The Opelousas courier., 1904-07-23
Next Saturdays Primary.

loF Judg0 ana DIStrlct Attorney
of this, the Sixteenth Judicial
District, is an event which every
voter should look forward to- Nith
zeal and interest. At this e1esa
ton we are to choose, to serve us5
for four years, two of our most
important and most necessary of
ficials, and We cannot be too care
full and discriminating in our
choice.
There are two candidates for
the Judgeship-the present in
cumbent, Judge E. L. Lewis, and
Representative James j. Bailey.
The former has twice occupied
the position to which he still
aspires, and, besides, served
term as Judge of the Circuit
Court, making an actual expert
ence of about IL years ON the
bench, which, we should think,
would be quite a recommendation
in itself. Judge Lewis also has
the benefit of the experience of
many years devoted to the prac-
tice of law.
Mr.. Bailey, on the other hand,
while never holding a judicial po-
sit:on, has been intimately allied
with the profession since his ad-
mission to the bar, and in his
nine or more years experience as
a lawyer has possibly become suf-
ficiently we'll equipped to assume
the duties of the Judgeship in the
event Of his election.
But the matter of experience,
while entitled to much weight and
consideration, is not the only
thing to be regae1ed by the voter
in making his choice between the
candidates. The candidates moral
and political record must be close
" scanned; his official and pro-
fessional record must be care
fully scrutinized, and if there ap-
pear flaws or defects OF errors
In either-such as might easily
have been rectified or avoided, /,
and not reasonable be attributed
to erring humanity-let the voter
bear them in mind and make the
election day one of reputation
or deliverance. Let us ascertain
liz the one is fit to be maintained
| in Office, and If the other is en-
titled to be elevated to it.. Let
us see if the one has been worthy
/ Of his truit, if he has been just in
1 his decisions, fair in his trials,
Impartial in his judgments, hon.
| est in his convictions, conserva'
tive and discriminating in the ex-
Iercise of his discretionary power
| and conscientious in the admins
tration Of the functions of hi
Office. Let us observe if the oGhel
would be worthy of the trust; i
i bis moral and political records arr
such ss to entitle him TO tn
] honor;S Sif his professional caree
lis unsullied; if his personal de
Imeanor- land decorum are such a
Ito command the respect and con
J fdence of the public; if ne ha
1.-THE moral courage and stamina t.
do his duty regardless OF intiu
: lences, private or political; and j
Ihe possesses conscience sufh
Iciently immutable to render hir
E sensible of his duty to himself
9 bis people, and his God.
!. AS to the candidates for Dl'
trict Attorney, what we have sal
with reference to the candidate
Ifor the Judgeship has applicatio
!. I'd them as well. We want a
7 honest, straightforward, comps
9 tent, clean, energetic official; OF
g who will not stoop to low, peti
tricks to accomplish an end, an
!; lnervily daub them strategems
!. one who will not use the digni1
: OF his Office as q palladium
!. screen himself from the stign
J. ] Of an unworthy deed, and WI
: places his honor and his manhoe
= and his sense of duty upon SUI
high plane as to make them !
lsl lapproachabie to datterers and i
In accessible to every influence sa'
j Those of truly landable and leg
,f innate nature.
4 Messrs. Sandoz, Guilbeau a.
: Garland are oil three making &
ra race for the District Attorneyshl
The voter, in making his choic
should give due Difference to E
Id respective merits of the cane
to- dates, and weigh with precisi
u and deliberation the claims
O. each for the Office. The can
Of date possessing the qnalifcatio
l's enumerated above, coupled WI
nt the necessary experience, is I
one who should receive the &C
sideration of the voter.
lta At a meeting of the Par
L. ~ GAkrn1 Dsrnnfnra hi