The Lafayette gazette., 1902-05-31
OPPOSED TO vENTREss ACT.
Gov. Heard Makes Staten ent
Relative to- the Proposed
Amendment

NSbAdlNS tS tHS PROPOSED
Amendment
Gov. Heard gave out the fol.
lowing statement relative to the
proposed amendment to article
63 of the constitution, opposing
the VentreSS act. The Cover.
nOr'S statement follows:
L am reluctant to press my
views upon the Legislature in
case of an amendment with re-
Spect to which that body has ex.
elusive jurisdiction SO far as sub,
mission to the vote of the people
goes. But in order that my own
attitude may not be misunder-
stood I wish to say, in all candOr,
that L am opposed to the prin-
ciple enunciated in Mr.. NentreSs
proposition.
This opinion has not been
formed as Il result of anything
that has occurred since the in
PRODUCTION of the amendment. 1t
is of long standing, the result of
deep-rOOted conviction, and
have held it since, as [ held it
before, article 63 was put into
Ulle constitution.
TO my mind. no wiser or
more beneticent provision is con
tanned in the new constitution
than that which limits the GU
bernatOrial succession. The ma
terial interests of the State, the
eff ciency of our government and
the future welfare of the Demo-
cratic party alike require it's
retention.
Il am not inSensible to the
praise which has been extended
to this administration, and am
deeply grateful for the many ex-
preSSiOnS of confidence which
have come to me since the intro
of the amendment. But
if my administration has been
thus far the success it is repre-
Sented to be. that success, in my
opinion, is largely due to the
influence of article
63. The limitation on success
sion makes the executive free to
act independently, responsible
alone to his conscience and his
honest Judgment, and safe from
of selfish interest.
no intention to build up Il
personal following to advance
his own political fortunes, he is
fired with an ambition
to give the discharge Of his high
duties all the zeal, energy, ex-
perience and intelligence he pos
SesseS in behalf of the upbuild-
ing of the commonwealth and the
improvement of the public ser
vice, while at the same time he
is in position to preserve the
integrity of his party, broaden
its harmony and enlarge its in
tiuence. To change a provision
of the constitution which makes
possible the attainment of these
ends would, it seems to me, be
both a political and an ecOnOmi-
cal error.
when [ was elected to this Of
flee it was with a full knowledge
of the limitation imposed upon
the tenure. Even if [ did not
now entertain strong opinions on
the subject [ should still feel re-
solutely opposed to any action at
this session which would APP
pear to violate the pledge i'm
piled in the last election. that at
least during one administration
the article should operate. or
might seem to me the beneficiary
of the legislation.
Under these circum stances,
L feel that the passage of the
resolution offered by Mr.. Vent
reSS would subject the present
administration to the imputatiOn
OF motives from which it is now
free, and [ therefore sincerely
hope that its friends will so act
as to spare it this ON barrasS-
ment.
The St te's Industrial Schools.
Daily States.
The two Industrial Institutes
provided fOr and maintained by
the State have been holding their
commencement exercises during
the week just ended. The Rus
ton Industrial School has been
in operation several years. and
it's work has been eminently sue
cesSful, commencing itself to the
patrons of the school and filling
Il need which has long been
keen1y felt in tnat section of the
State. 1t has done great things
for North Louisiana in quicken