The Caucasian., 1910-09-04
REVOLT IN THE PARTY.

In an editorial under the head Revolt
in the Party the Guardian Journal re-
views briefly the political condition in
Louisiana.
The Guardian Journal suggests that
'If those men who are at the head of
the new movement will go into the State
primary election ordered by the regular
organization and make the fight for a
good man who will pledge himself to the
policy of good government, there can
certainly be no objections" all of which
is plausible,
In this State the dominant party is
Democratic, at least the men who doni-
nate are Democrats.
There are two factions of Democrats
in Louisiana, as there are factions of
this and other parties in every State of
the Union. -
In States unlike Louisiana, where the
Republicans are equally strong, if not
more powerful, the Democrats, in po-
litical sense, are more cordially in ac-
cord and are moved by the common i'm
pulse which is dictated for the good and
welfare of the party.
In Louisiana the Democrats are di-
vided into radical factions, and as rule
the incentive is spoils of office.
AS in all parties theresare the few who
by making trade of politics become
possessed of what is styled the machine,
which being in their control enables
them to override, dominate and dictate
whatever plan or terms which may be
productive of their individual and gem
eral interest. These are styled bosses"
The only incentive of a political boss
for living is Office. The boss rules with
an iron hand, and when several of these
are combined, as are the seventeen in
New Orleans, then they WELD such
power as to become the dominant fac
tors in the politics of the State.
In this power the Bosses are strength
ened by the seekers of office from the
rural districts, who are ever ready and
willing to become their allies, in the
anticipation of the crumbs which may be
permitted to fall into the lap of the fav-
ored, the select and the elect, as it were.
As a rule the bosses are not over
burdened with scruples, nor with the fine
niceties which may disturb the over
Jealous .Would-be politicians from the
country, that is, one whose experience
has been limited, who may be still
"fresh" and would entertain the vague
notion Of honesty in politics.
It is only recently that reference was
made seriously to the registrar of voters
fof New Orleans, when it was expected
that Governor Sanders would go to the
United State Senate If Lan1bremont
were Governor he could remove San
ders registrar of voters in New Or
leans and then Lambremont would have
the power of smashing the political ma
chine. The registrar of voters of New
Orleans is one of the strongest parts of
this machine. Without the machine the
Bosses would soon become powerless.
1t is this machine which defeated
Colonel Wilkinson and made Sanders
the Governor. It is the same machine
which elevated Lambremont to the Lieli-
tenant Governorship over Bailey, who
had been nominated by majority of
the votes cast for him in the State out
/ side of New Orleans and the influence
of the machine.
It is conceded that the machine is all
powerful but it can be smashed into
smithereens The first move towards
the smashing is in the organization of
an opposition. The great majority of
the Democrats in Louisiana who vote
are in revolt. They have tired of con-
ditions and are seeking relief which
they have determined on obtaining. At
+ this time 1t Is unnecessary to recall the
past, but the machine may be reminded
! of the Pharr movement Of several years
since, which swept the State. It was a
! protest against conditions which were
then not as offensive as now It will not
4 be denied that Pharr did receive the ma
j jority vote cast in the State at the gem
era1 election, but, owing to combinations,
j he was not recognized, and the machine
i recovered and since then has continued
to control the politics of the State in
s. keeping with their own sweet will.
/ The revolt in the party today must
| NOT be belittled nor minimized by the
machine politicians of the State. In
politics as in all things there is reas-
enable limit and then the past may re-
peat itself. If repeated it will be more
significant than in the past. It is suf-
fcient to say that the people of the
State, not allied TO the machine, are in
open revolt and have determined on ac-
ton which will secure relief and better
things for the State in the future.
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