The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1903-05-21
PRIMARIES.

Are the people, the Democratic peo-
pie, to have voice in shaping their next
State platform and in selecting their
nominees?
Are these details to be left to Mr.
Foster and the little circle of the conse-
Grated?
Are we to have primaries, gentlemen
of the State Central Committee?
Don't you think it would be manly
in you to say plainly we are not, if we
are not, in order that the people might
know where you and the clique stand
and determine where they desire to
stando
Il believe an ordinary self-respect
would prompt this among fair men.
Are we absolute freebooters?
Have we no conscience at all?
Has the level of Democratic politics
sunk to the level of the politics man
ipulated by the scalawag and carpet
Dagger at the close of the civil war? If
not, are we COllttll tlldl IL olIouId tp-
pear so?"
To which the Caucasian would offer
comments in paragraphs:
The Democratic people Did we
read aright2 Harlequin, do not jest. All,
yes, the Democratic people; play on
words, misconception, an indefinite,
limitless and yet limited proposition.
Are the people to have voice in
shaping" etc, etc. Do not worry, the
machine is in tune and ready for sci
Getting their nominees
"Details and Foster Did we read
clearly? "CiBcle consecrated." All. good
Circle consecrated with the subtle ex-
tract of squeeze-em oil from the jaw
bones of the braying animal of the
desert! Who would dare oppose the
Hi Muck Muck of Louisiana, if he
chose to manipulate the details or to
'yank up, the whole machine to his no
tionsa Yes, Murphy ]. is willing, no
doubt he is ready to, unless the people.
the majority of the Democratic people
who vote, shall object in terms positive
and emphatic and will threaten to kick
the machine into splirltereens. Perhaps
before we (us1 become unpleasantly en-
tangled we (us) should surrender the
body and soul political, or fight fight
for our rights. There's the rub. But
have we lus) the Democratic people"
of Louisiana any right except the re-
served right which the machine should
respect or consider, to vote as may be
dictated by the consecrated and their.
machine?
Harlequin must be testing in its al1u-
sions to primaries. The Central Commit
tee for primaries If Murphy J. says
yes, then its primaries If he should
point down his finger then it's the old
cut and dried convention, with ali its
hxings, including the trimmings, Hail
Columbia and all the etceteras as well
as the thunderous approval of the
Democratic people for the appreciated
courtesy of permission to look on and
read on and SO on and so on. Harlequin!
Be assured the Central Committee will
do nothing rash, nothing the Demo-
cratic people would expect, until com
PEELED by action. Be assured it is
safer for their machine to be kept in
the old ruts, as, perhaps. it could not
stand the full glare of a bright MONDAY
sun. If the machine were brought into
the open field, something about it would
warp, crack or give way. But there may
be primaries If THE Democratic people
who vote will raise shoel and insist on
their positive rights regardless of the
machine, Murphy ]. and the eonse-
Grated
Don't you think Now, in all can
dor, we (us) would say that Harle-
gums allusion don't you think, etc, IS
unkind. All things are manly. to the ma
chine, and men, except the few, are as
straws in a whirlwind, but when the po-
htical rak1ng IS at stake we would wager
million against a copper cent on the
play of the Ind an dthe direction of the
rake. It would be nary one for the Dem
ocratic people who are permitted to
vote, by the consecrated. Manly, ii
would be manly Harlequin, consider Il
Butt
Are we absolute freebooterss" We
eus) freebooters, political grab-alls?
No, sir, these are the others-the feed
ers who are always hungry and never
weary OF feeding; the others who claim
70 have the tail holt and the down hill
pull but, there is some consolation in
the hope, and perhaps near realization,
that IN the pulling, the rope may break
and the machine may crush the free
hooters.