The southern sentinel. (Winnfield, La.) 1883-1910, 1907-11-01

Colfax. La. Oct. ~. 10,

EQitor SOutnern Sentinel.
! noticed In the Winfield Com
rade an article that in substance
said / had voted against the Pri-
mary Election law and against
pensioning the Confederate SOL
diers. Ii is also a rumor in the
vicinity of Verda and Atlanta. so
l am informed. that am opposed
to special taxes for school pur-
poses. With your permission !
will take up these charges and
deal with them as briefly as pos
sible.
Yes. while the committee had
the primary election law under
consideration. l told them the
politicians of the State had prom
ised the people law so simple
there would no frauds be perpet-
rated, and without price to the
man who aspired to office. That
while they had done their duty
fairy we'll, as applied to State Of
fees just as they had done down
the line they had multiplied and
made the law more expensive and
complicated until It had taken
a. sections in which to entangle
itself. That while ! wanted to
sffer some amendments, it was
declined. While it was already a
law by the vote of the Senate, be-
fore my name was called. yet act
ing consistently. ! voted NO"
As to second charge-voted
against pensioning Confederate
soldiers did nothing of the
kline. 1t was notorious that the
appropriation bill came to the
Senate inst eleven days before
adjournment, with Four Hundred
Thousand (SIoo.ooo) Dollars more
than the revenues of the State
would yield for the next two years.
predicated on the assessment roll
of 1905. Our committee had to
prune and trim until they got this
much out of it; or the Governor
would veto it, and call an extra
session of the body to make new
bill. Most of the committee were
indifferent about the work because
every friend you attempted to cut
had some friend to object. So !
came to the front and said: The
One Hundred Thousand $780,
ooo) Dollars appropriated for the
Old Soldiers was fund too sacred
10 be disturbed. That the schools
must be maintained on their pres
ent basis. So was going to cut
ting from the new work. that bad
been laid out by the friends of the
different departments. and before
l got through. friends. like my
friend Senator Millsaps. told me !
was a good fellow. but the most
cold blooded cutter he ever saw.
We finished this bill in three
days by working late into the
night for tive nights. getting
through at 7 p. m. July End, at 2
p. m. took the ferry on my way
to Alexandra to hold a meeting
of the 9TH Congressional commit-
tee. of which body l happened d
be President. The next day, July
grid. the bill was voted on unani-
mously by the Senate and sent to
the lower House for concurrence
in our amendments. So it had its
Eve clear days in the Governors
hands before adjournment. and
thereby saved the expense. and to
me, the modification of an extra
session of the Legislature. So you
see did not vote OIL the bill in
the open session of the Senate at
all.
Again il is rumored around
Verda that am opposed to spe-
cial taxes for schools. ] am sur
prised at this tor l enjoy the dis
.inction of having never turned
down a request tor food for a
hungry family. or money for a
church or school. in my life. But
| will tell you how ! am paying
two 6ve-mill taxes for school pur-
poses in the vicinity of Verda, in
another article a little later.
/ do not blame my opponent
with the circulation of these SLAM
Fderous reports. and l appeal to
his friends, Examine the record
Of my life, socially and politically.
and my record as legislator.
since have been in the Senate.
and If you find anything that /
have done. that a conscientious
and honorable man would not do.
tell It. But don't indulge ia these
little white 6bs. for they are vexa-
tious and you will make me egot-
istical telling the good people