The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1905-03-26

leading and professional men of that
city, has been investigating some Of the
frauds committed ut the recent election
in the interests of the corrupt Republican
machine and has already made (, rich
find. On Saturday the members Of an
election board in the Thirteenth war!
had hearing upon charges Of fraud. az.
the fact vas developed that the ballet
box lad been stuffed
Although was testified that only ia
men had voted at the polling place. there
were returned by the board 27S Eoes as
having been cast. It was further testi-
fled that the extra ballots had been pac-
ed In the box by the son of a former
member of the legislature, who is nov
holding another public position. All tie
fraudulent votes were cast for the ticket
favored by the Republican machine.
There is no doubt that similar fraudu-
lent practices were general throughout
Philadelphia at the last election. as they
nave been at every preceding one for
years. There may not have been many
cases of wholesale stuffing of the ballot
box, as was done in this instance. but the
same result was arrived at by permitting
repeaters to cast thousands of fraudulent
ballots and by allowing many persons
not qualified to vote to do SO.
The condition of affairs In Philadelphia
is a crying shame. 1t could be largely
remedied by the enactment Of an effective
personal registration law, but the scoun-
drels, big and little. who control the po-
litical affairs Of the city and state will
not permit such a measure to go on the
statute books If they can prevent it, as 1t
seems to be In their power to do.
T. E. w.
Tom Watsons Magazine is born. To
do Tom JUSTICE his first number is de-
cidedly refreshing and interesting.
Truly he lays on and spares not. He
deals political damnation round the
land with free and impartial hand. He
has pronounced opinions on men and
things, and he expresses them vigor
ouSly. Whether he is right or wrong,
folks will not go to sleep while reading
his editorials. Brother Watson has
played many congressman. law
YER historian, lecturer, biograI hel-
and played them 50 as to attract public
attention. Even while leading q forlo"n
hope as a presidential candidate last
year he managed to keep more con-
stantly in the limelight than either
Colonel Roosevelt or Judge Parker. I
never heard that he sets up for hui
morist, but considering who he is and
what he does certainly these words
from one Of his magazine editorials
constitute as rich humor as Mark
Twain or Artemus Ward ever evol,ed
from his inner consciousness. Hear
him: "If there Is anything on this bless
ed earth that we have got enough of
at this time it is talk, talk, talk! From
presidents in fact and presidents in
prospectus, from senators of all shades
and congressman Of every variety
down to oratorical federal judges, col
lege doctors and legislative lights, we
have floods Of talk, talk, talk! The mis-
cry of it all is that this oratory doesn't
mean anything. 1t strikes a bee line
for the wastebasket."
That's emphatic and to the point, but
it's only-''talk, talk, talkr' Thomas
is only increasing the output Of that
which he condemns. If his remarks
are true, why doesn't he quit wagging
his tongue and wearing out pens? He
is one Of the most volunlinous takers
of this age. We all read what he says
and what he writes, for everybody
likes to see somebody skinned, and
Brother Watson is a skillful skinnist
But certainly he has heard the old
proverb about the pot calling the kettle
black and the inhibition against people
who live in glass houses throwing
stones. So he ought either to quit talk
ing himself, take his own medicine
or let up ON making mouths at others
for talking.