The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1909-12-10
eRoPoslTIoN TO CHANGE CON.
STlTUTION.

according to the New Orleans
(lmes-Democrat. a vigorous effort will
be made to submit to the people of
the state the proposition to repeal
the article Of the constitution which
prohibits the governor from succeed
Ing himself. The assertion is made
that this is being done with the view
to give Governor Sanders a second
term, and that already enough prom
lses lave been obtained to make it
sure that the legislature will pass the
necessary act to submit the question.
30 much being accomplished, because
Of the election being a kind of off one,
through the apathy of the voters and
manipulation by the politicians, the
rerpeal a be carried sure.
The article prohibiting the governor
from succeeding himself was incor-
porated in the constitution for the
special purpose of removing from the
governor the temptation to create a
FOSAsA~U oSAiiA " IC-ClSCl Al1u VI
promote him to the senate, thus leav-
ing him at liberty to serve the people
to better advantage. The securing
the incorporation of the article in the
constitution vas a distinct victory
Tor the people of this state, who had
for years been badly machine ridden,
M certainly it seems absurd to think
{ that they would be so supine, indiffer-
1ent and foolish as to vote to repeal
this article and thus put their necks
again under the yoke Of machine
domination.
Machine domination has left us
eve now with the advantages we
have gained with entirely too many
Offices. too many placeholders to draw
| good salaries paid by the taxes col
: fected from the people. 1t is stated
that Louisiana is the most extensively
governed state in the South; whether
It Is or not, the fact is patent to any
one who will take the trouble to in
vestigate that we have entirely too
large an of1ceholding force. AS long
rs this condition exists there is little
likelihood of taxes being reduced. The
only way we can hope to reduce taxes
IL to "cut out useless Offices and
needless extravagance. This cannot
be done by reverting back to the
governor succeeding himself, conse-
Quently state administration machines
and paying the boys" with jobs.
Instead of going back to the old
system it is ".up to" the people If
they want good government. effective
disbursement OF the public funds and
. reduction in taxes. to 60 still fur
ther~ not only not allow the governor
to succeed himself, but add to
the constitution the right Of recall If
he doesn't satisfy the public.
Electing an oflcer for a definite
period of time has been tried since
the founding Of our government and
found wanting. No business man
would be so foolish as to hire a clerk
for two years or four and give up the
privilege Of discharging him the mo-
ment he failed to do his duty or
proved unsatisfactory. Yet we. the
people. who are supposed to rule, elect
an oficer and he holds his job the
full time whether we are pleased or
not. We need to do like the business
man-keep in our hands the right Of
discharge, at any moment we desire
simply by our vote, just like We elect.
II we must alter the constitution, let
ID not repeal the act prohibiting the
governor from succeeding himself. but
let us insert the right Of recall for
every officer in the state from the