The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1908-04-11
Something More Than A sideshoW.

La the course OI a speech before Tie
Democratic state committee at New Or.
leans several weeks ago Hon. ]. Y,
Sanders, candidate for governor, re-
ferred to the general state election to
be held April q as "a little sideshow, y
meaning that the result of that contest
was foregone conclusion and mere
formal affirmation of the outcome ofthe
Democratic primaries of Ian. q and
Feb. %; and in an interview with a
newspaper reporter about the same
time Mr.. Sanders said that only per-
functory campaign would be conducted
by the DemOcrats-that "a few meet
ings might be held''-and, in dismissal
of the tritiing topic, he nonchalantly
remarked, The Democrats will poll
their usual vote in the April election,
and the Republicans will poll their
usual vote. That is all | have to say
on the subject. y
Subsequent developments seem to
brought change over the spirit OF
MIR. Sanders comfortable dream, how
ever. The vigorous and earnestc an
vass of the state being made by the
Republican party under the leader
ship of its high-grade candidates for
governor and lieutenant governor.
Henry N. Pharr and A. F. Leonhardt,s
coupled with the wave of popular In
dignabion and resentment that has fol
lowed theex posture of the brazen frauds
perpetrated at the primaries by the
henchman of the New Orleans ward
bosses and condoned by the Demo-
cratic state committee, have combined
to awaken the candid ates and managers
of the Democracy to the fact that the
little sideshow has been transformed
into a very big circus and that the per-
formers and ringmasters have got TO
hustle for chance at the gate re.
ceipts.
Mr.. Sanders is on the stump with
one party of speakers; Mr.. Lambre-
mont is heading another party, and
still others are to take the field and
keep the welkin ringing daily and
nightly until the eve of the election.
The United States enators, the mem
bers of congress, Gov. Blanchard,
defeated Theo. Wilkinson and de-
frauded Jim Bailey have all been in
vited to lend their aid towards keep
ing the rotten hulk ofring Democracy
aloat, and even State Superintendent
of Education Aswell, who was nomi-
mated without opposition to what
should be strictly non political and
non-partisan Office, has been drag ged
upon the stump TO lend his voice and
influence to the sthole-y" cause. Sem
ator McEnery has needed the cry for
help and will make few speeches:
Gov. Blanche ard will filch enough time
from his official labors to make one
speech at his home city, Shreveport;
several OF the congressman will prob.
ably abandon their posts of duty at
w ashington long enough to take some
part in the gabfest; but Senator Eos
ter and Congressman Broussard have
replied that their official engagements |
will not permit them to come to Louis
lana, while Messrs. Wilkinson and |
Bailey are yet to be heard from.
It would be a pitiful trayesty npon
The rights and freedom of American
q law could be invoked
% prevent the voters of any ward
rom nominating and electing worthy
sitiken OF their choice as ward OIL
.ial. The law under which 1t is
fought TO enforce such q prohibition
las been befoaled with fraud and
hing ought to be spnrned by every
lonest voter, Democrat and Republi-
an and isS eenifli alton Shauld q rc