The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1903-12-19
Reply to "a VOter.''

vertiser of the issue of December Is, undel
the sgnainre of "A Voter" IS proof OF
, the faith that is in him. urges several COM
plants against the present administr alton,
which may he summarized as follows:
! 1t is charged that the administration OF
/ the public business has been careless and
extravagant.
He says the contributions to the cause OF
, public education have not been in proportion
| to the public revenues.
He urges that the assessment is not pro-
periy taken, as shown by proceedings of the
/ police jury under resolution by Mr.. Landry,
which provides that hereafter the assess
ment will be re eCted unless taken toy
deputies as directed by law.
He says the committee appointed by tn.
police jury could not make a final settle
ment with the sheriff owing to his failure to
publish the delinquent lists required by
law.
He charges that the administration is re-
sponsible for the enactment of laws and con-
maintaining white supremacy, and thereby
DISTINGUISHING a large number of the best
white men of the State.
He further charges that the Broussard-
Scranton faction stands for the perpetuatt,n
of the appointive power of the Governor,
and the return to the system of conventions.
As a conclusion to his letter. it is prom
ised that if elected the VOORHEES, Lacoste
faction will remedy all these evils which
charged against the Broussar / ScranSpn fac
ton. called the administration.
The first charge needs no reply as it is
nowhere pointed out where there has been
a wasteful expenditure of the public funds.
There is no proof for the second charge
that the administration has not contributed
to the cause of public education in proper
ton to the public revenues. Ga the con-
trary, the political history of this parish,
from the time the Broussard faction went
into power. disPoses absolutely this baseless
assertion.
1t is known fact that before 1888 when
power with the Nichols administrator
that there were about FIVE white schools in
the parish, although there were a large
number of negro schools scattered every
where. More than this, there was not
line of record in the public archives showing
what had been done with the school funds.
when the administration took affairs in hand.
The cause of public education blank
in the parish of Lafayette. Not five years
after the advent of the Broussard faction in
paroc HAL affairs the white public schools had
increased from about five to thirty in num-
ber which increasing public Interest finally
resulted in the establishment of the Indus
trial Institute here, placing Lafayette parish
IN the foremost ranks of progressive and en-
lightened communities.
AS to the complaint that the police jury
refused to accept the assessment rolls un-
less taken from house TO house. will
direct the attention of "a VOTER to the
fact that the resolution adopted to that eff
feet was offered by Mr.. Landry, who was
appointed upon the recommends ton of the
Broussard faction. This should convince
in the Broussard faction, which is always
ready to correct evils in the public
service.
AS to the complaint that the committee of
the police jury could not settle with the
sheriff owing to the non pu blication OF the
delinquent lists, there is nothing in it,
the lists have been duly published and
full settlement made with the State. the
.irh he v;ch I>>>
made for the simple reason that the police
jury did not hold its regular session this
month.
Evidently these facts have escaped the
attention Of "a Voter,' as many other
public facts patent to the eye of all those
who are not determined not to see.
AS to the complaint that the Broussard
faction has enacted laws to suppress the
true, and have no excuse to make for a law
which will forever place the affairs of this
State in the hands of the white people.
In connection with this charge, we will
the changes in the suffrage laws were made
by the delegates to the Constitutional Con
vention of 1898. The delegate elected
from this parish was Hon. r. Landry,
and this delegate was selected by con
vention, in which, if are not greatly
mistaken, Mr.. f. G. VOORHEES,, the leader
of the Lacoste faction, was active and
Jealous member. Mr.. VOORHEES, never
pudIated his delegate.
If the Broussard faction is guilty of this
enor nifty, what about Mr.. VOORHEES,? Shall
he be given dissolution with the injunction
to go and sin more.
True, this law has placed a few addl-
tionai qualifications the right of suffrage
which may have the effect of DISTINGUISHING
a few white men who neglect TO pay their
poll taxes or do not come up to the const
tutional requirements.
The seven wise men Of Greece could not
have passed law DISTINGUISHING the negro
and at the same time not placing qualifica-
tons resulting in the disfranchsement of
few white Esen. Perhaps this contamination
could be reached By the election of the
Lacoste faction, as judging by the action of
the executive committee. the constitution
might then be interpreted in the same gentle
way that matters are usually considered be-
tween friends.
The last complaint IS that the Broussard
faction is in favor of the apPointive power
and desires to return to the convention sys-
tenn.
In 1904, the member of the Legislature
elected by that faction voted for the law
making the police jurors elective, thus res
toring this right to the people.
AS to the desire to return TO the conven-
ton system, every political action of the
Broussard faction destroys the assertion.
The faction inaugurated the primary in
1890 when O. &. Mouton was elected Dis
trct Judge. In every election since that
time in which I. A. BrouSsard was a candi-
date, the election was made by a primary.
The system was even introduced in munich
pal elections. A. soon as Mr.. VOORHEES,
crossed the St. Martin line into this parish,
L. A. A-l~