The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1898-07-23
RA/ZR DAD COMMISSION

| The Gazette is pleased to publish
the following communication. 1t
covers the whole matter so thorough
ly and it is SO full Of good, sound
common sense that we will not at
tempt to add single word to it..
Suffice to say that it has our entire
endorsements:
To The lafayette Gazette:
The time has arrived for the peo-
pie of this railroad commission dis
triCt to consider what steps shall be
taken to secure the nomination of a
suitable candidate for this most i'm
portant office. The people all over
the State have hailed with delight
the constitution of i board Of con-
| troll as it were over the railroad cor
porations and it now remains for
the popular will to decide the gravest
and most important phase of the
problem, i. G., the selection Of
good, substantial men to carry out
the objects of the law, creating the
commission. If the people do not
attend to this matter others whose
interests are vitality affected will I'M
doubtedly seize the opportunity to
elect men who are subservient to
| their wishes and selfish purposes.
If the writer understands Alright the
sentiment Of the people on this sub
ject, it is that while the commission
shall protect the State against I'M
just determinations, and corporate
greed, yet due regard shall be had
for the vast capital invested in these
various concerns. Nothing should
be done to discourage the material
development of the State. Here
plainly arises a necessity for body
of men strong in character, clear in
judgment and sufficiently broad
minded to deal fairly and justly in
executing the provisions of the law
| entrusted to it's care.
Such men are not to be found so
| easily as one would suppose and
| this difficulty will no doubt confront
the people in all three districts
| The men who are able to withstand
the willy diplomacy Of corporate in
situations, protect the interests Of
the people, and deal even-handed
justice to all concerned, are not to
be found every day. True there are
many who possess honesty and in
| tegrity Of character but these excel
lent qualities must be supp!e1n entcd
by ability to grasp a most Conpli-
Gated problem, and familiarity with
the workings of these great corpo-
rations to insure faithful and intel
ligcnt performance Of duty. I.afa-
yette parish possesses man who
has all the qualifications for this
office and whose sterling character
commands the respect Of our en-
tire people-Capt. J. G. Buchanan.
If the peop'e of this district desire
a man in whom implicit reliance
may be placed, they have him in
the person of Capt. Buchanan. The
captain represented the parish for
several years on the State Board OF
Assessments for Railroads and his
knowledge Of railroad business en-
abled him to protect the interest of
the State in a most creditable man
ner. The writer knows not whether
Capt. Buchanan would accept the
nomination, but feels confident that
no better selection could be made
if the people want competent and
efficient representative on the board
Of railroad comm ssioners. Let the
public deliberate upon this most
vital question and see that the
proper men are selected to carry
out the intent Of the law.
CITIZEN.