The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1907-09-22
PLATFORMS-THEIR VALUE

the astutc politician, the seeker Tor pub
lie favors for private purposes. Is assur-
ing the dear people of his sincerity. and
through and by a new dodge. Formerly
the emission OF platforms was reserved
for political associations: now, however,
and thanks to the Syndicate candidate
for Governor, individuals are pouring
them forth, until they are numberlesS.
covering all the supposed wants of the
people with the implied expression that
if the several candidates have forgotten
10 mention everything wanted Ivy the
public, they are also III favor Of that
That many OF the candidates are un-
reserved. honest and truthful in what
they say IN these Nominations. The eau
casian cheerfully admits. hut over
against the honest and unrcserved Is the
equivocating play upon words Of those
who do not mean to be either candid or
honest, or those whose whole political
lives have been a trumpet-tongucd retu-
tation Of the crecds they now employ.
Platforms can be hfinsennons, and
designedly So
And they are.
The character, the former life, the as
sociations and associates. moral as well
as political have all To do IN these times
of civic regeneration with the fitness Of
any man for official prefcrment. and in
that clean life and clean association also
lies the truth or falsity Of 1 candidate
platform.
There are candidates also who presume
upon the ignorance Of their constituency,
and to that extent are unreliable and
dangerous
For instance \ candidate for the
Ssnate from a parish III senatorial dis
trict not a thousand miles from this.
after iloundcring through dreary list of
duties no legislator dares deny, comes
down to the essentials thusly:
"Article 100 of the Constitution OF
1893 provides that the perniciou> prac-
tice of dealing or gambling i'll futures
on agricultural products or articles of
necessity. when the intention of the
parties is not to make an honest and
bona hde delivery. is declared to be
against public policy; and the Legisla-
ture shall pass laws O. suppress it.
Ne 10 of 1898 was enacted for the
express purpose Of meeting the condi-
tionS implied in Act $50 of the ConSti-
tuition This act is in almost the ldentl
cal language of the article If this act
does not meet the conditions desired,
the article of the Constitution does not.
and | would be in favor of submitting
all amendment to the Constitution which
will empower the Legislature to pass an
act that will prevent gambling in flu
lures
While the Constitution provides that
the Legislature shall pass laws to sup
press dealing or gambling in futures,
Act 10 of 1893 was not enacted for any
such purpose!
Well does the writer remember when
the Act went through the State Senate
under the able management of Charlie
Cordill, now one Of Sanders political
wet nurses and a cotton future gambler
OF huge proportions.
1t was one of the amusing. nay hilari-
ous features of that remarkably hilarious
Legislature. The press reports of the
time will show that during the passage
OF the bill the question was asked does
the measure accord with the views OF
the New Orleans Cotton Exchange?
Laugter). The answer was (and we
quote it entirely from memory the ex-
change does not object. (Renewed
laughter). Then, said some one. let
it pass and there was uproarious
laughter.
Now this relation is the solemn truth.
The wishes and feelings of the toiler
who produced the cotton was matter
Of Jest to the Louisiana Legislature, and
among its members, leading as fun
maker. was a today Sanders high priest.
The platform we are noting does not
promise a law to suppress this evil
worse by far than lottery gambling.
1t proposes a constitutional amend
ment. clear subterfuge
The Legislature can stop it if it will.
The promise of the candidate we are
criticising is dodge, pure and simple.
Just how many other platforms of
other candidates are misleading we do
not know, but the voter, if he expects
results. had better look to the character
of the man who importunes for votes
through a platform rather than to the
platform itself.