The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-04-23
POPULAR GOVERNMENTS IN LOUISE

A popular election I'm Louisiana Is al
ways more or less a sensational event,
and. although IL Is one or the border
States of the Union and very remote
frcm the center OF population. its cleo
tons generally attract unusual atten-
ton. This is largely due to the peculiar
ra % conditions which exist there. to the
large foreign element. to the
character OF the, population and to the
fact that New Orleans las long been the
most ring-ridden and worst governed
cit.y In the country. There Is only one
thing lacking to Louisiana elections to
make them quite like elections In France
or Mexico. and that is to hold them on
Sunday There has not been a fair and
honest election in the State since the
wal. and probably there never will be.
The election of Tuesday was for Gov
ernor and State officers. Legislature, par
ish and local officers. and municipal Off
GERS in New Orleans and a few OF the
larger towns There were two State
tickets in the field, straight Democrat
ard Fusion. the latter being a combina-
ton of all The elements opposed to the
Democracy. The Fusion ticket was
named by. three separate conventions
the National Republican, the Regular
Republican and the Popuiists. OF the
candidates on this ticket five were Re-
publicsns and two were Populists. The
five Republicans were members of the
sugar planter element Of the party
x-ls~l 80, o,-a Il, 1909 tho Daorflor nr
old-tIme, Republicans. modestly content
ing themselves with indorsing the ticket
without asking for a single representa-
tive OF it. In accepting the nomination
for Governor, Pharr, the Fusion candi-
date. had to send three letters of ac-
c%eptance, one to each of the three par
ties dominating him. The Democratic
ticket was headed by Governor Foster,
who stood for reelection. 1t was the
field against the Democratic party. and
the latter seems to have won. AS the
election machinery of the State was al
most entirely in the hands Of the Gov
ernor. it would have been very difficult
to beat him by any combination. In
louisiana the result of an election de-
ponds on the votes that are counted more
than on those which are cast.
The ght in New Orleans was a nom
partisan battle for honest city govern
mens. The present city administration
had proved utterly corrupt. Ten city
councilmen have been indicted for brib-
cry and four are now in the pe%nitentiary.
Other gross frauds had been unearthed
by grand jury Investigations. To over
throw the ring a Citizens League was
formed, which reached a membership Of
Republicans, white and black. The
movement was successful and the re-
form ticket was elected. The Warmoth
wing Of the Republican party in New
Orleans favored the reform ticket, while
the Kellogg wing opposed it. The de-
feat of the ring. therefore, includes that
of Ex-Governor Kellogg, which no friend
of honest politics or good government
should regret. The result in New Or
leans is. distinctly a reform victory.
Besides these elections the people vot-
ed on about twenty amendments to the
Constitution. making important changes
in the judiciary, the public school sys-
tenn. the executive departments of the
State government. etc. These various
amendments practically gave the State
a new Constitution, without calling a
convention. A suffrage amendment sub
stituted limited for universal suffrage,
giving the ballot only to those who can
read and write or are possessed of two
hundred dollars worth Of property. This
provision will d~isfranchise about eighty
five thousand negro voters n five thou
sand whites. The Republicans and Pop
ulists declared against and the Demo-
Gratis In favor OF it, If adopted, as it
probably was. 1t will insure the perma-
nent ascendency of the Democratic
party in the State. Altogether, popular
government in Louisiana is a good deal
of a farce.