The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1910-08-25
SHALL 1T BE WATKINS AND THE TRUST
OR MURFF AND THE PEOPLE?

| Dear Editor: Mr.. Bryan, in the Com
moner, recently said:
''The Democratic Senators and members
of Congress who voted against free lumber
have greatly embarrassed the Democratic
party, strengthened the Republican party
and grievously wronged the people.
"First: because they voted to repudiate
the national platform of the Democratic
party.
Second: they voted to encourage the
destruction of our forest.
''Third: they voted to raise the price of
one of our chief necessaries of life, our
bridges, fences, school houses, churches
and homes.
''Fourth: they voted to tax the people
of the whole country for the benefit of q
few lumber men, many of whom are Re-
publicans.
''To cast such vote, a Democrat must
have arguments that have not vet been
given to the public.''
This is plain language and vet every
word of it is true and should be WEIGHED
by every voter before he cast his vote.
What Mr.. Bryan has said in regard to
lumber might be said of those Democrats
who voted for tariff on pulp wood, out of
which our print paper is manufactured.
Mr.. Watkins did this. (See Congressional
Record, page 1861
In doing so he also greatly embarrassed
the Democratic party, greatly strengthened
the Republican party and grieyously
wronged his people.
First, because it was violative of the
Democratic platform.
Second, because it raised the price of
our paper, magazines, text books for our
children, and the Bible we read at our fire.
side.
Third, because it was tax on intelli.
gence and adds an additional burden to the
education of our children.
Fourth, because it taxes the whole peo.
pie for the benefit of the Pulp Wood and
Paper Trust Company.
The Democrat who voted to nut tariff
on lumber that the lumberman might be
projected, and the pulp wood, that the
paper manufacturer might be enriched.
and then refused to vote for a tariff on
hides, IN the hands of the stock grower
and farmer, was so absurdly inconsistent
that no amount of explaining will excuse
him, and yet Mr.. Watkins did this. (See
Congressional Record, page 1287.)
Why protect the lumberman and paper
Observation-Disclosures anu uOI lu0 SGOCk growers
and farmers?
Having done this can he hope or ask the
people to send him back as their repre-
sentative? If 80, on what grounds does
he ask it? If he has repudiated his people
or his platform once is he not likely to do
so again?
Mr.. Editor, don't see how any reason
able man can re-indorse Mr.. Watkins
when they take the record and see how he
has repudiated his party and people and
voted in the interest of the lumber trust.
paper trust and shoe and leather trusts.
On the other hand, his opponent. Mr..
Murff, has been tried both as District At
torney and District Judge and never found
wanting. 1t is true the lumber trust and
criminal classes are against him, but he
has faithfully and fearlessly stood for law
and order and has never yet gone back on
the trust the people have reposed in him.
Then which shall it be.
Watkins and the trusts or Murff and
the People," Let the voters say on Sep-
TENDER 8. Respectfully, VOTER.
August %, 1910.