The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1902-11-29
THAT EZECION Lar

That The Gazette notes the favor
able comment elected by it,
editorial of Nov. 8, relative to the
election law. Last week we gave
the names of papers which ad
vocate a repeal of that law anG
quoted the pertinent and timely
remarks of the Farmerville Ga
zette. In the last issue of the
Abbeville Meridional, DR.. G. J.
Edwards. the level-headed and
fOrceful ditor of that journ al
presents the following sound ar.
gument against the present cleo.
ton law:
If the Democratic party in the State OF
Louisiana IS l." maintain its political ascen-
dancy and continue to exist in the hearts
and affections of her people it must repeal in
toto the present abomination in the shape of
the election law. The political exigencies
which justified its creation nd operation no
longer exist. The Constitution of 1898 has
male the white man supreme in politics in
Louisiana for all time to come.
That being the case it is mockery,
haliow sham, to tender the white man who
has successfully the gauntlet of the
registration Office and the poll tax law, a
ballot which he does not understand and
which he cannot vote intelligently. The
slim vote cast at the last election on the
amendments is proof positive of the calling
restraint of the cumbersome election ma
chinery of the present law.
Abolish the " hole thing. The Australian
ballot is Il fraud operated in this State.
Nay more. it should cause every honest man
to blush when he reads of the many voters
who have been robbed of the right Of suf-
frage by reason of the ''spoileL BALLOT
Let us return TO the old system of free
election tickets and a secret ballot. Let
every man run for Office who DESIRES Let
run on as many tickets as he chooses. Let
The man who is not as as a Phiadef !
ohia lawyer, take his tickle, to his home or !
o quiet spot, study it carefully and then
make it out to suit his views, carry II to the
'ox and drop 1t in. It will then represent
he solemn and deliberate expression of his
Will. IT he is entitled by law and cannot
TX his ticket alone and unaided, why he can
hen call i'll a trusted friend. In this parish
here are hundreds of good men who cannot
ote untrameiled under the present law and
hey feel no interest in the elections. In
he primaries when all the red tape was alb
ent they turned out and voted. When
hey must vote like automatons they STAY at
ONE, and the mserably small vote cast at
ne last election shows how little they care
bout voting for an elephant or a rooster. I
. him the election is personal affair. 1t
the men that he desires to vote for-not
n emblem.
The suffrage law affords all the !
rejection necessary against the
egro vote. The con stitution of 1
1913 effectively disposes of the 4
lack man as political factor. :
he registration law, intelligently
lterpreted and honestly en- 7
breed. is all that is needed to
lake white supremacy a perma-
ent and enduring condition. y
hen that is assured there is n
either reason nor justice to v
srras the white voter with a
'ries of mystifying restrictions. Y
In its issue of last Tuesday =
ne Picayune gives a colu mn of y
editorial space to the discus g
On Ct the election law The n
cayune says: n
Several of the Democratic newspapers oe e
asiana, under the lead of the Lafayette u
.ette, are attacking the State election law.
he idea upon which they proceed is that IL
law contains so many details and re- q
res SO many for alties that it repel citi- =
s and disgusts them with the entire bust u u
r., , OF
The alleged Australian ballot that has A
n adopted in the State intended to ct
'pel the voter to accept the entire ticket -;
is supposed TO represent his party, and e.
is done by marking the emblem at the ~
d of it, The ostensble id ca wa; that as
~ persons are illterate and unable TO
Up the various names on the ticket the
Guilty could be got over by stamping the
ter or the elephant which stands at the
| as the party emblem. The voter, Su
n he goes into the stall Or cell at the tn
; to mark his ticket. is given only three m
ltes, which is short time for a man ~,
thinks slowly, is not accustomed to
rapidly and with decision, or who is W.
cred nervous by the peculiarly of his 81
lion 10 fix up his ballot, and if he is TO los
at all he must stamp the party emblem We
thereby swallow every Objectionable q ~
idate on the ticket. This was the real O.
ct of the law.
is mnch TO be doubled however IF ,h., -