St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1910-07-30

6rst important step taken Dwaras
fbe return ID ! strictly democratic
government in this State, wss taken
bv Gov. M. j. Foster, during bis sec.
ond term. He recommended, | think
IN his last annual message, tie Il.
neal Of the law giving authority Il
the Governor to appoint police iuries
and the Legislature upon big recon.
mendation did repeal that act Hera
# is not amisg for me to stats that
while Governor Foster was al ODE.
lousas On j visit before D session ii
the Legislation, in question and
while he was a guest at my house, /
myself suggested to him to i@ncorpo.
rate such a recommendation ii Bis
next message, saying to him that ii
nv judgement it would be q fitting
close to his Administration and would
rebound to his everlasting credit
He approved Of the suggestion, urged
the measure III bis message, and bid
recommendation was adopted By the.
Legislature. At that time the me-
gro was still a voting power ID
the southern portion Of the State.
and Governor Foster had to proceed
cautiously and conservativeIy and
could not have safely undertaken Is
sweep out the entire system Of gov
ermental power and patronage be-
cause of that condition. This brings
me to the pleasant duty Of recalling
what / consider to be the Wisest
measure adopted by any administra-
ton since the construction era, d step
which at once prepared the way for.
the complete restoration Of demo
cratic government in Louisiana. Il
allude 20 the Constitutional ConYen-
ton Of 1898 called for the purpose
Of DISTINGUISHING the negro voters.
After that Convention had done It's
work, there was no longer any excuse
for the maintenance in Louisiana Of q
Of personal government and
one man power. Governor Foster il
bringing about that convention had
to overcome the opposition Of the
class that held Office By
executive appointment and BIZ the
machine politicians throughout The
State; and in the advocacy Of The
Measure he had no more Jealous
supporter and %tireIess worker than
That constitution deprived
negro Of the elective franchise,
md permanently established white
supremacy IN the State. and avery
,retext for the longer continuance of
he one man power at once disappear
ID. Previous to that Constitution
he maintenance Of 3 stroug exeeu-
i've government could be justified
Ipon social, racial and patriotic
rounds. Tie continuance Of exees
i've executive appointing power could
g justified after the white people
we're safegnarded il their right to-
ule upon no ground whatever. The
onger maintenance of the system
'ould be ascribed to no motive other
han graft, and the qualification of B
ordid ambition to exercise preroga
ives belonging to the people.
The Heard Administration succeed
q the adoption Of the new consti
ution, but Governor Heard was TOO
nuch occupied in giving to the pso
ile q business,lik administration Of
very department of the State Gov
.rnment to bestow attention upon
Ieeded refornatory Legislation.
an, however, recall no instance Of
he creation Of a new Office BY bis
administration Of Of any additional
'urden placed upon the people. 90
! vas given to the succeeding Adj
1~lnlstration to enter upon the great
'ork Of restoring democratic govern
nent to the State. The people Of
ne State. chiefly under the lead Of the
Imes-Democrat, had become thor
ughly aroused, and their demands
eeame 50 insistent that a represent
i've Legislature and Governor were
lected pledged to the work Of reform
.nat Legislature with the co-opera-
ION Of Governor N. c. Blanchard,
'lped from the statute books every
q executive appointive power
N some small and unimportant
aspects.
Inc Justices Of the Supreme Court
g Criminal district Judges, the
We Tax Collectors nf The o;tv 81 New