The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1907-1917, 1909-08-05
A Louisiana Democrat Explains

Louisiana congressman mas ACTUALLY come
out in piece in the papers" to explain why
he,-a rock-ribbed, unterrifed Democrat
voted with the Republicans on the most i'm
portant measure that has been proposed for
several years
It seems to be literal, refreshing fact that
some of the citizens of Louisiana became in
terested in the new tax law which will pull
every average household for at least three
hundred dollars year $3.50 for Uncle Sam
and five times that for the Special Interests)
and they kept tab on the votes of the Louisi-
ana delegation.
In that connection, we beg to express the
fervent hope that Senator McEnery will catch
what he deserves. This Democratic Senator
from Louisiana voted with the Republicans
right straight through from start to finish,
and on every material issue. Having aided
Aldrich to frame his infamous bill. McEnery
then voted for the perfected measure,-he be-
ing the only Democrat who did so. We hope
that same ambitious man of the people will
come forward in Louisiana and make reso-
lutte effort to take McEnery's political scalp.
Our immediate concern, however, is with
Judge j. I. Watkins, who represents one
of the Louisiana districts in the House
Thank heavens, mass meeting was held at
Homer, on June Goth, and a committee named
to write to the Judge, and ask for an expla-
nation OF his vote against free lumber In his
reply to the committee the Judge says, in part:
'The Democratic platform had one plank declaring
in favor of tariff for revenue. Another clause con-
tanned the statement that lumber should be be put on
the free list.
Gone of these propositions was lust as bndino as the
other. They selected the which would produce
S3OOOOOO in revenue for the Government without
ing the price of lumber cent and thus to all in
tents and purposes leaving it the free list as an
nounced in the platform.
'When Hon. w. J. Bryan was member of Congress
he voted against the repeal the tax on State hanks
mat June g. 1892.
after this the National Democratic Convention
was held and plank was inserted in the platform de-
carlng in favor of the repeal of this tax State
banks, which would place them the same basis as
National banks. At the session of Congress which fol-
lowed this declaration in the Democratic PLATFORM on
June ., 1894, Mr.. Bryan voted again against the re-
peal OF this law, declaring that he not bound by
the platform.
'NIr. Bryan has three times since then been made
the standardbearer of the Democratic party and the
good Democrats who composed the meeting voted
for him the Democratic nominee for President of the
United States without chastising him questioning
his Democracy.
mo pledge to the party violated in voting for
revenue duty lumber
1.-The Democratic platform contemplated Demo
cratic tariff bill. Whether the Democrats or the Re-
publicans won, tariff bill necessary The Demo
Gratis lost and had to take Republican tariff bill and
with it raise and at the same time protect
the of the people best they could under the
conditions which confronted them"
Can you beat it?
(1) Asked why he voted against the plain
est, most positive pledge in the platform, on
which he was elected to Congress last No
vember, Judge Watkins says that while the
pledge bound him to vote for free lumber it
also bound him to vote for revenue tariff,
and therefore he felt constrained to vote
against free lumber.
Well, if that doesn't take the rag off the