The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1903-02-28
A VIGOROUS KICK
Is MADE BY The LEADER OF
Ruston Against the Action of
Governor Heard
Turning Down the People of Lin.
coin Parish
And Filling the Vacancy in the sheriff's $
Office Before the People Could Make
Selection by Primary.

The last Issue Of the Ruson L. ad :
er, In commenting on the Govern-
or's action in appointing a man TO
bill tue vacancy IN the sheriff's uffice
over the expressed wish of the
people to choose him by primary,
said:
"The peremptory action of Gov
ernor Heard in rushing the appoint
ment of sheriff in this parish in
utter disregard Of tbe action of the
Democratic Executive Committee,
was ill.advised, to say the least,
and, coming as il did, afte: the sit
uatlon had been cbeerfuFy accepted
and indorsed By those concerned, 1t
is viewed IN the light of an uncalled
tor reflection on the integrity of the
committee, which is strictly a rep
reseDtatiye Democratic body, and
consider at best II was no more nor
less than an unqualified turn down
Of the Democracy of Lincoln parish,
amoug whom are numbered some of
his staunchest friends and admirers
in he State. We feel that they had
cause to expect better treatment at
the hands of the chief executive,
especially as the committee was
prompted in calling the primary
election to guide them IN their rec
concentrations by the expressed
wish of the majority Of the Demo
Gratis of the parish, at least nIne
out of every ten publicly favorlng
this procedure.
Immediately after the death of
Sheriff Finley the question of ap-
pointing his successor was agitated,
a number Of prominent Democrats
expressing a determination to enter
the field as candidates for the place,
but learning au:horitatlvely that 1t
was the intention ofthe governor TO
20 slow and use deliberatlon In
making this appointment, the COM
mlttee permitted the matter to rest,
until Mr.. w. F. Ashley, chairman
of the committee, who resides in
Baton Rouge and is IN touch with
the executive department. issued his
call for meeting of the committee
for February 9th. In the mean
time public inte est vas aroused
and the impression conveyed to the
commsttee that msjorty of the
people would prefer primary elec.
tor, and to avoid the consequences
of previous trror under similar
circumstances. and to MAINTAIN har.
mony at time when i. is so much
desired, the commilt,e e bowed TO the
will Of their constituents, and, when
the meeting was convened, Z out OF
the members voted for primary
election, notwitEsta' ding the fact
it was lntlmated that the governor
dlsapproved of the plan and would
prefer a direct Endorsement of the
committee for his guidance in max
ing the appointment. Accordingly
the primary was called; not to
hamper the governor by it's action,
but to guide the committee Alright
IN it's recommendations, the only
concession asked al the hands of
Gov. Heard was that he patiently
withhold action in the matter until
the committee should test the SEN
timent of the Democrats of the par
isb as to their choice of a successor
to Mr.. Finley. The delay was only
a matter of a week or ten days,
with no cost to the State or parish.
This action met with unqualified
approval of all concerned, and
promised harmony ard satisfaction.
the aspiranls falling into line; two
of ihem-one of which was the
present appolntee-a announcing thell
candidacy through the columns Of
the Leader. the organ of the Dem
ocracy of the parish.
| However, just as soon as lnfor
nation was conveyed to the gov
ernor Of the action Of the commr
tee, he wired the following tele
fgram to Mr.. w. F. Ashley, chair
man OF the committee, then in Rus
ton:
Baton Rouge, La, Feb. 10, 1908.
Mr.. w. F. Ashley, Ruston, La:
Your committee was without author
ity, and, so far as / am informed
without precedent, in ordering spec