The weekly Thibodaux sentinel. [volume] (Thibodaux, La.) 1898-1905, 1903-10-31
Col. B. F. Jonas in The Race
! For The Senate. &

| Col. B. F. Jonas, of New Orleans,
who represented Louisiana in the
Senate several years ago, has recently
entered the race with the St. Mary
statesman for Senatorial honors and
has addressed the following letter to
the voters:
To the White Democratic Voters of
Louisiana: AT the urgent solicitation
Of many friends in all sections of the
State, have determined to be a can
didate at the approaching primary
election for the United States Senate.
| enter upon the candidacy because
| believe that the people in ordering
this primary election had for their
sole purpose to give an opportunity
TO the white Democratic voters Of the
State to select their own candidates
by their own votes, free from the
dictation, control and machine modes
OF rings and bosses, either IN New
Orleans or the country parishes.
Long suffering from packed con
ventions and official dictatiOn. they
have arisen in protest against sucn
methods as have prevailed for the
last ten years, and have plsinly indi
Gated that they will tolerate them no
longer.
In face Of this popular expression,
1t seems that an attempt is being
male, in the same old quarters, to
form combinations, and to effect Or
ganizatiOns, TO narrow the field of
contest, aud to force the voters il
possible to accept a selected ticket
made in the old style 50 familiar Ia
our latter day conventions.
In maklig. thus tteRmtut intend
tuo-renctli06 -olf IN eandsSxtes 16~
before the people, and indeed the two
distinguished candidates for Governor
have declared their entire indepen-
dence Of combination or pledges,
which assurances fully accept; yet
combination tickets have been indor-
sed, and pledges have been made,
even antedating the final call for the
primary election.
submit my candidacy as protest
at least, against this matchmaking,
and the unanimity with which, it is
being served up to the public. and
will elaborate my objections before
the Democratic voters of the State.
In national politics my record is
pretty we'll known to the people OF
Louisiana.
have ever been a supporter OF
Democratic principles and candidates,
and have addressed the people ir
their support in nearly every parish
of the State and every ward in The
city.
/ have done this in the days wher
machine nominations were unknown
when political methods had not beer
borrowed from the Republicans, bu
when we were compelled to fight sucl
methods, then used against us. by !
powerful aud unscrupulOus enemy
assisted by the Federal Government
its courts and bayonets.
| had the honor to serve you in tn
Senate when we first gained our poll
tical freedom at home, and whel
every debate called for the defense o
our people until the Democratic Par.
ty, during the time Of my service
succeeded in emancipating the SOutl
ern people from the last remains G
Federal political control.
When in 1879 the leading Demo
cratic citizens of the Parishes of Gao
do, Tensas and Natchltoches were in
Quoted in the United States C,rcu'
Court for alleged political offense
and were brought to trial in New Or
leans. l not only defended them o
the floor of the Senate, but left m
seat and acted as volunteer counst
for the defendants before the Court.
During my whole service in tn
Senate, l faithfully defended a
Louisiana interests, especially thos
, OF Sugar and rice, and successful
(as the record will show in lSS;
. when the former interest was threa
tened with destruction in Repul
lican House, and saved IN the Senate
On this occasion, l succeeded i
securing the support and cooperate
of every Democratic Senator.
l took leading part in preventln
the ratification of Secretary Blaine
Mexican Reciprocity Treaty, and COZ
Quoted the debate at the request {
my colleague, Gener"l Gibson.
: opposed all socalled reciprocit
8 treaties, and, if elected, shall continr
so to do, and shall also oppose q
the trusts and combinations viii,
H. o., nnptrol nAunt ION on