The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1896-04-18
Politics Getting Interesting.
PINE FLAT, April ii, 1896.


Editor Colfar Chronicle:
The people Of the hills, and especially
those along the II. O., A. 4 N. railroad
who are engaged in the mill and logging
business, have lately become greatly in.
terested in the political questions of the
hour. The barbecue and speaking at
Pollock on the 4th has set everybody
agog with more or less enthusiasm for
their pet theories and candidates. One
thing that it seems 10 have taught our
people is that principles should weigh
more with them than men. This is a
lesson that every American citizen should
learn well, for onrs is government
where parties rule, and all independent
| action is mere folly and waste OF time
and opportunity.
The regular Democratic ticket will
carry the day by long odds at most of
the mills, although the clerkship will be
| accorded to the present incumbent by
third OF them ii some change is not made,
and this with the large negro vote he is
said to control will make him the hardest
man to beat on the opposition ticket, al
though there are active forces at work
which will take votes from HIM ON both
sides OF the parish, and his election is by
no means sure.
The late controversy, which is believed
by many to have been opened by himself,
as to the consistency and responsibility
OF the clerk. has opened the eyes of many
former friends to his insincerlty and dis
position to make capital at the expense
of people more innocent than himself.
His denial of being the author of the
torrent of abuse heaped on various people
nv "a 10 fxryf,x y<al~e
ed as exceedingly thin, in view of the
absence of the reputed editor. and
Shackelford assuming the authority To
nail up the door of the office when in |
formed that the paper was going to come |
out contrary to his wishes. Also the |
matter OF lost records that have iisap- |
peared from the clerks office, and for |
which he alone was responsible, has not |
been at all satisfactorily explained. Then
his double dealing on the railroad tax
question is especially obnoxious, for there
is no denying that no belonged to the
anti-railroad committee and told the hill
people he was doing all he could in on
position to the tax, while in the bottoms
and among the negroes he secretly work.
ed for it and openly winked at every.
hing that was done to carry it
The hill people have been greatly
amused and edited at the predicament
that j. L. Wallace, our candidate fur
Senator, put Parson Patten in last week
1t Bruce's mill. Wallace propossd to
Drove that Patten was not Jeffersopian
Democrat, as he claimed to be, and he
to leave the decision to his on
,onent, Patten, who was present. After
Wallace made his statement and arpu-
nent Patten declined to render his Do
ision, and of course the laugh was
gainst him, especially as he failed alto
ether to speak after telling some of his
riends that he would probably do 30.
The judge and district attorney and
herif are pretty solid, and the represent
alive has also grown greatly in strength
q the last two or three weeks. This
hows the Importance of getting ont
mong the people. Two weeks ago Mr..
Williams would hardly have got half of !
ne railroad vote, but since his visits to |
his section he will get fully tw,.thir1s J
| it. Tho fact is, / believe our people
8 rule will vote the Democratic ticket e
traight. They have become very tired e
the whining OF these so-called refor- =
hers. whose only reforms consist in land q
,g themselves in Office.
Tho speaking at Pollock on the 4th 3
id power Of good in this region, in
citing the people right on many sub.
cts the Pops had misIed them on, and :
as about doubled the strength Of the
tate ticket with our people. Nothing 9
Ike little argument and discussion by
'nsible men to put the masses on the I
gtt track Success to the whole ticket 1
the sincere wish of yours truly, Ii
RosIH De Bow.