The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-01-16
POLITICS IN
PELICAN STATE
Lively Row is On Over the
Registration Office in
New Orleans.
THE LEGAL ISSUE AT STAKE is.
HAS THE GOVERNOR THE
RIGHT TO SuMMARILY DUST
THE REGISTRAR OF VOTERS ON
PRIMA FACIE CASE OF PARTI-
SANSHIP IN oFFIcEHSoME IN
TERESTING ASPECTS OF THE
COMPLICATIONS.
Special to The journal.


New Orleans, Jan. 15.-The supreme
court today heard argument on the
most interesting political action in law
in many years in this state, ana took
the matter under advisement.
Some days ago Governor Blanchard
removed Registrar of Voters Gleason
from the appointive Office, on the
ground that Gleason was guilty of
partisan activity in behalf of the gu
bernatorial candidacy of Lit Gov San
ders, the specification being that he
not only failed to aid Wilkinson can
vassers, who are provided for by the
primary law, in aScertaining if there
were any improperly registered per-
sons in this city, but forced them to
take the initiative in removing names
reported by them and then encour-
aged affidavits of perjury against
them if seemingly illegal registrations
proved on inves tigatiOn to be lawful.
No conduct of this sort was shown
in the case of the cAnvassers in be-
half of Mr.. Sanders. Incidentally the
governor is understood to be for Viii
kinsOn, who is an ex-congressman and
one OF the largest planters in the
state.
In the Courts. 81
Governor Blanchard appointed Nor
timer y. Wisdom a lifelong p9rtY
man, recently retired from active life.
to. succeed Gleason and Gleason got
an Injunction from Judge st. Paul in
the district court, who yesterday re-
voked the injunction on the ground
that the supreme court had ruled that
the appointive power, conferred by
the constitution, carried with it power
of summary removal for prima facie
cause
From this final disposition of the in
junction, Gleason appealed, and Judge
St Paul refused to grant an appeal
The action was taken TO the court of
appeals anyhow, which court refused
to entertain the case Thereon, the
supreme court was asked for a man
damus to compel the cour. of appeals
to take cOgnizance of the matter.
The court of appeals, incidentally,
is composed of Judge Isaac d. Moore
candidate for reelection; Judge Es-
tOpinal, son of exit Gov. EStopinal
who is Sanders's campaign, manager.
and Judge Horace G. DufOur, who is
brOther-in-law of the newly-appoint-
ed registrar.
Just Like Blanchard.
Gleason was a Blanchard man in the
last state campaign, but throughout
his administration Gov. Blanchard has
never hesitated to use his power of
removal against personal and political
friends This was especially illustrat-
ed when he compelled the retirement
of a number of parish superintendent
of education, who were drawing from
$500 to $500, enjoying a living rev.
enue from other sources, and not de-
voting to the school the amount of
attention required by the state board
of education. In one instance, he com
PEELED a personal friend, and his
choice for the death vacancy in the
speakership OF the house, to resign a
$200-a-year position for which. in the
governors opinion, he was not quail
fed. His whole administration has
been characterized by this sort of
poor politics" including. in one case,
an increase from $4,000 to S25, 900 in
the assessment of one piece of prop
erty owned by one of his closest per-
sonal friends, who held the valuable
state printing contract at the time,
this increase being under the govern
or's orders to assessors, VINO were
then appointive, TO raise every low as
sessment in every parish to as nearly
a uniform standard as possible.
lit was this sort OF poor politics"
which completed the rupture between
Governor Blanchard and the Foster
Sanders coterie, which denounce him
as having disrupted the party" and
being petty tyrant."