The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1910-09-03
A HAY PROPOSITION.

Gov. Sanders made the definite an
neuncement in New Orleans last Saturday
that he would decline to qualify for the
seat in the United States senate to which
he was elected by the general assembly
on the 5th of July, and that Judge j. R
Thornton of Alexandria would be ap-
pointed to fill out the unexpired term oil
the late lamented Senator McEnery.
TIE governors sensational act of self
abnegation and sacrifice. as his political
and personal friends term Though his
opponents and critics designate it differ
ently-was ostensibIy called forth by a
petition from thirty of the directors of the
World Panama Exposition Company ask
ing him to forego the senatorship and to
remain in the gubernatorial chair for the
sake of the exposition cause.
| This petition gives no reasons for the
belief of the siguers that such course on
| the part of the governor would benefit the
exposition movement, but Chairman T. P
Thompson of the company'S executive
committee has stated in effect that the
directors who joined in the appeal were
influenced by the old adage that it is not
wise to swap horses in the middle of a
stream; thatsthe governors services and
aid have been at the disposal of the COM
pany at all times; that the influence of a
new senator is never great and it is de-
sired to keep Gov. Sanders in the state I'M
til the exposition company is fully de-
veloped and congress has given it recog-
milton.
Despite the averments from petitioners
and petitioned that no Interior motives
underlie this movement, and that only the
good of the exposition and the state were
considered, the situation has a hazy APP
pearance, and there seems to be much
plausibility in the suggestion that po-
litical bug of large dimensions reposes I'M
der the chip.
The theory of those who suspect the
existence of this insect is that the political
bosses feared the induction of the ieuten-
ant governor into the gubernatorial office,
and failing to secure pledges from Mr.
Lambremont that his course would be in
conformity to their wishes and plans, they
abjured Governor Sanders to stand by his
friends at the temporary sacrifice of his
senatorial ambition, and to retain the
governorship until the<end of the term for
which he was elected by the people
1t may easily be that the exposition
directors acted in entire good faith and
without knowledge of or connivance at
the political game alleged to have been
played in this matter, and it is certainly
far from our desire to discredit them in
the smallest degree, but we fail to dis
Germ much tangible foundation for their
announced belief that Gov. Sanders will
better subServe the cause of the exposi-
ton by remaining in his present office
and failing to qualify as senator in De
cember
At the time of the election of Gov.
Sanders as senator The Chief expressed
the opinion that with respect to the great
project of the World Panama Exposition
for New Orleans. his presence in the halls
of congress promises to prove particularly
advantageous and valuable to this state
and its chief city, No reason has yet
been advanced to warrant change of
this view, and it seems plain to our mind
that from the standpoint of influence in
behalf of the exposition, Gov. Sanders
could accomplish more by going into con-
gress in December, when and where the
struggle for congressional recognition is to
be decided, than he can possibly do from
the outside.
In any event, the people of the state
should support the exposition movement
and vote for the constitutional amend
ment authorizing the tax necessary TO
secure consideration by congress of the
claims of New Orleans to be selected as
the site of the great show. Any mistakes
of policy or management in connection
with the enterprise can be corrected III
due time, but nothing should be permitted
to interfere with the prosecution of the
campaign to obtain for Louisiana and
New Orleans the inestimable benefits
that must flow from the holding of this
magnificent exposition within their Dor
ders.