The Opelousas courier., 1908-01-18

ling by Senator Lambremont of
measures or so much greater con-
sequence, that / overlooked the
printing matter. To this / plead
guilty and beg myfriends to charge
that oversight to my intense in
terest in helping to secure the
passage of those important mea-
sures, giving to the people control
of their Government.
On the other hand, Senator
| Lambremont was so busy in the
endeavor to prevent the enact
ment of those measures into law
that he too overlooked the print
ing matter at the time when he
was in a position to do effective
service in preventing excuses. The
difference between us, in addition
to the attitude we each occupied
towards primaries, elective Off
Gals, etc, seems to be that he
knew about the printing graft
as he calls it, while / had faith in
the honesty of the Committee
that handled the question. II
there be graft in connection with
the printing authorized by the
State, I propose to exercise the
same vigilance and determination
in roofing it out that | exercised
in assisting to defeat Senator
Lambremont's schemes to circum-
vent the will of the people in con-
nection with the progressive meas
ures just mentioned.
My appeal is made to the peo-
pie on my record as a public ser
want and upon our respective
records, both my opponent and
myself must be content to stand
or fall. On the primary question,
on the question Of elective officials,
and the restriction Of the political
power of the executive, / stood
true to my promise made to the
peopleWho elected me and strongly
supported the enactment of these
measures in the session Of 1904.
MI. Lambremont, as a member of
the Joint High Fifteen ably
assisted in preparing the sepul-
chre for those measures during
that session, and effectively in
tered them.
Because of conditions existing
at that time Nhe fall Of 1904, the
sentiment became unanimous in
favor Of primaries, elective Off
cials and the abridgment of the
Governors power. So intense did
that sentiment become, that it
swept by the Whirlwind; and then,
for the first time, we find our dis
tinguished opponent foremost and
furious among the hosts of reform
ers. When the fate of the cause
hung in the balance in the session
of 1904, / devoted all the energy
and earnestness / could command
to the support of these measures.
My opponent insisted in strangling
them then, but after the hand
writing upon the wall became 50
plain that it could not be mistaken
and after the wrath of an outraged
people threatened him with ex-
tinction, he became an enthusiast
in behalf Of reform.
It is interesting to note the stu
alton with reference to these re-
forms that was occupied by my
opponent and his law partner, the
Hon. Thomas ]. Keenan,. The lat
ter gentleman was the great re-
form leader IN the House while
Senator Lambremont was equally
great as an anti-reform leader in
the Senate. And they were law
partners. Mr.. Herman thundered
for reform in the House, and as
Chairman Of one OF the judiciary
Committees, he assisted in perfect
ing reform measures and tWirling
them over to the Senate. Here
they usually found Partner LAM
Fremont at the bat, and from his
higd position as President pro tenn
OF the Senate, he would bat them
into conVeninet Committee pigeon
holes, where tIeyslumbered peace
fully until the thunders Of the pc