The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1910-11-20
JUDGE THORNTON A CANDl-
DATE FOR THE UNITED
STATES SENATE.
STATES SENAI +.


Judge J. X. Thornton of the Parish
of Rapidcs has announced formally his
candidacy for the vacancy created i'll the
United States Senate by the death of
Senator McEnery.
Judge Thornton is the gentleman who
was named by Governor Sanders as the
successor of Senator McEnery, but to
whom no commission has been issued.
Was the appointment by the Governor
legal, and if legal why should the Leg
islature be convened in extra session to
do that which the Executive of the
State had the right to do?
1t has been said, it is generally under
stood as we'll as presumed that Govern
or Sanders is pledged to Judge Thorn
ton, and if he is, why should Judge
Thornton proclaim his candidacy by an
nouncing formally that he has opened
his campaign and named a committee of
his friends to protect him and secure for
him the vacancy in the United States
Senate?
1t may not be denied that Governor
Sanders is ambitious and has an eye on
the senatorship for the long term, and
perhaps he has discovered that Judge
Thornton may be unwilling to yield to
him the long term should he be named
for the unexpired term. And, inferring
that Judge Thornton would not be a.
tool but would remain a man, and hay
ing been placed by Governor Sanders in
the senatorship, and perhaps now, hav
ing his doubt as to the result, if not sus-
pieions, he has determined on relying
upon his own efforts, with the assist
ance of his friends, to secure the COW
eted honor from the General Assembly
of louisiana
With such surmise there will arise the
all-important issue as to whether the
Legislature will be subservient to the
demands or the wishes of Governor
Sanders and lay aside Judge Thornton
for one who may be willing to agree to
Sanders programme, or whether Judge
Thornton can exert an influence stuff
cient to secure for him the senatorship !
independent of any pledge, or promise,
or ENHANCEMENT with Sanders.
On the surface there seems to be no
rtiffling Of temper but the apparent cor
diaiity may be developed into a most
discomfting and tantalizing misunder-
standing which may precipitate, if not
chaos, at least one of the liveliest of /
contentious witnessed in years, being
perhaps on the order of the regime
when the Democrats had their conten-
ton with the Republicans and the scala
Wags of Louisiana.
From another view, somewhat con-
sentative of the senatorial imbroglio,
Governor Sanders may be compelled to
yield to Judge Thornton, without re-
quiring of him any pledge or promise,
IN order to placate the Bosses of New
Orleans, whose main reliance and de-
pendence rest on the registrar of voters
whose exercise Of power may be reck-
oned to be as great as the Gar of Rus
STA.
1t is generally understood throughout
the State that all things are possible po-
litically to the Bosses Of New Orleans,
if they can control the registrar, and
therefore, to hold this office there may
be concessions and understandings
which may hold in check any possible
eruption in the Legislature over the SEN
atorship.
However, the political game will be
watched with keen interest by the peo-
pie Of the State who may secure the
control of the Legislature which is to
name the senator for the long term, and
over which Governor Sanders will have
little if any influence.