bOx. He desires
to see an organization made so
complete that investigations will
be conducted and men prosecuted
who carry on fraudulent elections.
The populite orator and organi-
zer lives in Montgomery, Ala. He
is highly esteemed there by all par
ties for his work in the interest of
honest elections.
The convention which is to be
held here will last two days. Gov
enOr Foster is to be invited to
speak, and other prominent men
will be present to take part in the
proceedings.
Speaking to a reporter on the
subject Mr.. Manning said:
81 expect to see between 400 and
800 persons at the convention; Ala
bama alone will send 100, and the
whole affair will be big success.
I am confident that to the southern
man an honest election is of para
mount Importance. If you 90
North to try and induce emigration
or in some cases to induce eveL
transient visits just to show our
northern friends what a glorious
country we have, yOu are met with
the answer that they don't feel
like coming here orraccOunt of the
political intolerance that prevails.
This is true, and any hOuest man,
if he wants to, will admit it. This
intolerance extends to the annull.
ing of the votes of some of the men
that have fought and bled for the
south, and the vote of the old "vet'
is frequently substituted by the
ballot Of some nigger or other per
son who has no electoral rig hs
This sort of thing tends to perpe
trate an oligarchy in power. Te
the end that might become post
ed on the subject of ballot reform ]
have given the subject the closest
attention, and within the last five
months / have interviewed some OF
the leading Democrats, Republi.
cans and Populists in the South,
They all think that the time has
come for solving of the vexed
question of ballot reform. They
think that this is due. to the peO-
pie, and so it has been arranged
that there shall be a general con-
ference. There will be delegates
from Virginia, North Carolina,
South Carolina, Georgia, Tennes,
see, Alabama, Arkansas, Missis-
sippi and Louisiana. Among the
speakers that will address the con-
ference will be Marion Butler,
General: Fields and Mr.. Settle.
Governor Henry Clay Evans OF
Tennessee; A. s. Collier, Frank
Burkett and many other proml-
mont men will be on hand at the
time the convention comes round,
for all these men are in favor of
our movement. Governor KOlb
will attend the meeting. as well as
Mayor Van Hoose: of Birmingham,
and W. s. Reese, whom we claim
was rightfully elected United
States Senator, will be there too.
We shall elect an executive COM
mittee, which will organize and
declare the purpose of the league.
Ex- Governor Smith, of Alabama,
will come to the meeting, l am
sure if his time will permit. There
will be both day and evening ses-
siOns held of the convention, and
we expect to get through a great
deal of work.
"If the leagne is organized on
the lines that l think it will be,
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