St. Tammany farmer., 1908-03-21
NOT WHAT 1T WAS CRACKED UP TO BE.

That there were frauds committed in the latei
Democratic primary will not be denied, but in
refusing to go behind the returns the State Cen
trail Committee acted in accordance with their
Interpretation of their authority. No imputation
is cast upon the character of Judge who turns
a criminal loose upon society through techni-
cality, and the decision of the Supreme Court,
in the case of Trosclair VS.. the Democratic Com
mittee of Lafourche parish seems to support
the Committee in their action.
The Courts are open for the prosecution of
criminals. If frauds have been committed, let
the guilty be punished. It is hardly possible
that all the fraudulent votes were cast for Lam
Fremont and none for Bailey, and it is more than
probable that Lambremont would still stand
elected if all fraudulent votes were cast out
The action of the Committee was supported by
a very. large majority of the members, and it is
to be presumed that they acted for the best in
terest of the Democratic Party and the State of
Louisiana, within their authority.
However, there is one thing clear to all minds:
the object of the primary law is in no way ac-
complished in the experience we have had with
it so far. We cannot see that there is any diff
ference between a nomination controlled by a
convention and nomination controlled by the
parties who would either have been delegates or
controlled delegates to convention. Few can
didates, except for local Offices are known to a
large number of the voters. AS rule, the ma
jority of the voters have no personal preference
4ho ipA1 'of 4loa4
State with campaign literature and press notices
or the influence of politicians in the different
wards and parishes capture the votes for one
candidate or the other. Political influence and
political interests control the nomination of a
candidate to-day as effectually as it controlled
the nomination in the convention, and we cannot
see that there has been an advance step in the
purity of politics.
Both Mr.. Lambremont and Mr.. Bailey are
intelligent, capable men of high standing. Eithe,
would do honor to the position and both are
Democrats. The Democratic Party in These
primaries becomes house divided unto itself
There is the trouble. The disease is organic
We would welcome the Strengthening of the
Republican Party as blessing to State of Louisi
ana. But this will never come until the South
shall have built up manufacturing industries II
sufficient number to make the tariff an issue il
the maintenance of those industries. The days
of reconstruction and carpet -bagging have Ions
passed, and the State needs Northern energy
northern capital and factories. AS it is to-day
elections are becoming squables among our
selves for office, with charges and counter
charges, and are fast degenerating into mud
singing contests. Under existing conditions
split may occur in the party at any time. Ou
influence in the National Congress is limited
notwithstanding we send to that body some O.
its most capable members. But with the com
pletion of the Panama canal, the improvement
of the Mississippi River, and the rectifying O.
matters detrimental to the port Of New Or
leans will come change that will be benefcia
to the State, both politically and commercially
It may be seditious to talk out loud that whicl
is constantly being whispered; but monopoly
be it political or commercial, has it's evils