The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1911-08-18
To Voters o. Cal6wnll Parish:

10 YOJGFS OA OcsiuWSil III -oii.
Sometime ago when anneunc-
ing my candidacy for the Office OF
Representative in the Legislature
Of The State of Louisiana, from the
parish of Caldwell, | promised to
give you, at a later period, a
statement of the principles for
which | stand, and the special
legislation which [ advocate; and
| deem that the time is now ripe
for a declaration on my part.
[ believe in, and shall contend
for the strictest economy in the
administration Of the affairs OF
government, without panderlng
to the claims and demands o.
any class or clique, and the ellnl-
nation of the politician and place
hunted from the conduct OF the
public business.
/ believe that all classes OF our
citizens should be treated with
the same fairness, and that the
truth and honesty should be the
basis of all transactions and COM
munications between the citizens
and the government.
] believe in, and shall contend
for the enactment Of only such
laws as will be of the creates
benefit to the greatest number OF
our people, without in any man
ner hampering the rights OF any
individual, in a moral, social,
political Or civil sense.
| am opposed to the doctrine OF
one-man power or to the instlru-
ton of a centralized government;
on the other hand, | believe that
all power in the affairs Of govern
ment should come directly from
the people who must speak
through their duly and honestly
elected representatives; and |
think that any such representa-
tive who dares to not live up to
his declaration of principles and
pledges, and who runs counter to
the express wishes and desires of
his constituency in the transac-
ton Of the public business should
be repudiated, and declared I'M
worthy of their respect and con-
fdence.
IF elected to represent you in
the Legislature of the State, |
shall contend that the maximum
amount allowable under the Con-
stitution for pensions to Confed-
crate veterans, shall be appro-
priated for their benefit, and that
all unnecessary expenses III the
administration Of this fund shall
be cut off, to the end that the
sum Of each veterans pension
rnay be Increased accordingly.
| believe that every man who
represents the people in any de-
layanent of the government
shdit1d be elected by the people,
and accordingly, | shall make an
honest effort to have Parish Su-
perintendents of Public Educa-
ton made elective, but Of course,
prescribing that no man shall be
eligible to such Office unless he
possesses certain prescribed edu-
cational qualifications; for it is
manifest to everybody, that it is
for the best interest OF our edu-
cational advancement that men
of education, experience and
ability, must have charge of this
particular branch Of government.
The State Board of Equaliza-
ton is a political sinecure, in that
it is of no benefit whatever to
anybody except the man who
draws the salary, and for that
reason | shall advocate the re-
peal of the law which created
this board.
The laws Of the State on the
subject Of registration and cleo,
ton are SO complicated that the
average voter does not under
stand them, and shall advocate
such a sinlplifcation Of these
laws as will enable every voter
to understand them and know his
rights, and to eliminate every
thing that has a tendency to hin.
der the voter in the exercise OF
Iia e,,frr,ro Eronoh;co Thol;,,<