The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1903-02-21

committee met promptly, and after
wraDgliDg decided
that strictly Democratic primary
should be held On the 21st inst,
and that the candidate receiving d
of the votes cast should
be recommended to the Gov arnor
for appointment. Then the can
didates announced themselves in
the local papers and things were
beng gotten in shape for the pr
mary, which was looked forward
to with much interest. Among
the candidates was Mr.. A. IL
Mayfeld, who had served as chief
deputy under the deceased sheriff.
The Ruston Leader, the leading
Democratic organ of the parish,
in commenting on the action OF
the committee, said:
1.-THE action of the Democratic Exec
utiye Committee in calling primary
election for February 23rd in the mat
ter of the present vacancy in the sher-
ifs office, will meet the hearty en-
dorsement of large majority of the
Democrats of this parish, public SEN
timent is undoubtedly in favor OF the
move. In fact since the question be-
gan to be agitated we have met with
yery few-and these personally IN
terested more or less in the direct ac-
| lion of the committee-whO have not
| unhes,tatingly pronounced in favor OF
| a primary, and in our investigations
we have interviewed leading Demo
Gratis from the various wards OF the
parish; in fact last Monday evening,
after the action OF the committee be-
came known, we received telephone
messages from neighboring towns
congratulating us on the wisdom OF
the committees decision.
Further on in the same article
this stalwart Democratic sheet,
said:
There was some talk in the commit
tee of Gov. Heard being opposed to
primary elections and would be likely
to disregard the result, and in this res
pect we will say that the primary
election was ordered in no wise to
hamper Gov. Heard, but merely to
guide the executive committee in re-
| fiecting the public will in their recon
meudations relative to filling an Off
cial position left vacant by the death
Of local officer. Furthermore, we
think we know our governor too well
to ever believe that he would object
to or combat any expression-of public
will when made through strictly Dem
ocratc channels, as it has been his
policy ever since he assumed the high
position he fills to carry out the pub
lie wish as fully as he has been able to
ascertain it. and when the Democrats
IT Lincoln have made know their
| wishes through party primary he
will be found promptly responding tc
their will.
We give these extracts IN order
to SLOW the feeling of the people
| and press on the subject, SO that
our readers may thoroughly IN
derstand things as they existed
and to impress upon them that
the people, as well as some of the
politicians, favored the primary
plan of making the selection of q
candidate and were willing tc
abide by the result So far, Sc
good.
Now mark what happened, and
ponder 1t we'll. Look at it impair
TALLY and pass an honest sentence
| upon it. Four days after the
meeting and decision of the Dem
ocratic commute in favor of a pri
mary, without previous notice OF
| warning, disregardlng and treat
ing with contempt the expressed
and known wish of the people OF
Lincoln parish, the Governor OF
this State, who was reported as
"being opposed to primary cleo
tions," appointed Mr.. A. II. May
field, who was candidate before
the primary, sheriff of that parish.
The report of the matter from
Baton Rouge said "the Governor
did not care to wait for the result
of the primary" This would ap.
pear to lead to the belief that the
editor of the Leader was not as
well acquainted with the Cover
nor and his characteristics as he
thought he was when he said:
Furthermore, we think we know
our Governor too we'll to ever be-
lieve that he would object TO or
combat any expression of public
will ,chen made through strictly
Democratic channels" Indeedi
What do you think of 1t now
This is but sample of many
things of the same kind. 1t has
been manifest for a long time
hat the people are a mere nonen