St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1910-01-01

appointiye power Of the Governor,
and the substitution Of a compulsory
primary for the convention system Of
nomination. has, in the minds Of many,
eliminated any reason for article 63
being in the Constitution, and the
reason no longer existing it is argued
that the restriction should be re-
moved.
] was a member Of the Constitu-
tional Convention, but did not vote
for article SO. / was not present in
the hall when it was adopted. Had
/ been present | would have voted
against it. | believed then, and /
believe now, that the people are SUI
preme. If the people desire to re-
elect a public official, they should be
permitted SO to do. | have always
believed in the primary method Of
making nominations. To-day there
is absolutely no reason why article So
should be a part Of our Constitution,
even admitting for the sake of argu-
ment, that there may have been some
reason under the conditions existing
when it was adopted.
Under the direct primary laws of
our State the only hope that any pub
lie official may have of being re-elect-
ed to the office that he holds is to SO
conduct himself and the affairs Of
bis Office as to merit a denomination
at the hands Of the people.
Some months ago it was suggest
ed that the Legislature should sub
nit to the people the question Of
whether or not article So should be
repealed. The matter attracted
practically no discussion until re-
Gently, and then only as the result of
some attacks being made thereon.
Since the attack began the nat
ter has received attention, and | am.
in receipt Of numerous communica-
tions, from all parts Of the State,
bearing on this question. The
TREND OF PUBLIC SENTIMENT.
as | see it, is in favor Of the repeal
Of article So.
The assaults directed against this
question have been INDUCED in on
the theory that the administration
was in favor Of the adoption Of the
amendment; and | have been recently
urged by numerous friends to declare
in favor thereof, and, when adopted
by the people. to become a candidate
for Governor.
The administration has never
been behind this movement, nor have
/ ever declared in its favor, or
against it; on the contrary | have re-
peatedly declared that ] did not per-
sonally care to be Governor again.
Within the past few days land
owing to the urgent request Of many
friends,) | have given this matter
careful confederation, and have come
to the deliberate conclusion that the
amendment would easily carry, both
before the Legislature and before the
people, and in that event, that Il
would stand as good a chance as any
other Democrat Of receiving my
party's nomination for governor,
| become a candidate again
for that high Office.
After mature thought | have like
wise come to the conclusion that the
proposal Of this amendment in the
Legislature next May would at once
precipitate the campaign of 1912,
and that the campaign thus inaugu-
rated would be bitter in the extreme
would engross the attention of
our people for the ensuing two years,
would be waged by my OPP
p%onents solely upon the theory that
I was willing to have the Constitu-
5ion amended for my own personal
political advantage. The merits
Of the amendment per Sc would not
be discussed; the fight weuld degen-
crate at nee simply into the ques-
zion Of whether or not / should be
permitted to succeed myself.
Viewing the situation calmly and
iispassionately, the question then
presents itself as to whether or not
The strife engendered, the bitterness
invoked, the turmoil involved, the
political unrest developed, even
victory in the end be assured,
ZH