The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1902-08-16
Primary Elections Ordered.
The Committee Fixes the Date for
September lIth.


~.
Opelousas, La, Aug. 12.-The 7th
Congressional district Democratic
committee met here to-day, and Ge-
clared unanimously for n primary to
nominate a candidate for Congress in
the new district.
There was a conference in MIR. Du-
buisson's Office to discuss the primary
proposition, and it was manifest that
the majority favored it. Thosefavor-
ing the convention plan were Messrs.
Dubuisson, Pugh, Teal and Couvil-
lion. Judge Couvillion favored plu-
rality primary, and failing that, a
convention.
At present there are Ave candidates
in the field-Hon. William Polk and
Judge W. F. Blackman, OF Rapides;
Hon. A. p. Pujo and Captain Norris,
of Calcasieu, and Hon. r. Lee Gar
land, of st. Landry. All are here, ex-
cept Captain Norris, who is not re-
garded as a contender. Those here
have not let the grass grow under
their feet. While the committee was
in session and considering minor de-
tails, the visiting candidates were out
hustling among the local people.
The amusing feature of the contest
is the two candidates from Rapides.
Several times to-day the two were
seen from the courthouse window
with their heads together, but they
are still in the field and may kill off
each Others chances. If one of the
Rapides candidates would come down
it would improve the Others chances
greatly.
i Therehas been some talk about one
or another OF the candidates having
| the backing of the administration,
but they all seem to agree that that
| not one of them can boast of such a
leverage. 1t looks as If it will be an
open free-fer-nll race, and the best
hustler will win out. All OF the gen.
tlemen have the esteem and respect
OF the people not only Of the seventh
district, but of the whole State. Three
Of them are young men. but they are
possessed Of that force and ability
which indicates future success. Judge
Blackman is an old campaigner. well
known from one end OF the State to
the other, and is on the bench.
August 25th is the date in which
candidates may file their announce
n,ents with the district committee.
The meeting of the committee was
harmonious throughout. When the
committee met every member was
present, as follows: DR.. E. +. Smart,
of Vernon, at large; f. B. Dubuisson,
OF st. Landry; ]. E. Pavell, of Came
ron; P.S. Bugh, of ofAcadia; J. c: Black
man of Rapides, proxy for J.C. Wise;
C. H. Teal, OF Grant; G. H. Couvillion,
of Avoyelles; j. Moore, of Calcasieu;
W. H. Smart, Of Vernon.
The committee organized by the
election of DR.. Smart as chairman
and Mr.. Dubuisson, secretary.
The first matter was the preeenta.
tion OF set of resolutions by Mr.
Moore, designed to coverall the ques.
tions pertaining to the nomination o.
a candidate. The whole time of the
committee was taken up in dressing
these up to meet all views.
The discussion was on the qualifica
tions of the voter in the primary
As originally drawn, the resolution
provided simply that any registered
voter who was a Democratcould par
1 ticipate. There the law was market
and it was made plain that the same
qualifications governed in a primary
assin a regular election. That section
/ (No. A. was fixed accordingly.
The next question was overthe pol
tax. 1t was whether the sheriff coult
be compelled to furnish the lists il
L