The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1911-05-09


Reconsider the Appointment of Com
missioners and Clerks for the Elec-
ton on June First.
The Caucasian believes that the gen
tlemen who constitute the Police jury
of Caddo Parish are fair-minded and
would not take an undue advantage,
especially when it is within their att
thority to rectify an error and to cor
rect what would seem to be an unfair
and an arbitrary conclusion.
The complaint of unfairness hes III
the appointment of the commissioners
and the clerks for the election to be held
on Thursday, June 1, in the city OF
Shreveport and throughout the parish
of Caddo.
1t is unnecessary at this time to in
dulge in criticism of any act of the past,
since it is possible to rectify what has
been done. What the people want IS
simply square deal.
In all candor it must be conceded that
where the majority of the commission
ers and the clerks of the election are all
of one side that the minority is helpless
except in protesting, and in protests
which in the end may prove OF no avail
The custom which has governed II
the past and is fortified by law is that
in the appointment Of commissioners
and clerks each party shall have as equal
representation at each polling place as
is fair and practicable.
As a proof of this fact the Caucasian
will affirm that at the prohibition cleo
ton held in January 1908 the commits
sioners and the clerks were apportioned
equally between the contestants.
There was then offered no opportun-
| ity for quibbling. The custom which
had always prevailed was recognized
and carried into practice,
When the ordinance providing thl:
election was presented the commission
| ers and clerks were left blank and the
lthen president Of the Police Jury MIR
| X. Furfnan, named a committee com
Uprising Mr.. Crawford and Mr.. Drey.
fuss, two ants, to report the cotnnlis.
sioners and the clerks for this election
Although ants, these gentlemen were
selected because of their known fair.
ness and these invited suggestions ane
| the names from each side of the contes
were drawn fairly with the result tha
was entirely satisfactory to the partie.
| in contest There was not then hearC
as now complaints and protests Of TN
| fairness due to the fact that the COM
missioners and clerks as have beer
named for this election were chosen ar
bitrarily and forced on a minorit.
Through the sheer power of a majority
secured by the death of one Of their as
Isociates
The complaint is, and this complains
| is sustained by the appointments made
which are one-sided and are altogethei
| III the interests of the opponents of pro
hibition.
In the face of such condition the com
nissioners being one-sided and in tn,
majority can rule as they may see fit
and from such ruling there would be nj
defective appeal.
What is wanted is that the Polict
Jury shall reconsider the appointment
tof the commissioners and the clerks, a
ANNOUNCED, and give sway to the custom
Iof the past, when the commissioner
land the clerks presented by each part
Ishall be drawn as is intended by law
This suggestion is fair in every sens
Iof the term, and as there is no law t
lprevent such action on the part of tn
Police Jury, it is believed that the rem
Iedy sought, which is to rectify what ap
lpears to be rank paftisansIip, will b
lconsidered favorably
/ After all, the pros and the antis ar
lall good citizens and friends, and ther
lean be no good reason why either sid
should attempt to take any undue at
vantage Of the other in the selection {
1.-The commissioners and the clerks and
1.-The adoption of rules which will app
fairly to all concerned.
Il