The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1906-09-22
POLITICAL CATECHIsM.
Democratic Preaching and Practice Con
trasted- Object Lesson from
Loufsiana History

5ll9 JAiaA0tHa IGN GIC E3a1Boc "a
which is fully explained by the follow
ing extract: 1--WE are about TO draft II
constitution for the new state OF Okla
homa, and a. Republicans We are
very anxious to control the eonsti-
tutional convention and the first legls-
lature. The Democrats are appealing
to the people Of Oklahoma behind A
platform il which they have embodied
some very excellent. things, along with
number of planks that are regarded
as vote getters, and also some Social
istic and Populistie notions. We
want TO show the people, what we
believe to be fact, that the good
measures advocated by the Democrats
in the northern states where they are
IN minority, are not enacted BY the
where they have majority. [ en-
close herewith Hst.of questions, the
answers to which would be Of great
service to the party, by showing that
the Democratic platforms are designed
as a means to get into power, and do
not Indicate what the trainers will do
if given control. y
This letter and the accompanying
questions were placed IN the hands of
one of Lonisiana's most capable attor-
neys, whose replies are full Of pith
and interest, and the document is sub
mitted herewith as a valuable con-
tribution to local political history
and a striking exposition Of the great
difference between Democratic pro-
fession and Democratic praetiee:
When was representation adopted?
In 1898.
Was it submitted TO vote of the
people, No.
Does the. Democr attic party of your
state defend the initiative and referen-
dunn? No.
Does the Democratic state platform
contain any reference TO direct legis-
Iation? None whatever.
Has your state a direct primary for
nominating candidates for Office? Yes;
adopted IN 1906 and now being tried
for the first time.
If 20. j. its use optional or eompul-
sorry? Compulsory.
Is there any officer board or COM
mission authorized by law to tx rail
road rates? Yes; the railroad com
mission.
Is the giving OF free passes to public
officers prohibited by law? Yes, but
it is dead letter.
Do railroad interests have any in
fuence in Democratic eouncils2 Yes;
the common belief is til at the railroads
can get anything they want.
Does Democracy defend ownership
of public utilities, such as railroads,
telegra phs4 ETC.. Not the state De-
mocracy. In New Orleans the last
municipal platform declared for pub
lie ownership, but leading Democrats,
including the governor, have declared
against it.
Have you a state printing plant
owned or operated by the state? No.
State printing and municipal and
parish printing goes to Democratic
sheets, and is one OF the few remain
ing. forms of graft IN Louisiana.
Have you a law preventing child
labor in factories and mines? No,
The society for the Prevention of
Cruelty to Children had such a bill
before the last legislature, which was
Democratic, but the
measure failed Of passage.
Have you an eight-hour laWs No.
Have you a compulsory education
law? No.
Have. you a law providing for arbi-
tratlon Of disputes between labor and
capital? No.
Is there a right of trial by jury in
cases2 Yes.
What are the qualifications of
voters? IfE he is a white Democrat
there is practically no other qualifica-
ton. Theoretically, he must reside
in the state two years. in the parish
one year and ia the precinct six
months. He must have paid poll
tax Of one dollar for each Of the two
years preceding that in which he
offers to vote, during the year for
which the tax was assessed. He must
which requires considerable
or possess property Of the
assessed value of $500.
Have you 'grandaddya clause?
Yes.
If SO, what does it provide2 Our
constitution was adopted in April,
1888. The grandfather clause pro-
v1ded that the registration Office
should be open until September, 1898,
during which time any person. whose
father or grandfather was O. voter
prior to 1867 could register and there
after vote on said registration with
out possessing the. property or educa-
tional qualification required of others.
This permitted every white man of
voting age at the time TO become
voter for all time.
If 30, was it adopted as an amend
ment to the constitution, Or ineor-
IN a new constitution, or is 1t |
merely statutory? It was adopted as
part Of the constitution of l898-sec-
ton 5 of article 1871.
If it was an amendment TO the |
constitution, or embedded in The con-
was it submitted to a, vote
of the people? Like the balance of /
the constitution, it was not submitted |
to the people.
What is the attitude Of the Democ-
raey toward graft and corrupeion2
In past years we have had much graft |
and corruption in Louisian IA great |
many defaleati0ns in office. Affairs !
OF this kind have usually been hnshed |
up by the officeholding Democrats. |
There IS still some graft and eerrup-
ton, but it must be admitted that the
standar IN that respect is higher
than formerly.
Speaking generally, when the con
convention of 1898 opened,
an invitation was unanimously ex-
tended w. j.. Bryan to address that