The Caucasian., 1909-06-20
WHOSE INFLUENCE?


It would be Of interest to know whose
influence has operated in the delay of
the construction of the new postofice
in Shreveport.
1t appears that there has been an at
tempt to create the impression in Wash
ington that the new building is not
necessary.
Whose influence has created this i'm
preston?
Not only has this impression been
somewhat effective, but it has, seeming
ly, operated in a stay of progress which
if continued may prove fatal to this
enterprise.
Congressman Watkins in a letter to
the editor of the Caucasian has declared
that 1t may take mandamus to force
the construction of the building unless
it can be shown that there is need of
an early construction of it
In a supplementary statement to
Congressman Watkins and to Senator's
McEnery and Foster, prepared by
committee of the Progressive League,
endorsed by that body and the Board
of Trade, the Merchants Association
and the city authorities, the need of an
early construction of the new building
is made plain, should meet successfully
and contradict emphatically any and
every misrepresentation of any influence
which is adverse to the new building
As provided in the Act of Congress,
the old building is to be demolished and
the new must be erected on the same
site; therefore all the suggestions of
two buildings instead of one is twaddle.
Whose influence has operated against
the new buildings
Since the year 1906 Congressman
Watkins has been engaged on this post
Office building It is fact, as fully
demonstrated in the Caucasian, that
proposed addition to the old building to
cost $4,000 and later. proposed reno
vation of the old building to cost
$Ioo,ooo were rejected, and there was
passed, subsequently, the Act Of Con-
gress providing $eoo,ooo for the new
building, but some influence has ope-
rated against MS construction, which
should now be active
When this Act of Congress was
passed in 1908, there was specified that
$5o,oeo should be available in the con
struction of the new building It was
expected that this amount would have
been utilized before June so 1900
There has since been available $4,000
besides 5000 for the removal Of the of
hcers in the old building and for rentals,
and yet this influence has silently de-
feated the project contemplated and
which should be in evidence in the con-
struction of the new postoffice.
Whose influence?
Yet still more surprising is the state
ment that while this Act Of Congress
passed more than year ago, it appears
that not even the working plans have
been prepared for the building.
Whose influence?
There are more ways than one of de-
feating a measure or an enterprise. It /
may be, in hgurative sense, dubbed to
death OF it may be smothered into mac
tiyity by pretenses and pretexts, by
plausible theories, by delays, all of
which have been, SO it appears, brought
into action to defeat the construction of
the new postoflce building.
Again we query: Whose influence?
And whatever and whoever be the in
fiuence it must be left to the people to
determine whether they, in their collec-
tive and united influence, shall be
silenced and set aside by the influence
which has and is still operating against
the construction Of the new postof7ce
building
Il