The Caucasian., 1910-06-26
JUDGE MUREF'S ADDRESS
To the Democratic Voters of the Fourth
Congressional District.

My Dear Sirs: Some months since |
issued letter, which was published in
the papers, in which | charged Our pres
ent congressman, Mr. Watkins, with
violating his party pledges and the
Democratic platform by voting with the
Republicans and for Republican meas
ures that were in direct conflict with
party instructions.
Believing that no good Democrat
could endorse his actions, intimated
that | would make the race against him,
provided the Democrats did not think
there was a more available candidate
for the place. Having waited for some
time and no other man having been sug-
gested and having received hearty en-
dorsement from many of the leading
citizens throughout the district, | have
decided to make the race.
| shall not boast of my virtues, but
leave you to Judge me from my record,
for it is what we do and not what we
say that measures the man.
I represented the parishes of Bossier.
Webster and Bienville- for eight years as
district attorney, and the Parish of Cad
do for three years as district judge.
I shall not call upon outsiders to
vouch for my Democracy, but lay my
record at your feet as my only witness,
and lat ,-o,, he INV ir1dUeS
My platform, if elected, will be that
of my party and my people, and if the
time ever comes when I can not carry
out the mandate of the Democratic
party, | shall return it with my COM
mission, unsullied, to the people who
gave it. shall not bedragg1e it in the
dust and mire of Republicanism, nor
sacrifice its principles upon the altar of
special interests" | shall not tear
from it one single plank, or write in it
one single policy antagonistic to Democ-
racy, nor shall put up my own opinion
against the combined wisdom of the
party. If it be silent upon any principle
of governmental policy / shall be guided
| by the leading tenet of Democracy,
equal rights to all and special privi-
leges to none" have no fight to make
against any man or class of men, so
long as they recognize the rights of the
people, but will oppose with all my en-
ergy any measure that seeks to make
the masses of the people pay an unfair
tribute to the special interest class no
matter under what pretext it is sought
to be done.
It has been said that a poor man can
not be elected to Congress unless the
special interest" class are back of him.
If this be true. it is so because the peo-
lple allow the Special interest" class to
control and dominate our politics. / be-
lieve the time has come when the people
must make a strong fight for Democ-
racy, which stands for a government
for and by the people
While | am a poor man, and shall
doubtless be opposed at every step by
the special interest" class, have still
an abiding faith in Democracy and the
people, and with their help can win.
have no private secretary, paid by
the government, to keep the mails flood
ed with literature in my behalf, nor can
l send you that literature without post
age, but shall have to bear all this ex-
pense myself Therefore, l take this
method of asking each and every Dem
locrat for his vote and support.
Being nine parishes in the district,
shall not be able to see in person each
voter, but shall make public speeches in
each parish before the campaign closes
where I hope all will come to hear me
discuss with my opponent the issues
of the campaign.
| Soliciting the vote and influence oi
each and every Democrat, I am, with
respect, A. ]. MURFF..