The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1910-11-26
coon GOVERNMENT LEAGUE.

A meeting of the promoters of the DEM
ocratie Good GoveTn1nSa::1t League was held
in New Orleans on Monday. Nov. Id, for
the purpose of taking steps looking to
permanent organization and extending
the movement throughout the state. An
executive committee of which President
Thos. H. Lewis of St. Landry is ex-oficio
chairman, and a finance committee with
Edgar H Farrar of New Orleans at its
head. were, appointed. and John M.
Parker of New Orleans was delegated TO
direct the work of statewide organization.
Hon. Henry c. Braud of Burnside, this par
ish, is member of the executive com
mittee. and Hon. Edward N. Pugh Of Dom
aldsonville is on the finance committee.
On Mr.. Farrar's motion it was resolved
to proceed to form good government
leagues in every parish of Louisiana and
every ward Of New Orleans, preparatory
to calling state convention. and to urge
all citizens to pay their poll taxes before
the end of the year in order to qualify
them for participation in the primary of
1912 the league guaranteeing them a
free election and fair count"
Messrs. Jno. F. Coleman, Edgar H. Far
rar and Norman Walker were named as a
committee to issue public address set
ting forth the objects of the league, and
the document prepared by the committee
is herewith presented:
To the Democratic voters of Louisiana:
The Democratic Good Government
League has been organized, so far, with
temporary organization. for the purpose
of overcoming the political evils which in
feet the Democratic party. and through it
The state, city and parish governments of
Louisiana. all of which are now in control
of that party.
1t is about to organize, and to build up
its organization, upon permanent basis.
The battle which it proposes to wage is
one of principles and not of men. The
political bosses and the political ring
which dominate the state and the party
are the products of vicious system. It
would be vain thing to GUST the leaders
and substitute others in their places if
the system be permitted to remain. The
substituted leaders would themselves in
time become bosses and ringsters in their
turn, necessitating another struggle to
overthrow them.
The object and purpose of the league
is. if possible. to destroy the system that
makes bosses and rings possible.
when the permanent organization is
complete. by the gathering together into
leagues of all the friends of good govern
ment and clean politics in Louisiana, it
proposes to call convention composed of
delegates from all the leagues in the state,
and this convention will select the men
who are to be the leaders of the people in
the good work, and will formulate a plat
form which will set forth the aspirations
and the demands of the men affiliated
with the movement. Upon the platform
thus formulated, the league will appeal TO
the Democratic voters of the state Of
Louisiana to elect mel to public office
who will carry the principles enunciated
into actual and practical operation.
The temporary organization of the
league, therefore, appeals to all good citi-
zens OF Louisiana. affiliated with the Dem
ocratic party, to join them in this effort to
overthrow ring rule, personal government
and the power of political patronage. and
to put the political power. as far as it can
be done under representative government,
back into the hands of the people
Particular appeal is made to the
young men in the state to take hold of
and advance this movement to success
Through the temporary organization /
steps are about to be taken to form |
leagues all over the state Each league
viii be self-governing body. selecting its
own chiefs and its own delegates.
We ask all Democrats who sympathize
with this movement to join these leagues
and aid us in accomplishing the purposes
above set forth.
DEMOCRATIC Coon GOVERNMENT LEAGUE =
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