St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1911-07-15

a 11LAGh 4OGA4
favor the segregation OF stats and
local taxation. believing, as / do,
that it will conduce to a more just
and fair distribution of the tax bur.
dens of the holders of all classes OF
taxable property, who are required
under the law to contribute to the
support Of the state and its political
subdivisions.
To bring our system Of assessment
and taxation to modern standards Ii
q task that requires time, patience,
intelligent study and ripe judgment.
I favor the appointment of q commits
sion, to serve without pay, to take up
the work Of tar revision where the
commission above referred 60 LETT OF,
in order that when the general assem-
bly, acts on this important and neces-
sary reform 1t may have full infor-
nation and data at its command.
The Income Tax.
/ favor the passage, by the LOUISE
ana general assembly, of a joint reso-
luton giving unqualified Endorsement
to the proposed amendment to the
constitution of the United States, as
enacted and submitted to the states
by congress, authorizing the fmpo-
sition of a federal tax on incomes.
The fear has been expressed in
some quarters that the proposed
amendment, IS passed by congress,
may serve to reduce the marketable
value Of many of our nontaxable pub
lie securities, by burdening them with
a federal tax, and force the state to
pay a greater interest On it's bonded
Indebtedness than it is now charged
with. / do not share this appre-
hension.
The fact that a large number of the
Democratic states of the union and
many of the Republican states, have
accepted the income tax amendment,
as congress passed and submitted it,
indicates that it bears the stamp of
popular approval. The levying OF a
federal tax on incomes has long been
recognized as a legitimate source OF
public revenue, and it's imposition by
congress has only been prevented by
lack of constitutional authority.
| am Of the opinion that Louisiana
should at once join the ranks OF its
sister Democratic states which have
Endorsed the Democratic principle of
an income tax, urged in many express
sions and enunciated In the last ma
tional party platform.
Public Education.
Great progress has been made in
our efforts to place the advantages
OF a common school education within
the reach of every child in Louisiana
and to afford vocational, technical
and advanced scientific training to
the youths and young women of the
state who desire to fit themselves
for various lines of human endeaYor.
It should be our constant effort to
place the educational institutions Of
Louisiana, from the kindergarten o
the university, upon a plane of eff
cheney exceeded by that of no state
in the union.
am particularly impressed with
the splendid work accomplished by
the agricultural schools in a number
of the parishes, and favor systematic
development of this form of educa-
ton. It is of the utmost importance
to the future welfare and prosperity
OF the state that the youth of the
agricultural districts should be af-
forded an opportunity to obtain tut
tion in scientific farming, in order
that the agricultural wealth OF the
state may be fully developed, and
those who follow agricultural pursuits
profit by modern methods Of treating
and tilling the soil.
Dual Office Holding.
/ condemn az undemocratic and uu-
just the holding Of more than one of.
flee of public. trust by any single
OF the state. Dual office
holding has gradually, but surely. be.
come q political evil in louisiana, and
| pledge myself, IL elected, to devote
my earnest and conscientious efforts
10 It's suppression.
Honest Elections.
The ballot box, aptely termed the
ark of the covenant" In popular gov.
srnment, must be protected with ieaI.
sus car and vigilance by a free peo-
DO; for in an i~ncorruptible electorate,
ind the honest casting. counting and
'eturning Of the ballots lies the safety
II the commonwealth.
American liberty is constructed on
foundation Of enlightened and hon
ut government, and the man who
obs another Of his vote, or by trick :
ry, fraud, connivance or consent, !
to the corruption of the :
le~ctorate, in any manner whatsoever,
a deadly blow at society at the
anne time that he violates the statu- /
Dry law. l
The Daily Picayune, one Of our 8
r eat conservators of thought, in its 9
ssue of May ri last, said editoria1ly: =
It lis the Picayune's demand that the {
pproaching battle OF the ballots shall q
lark an epoch in Louisiana's history,
1at 1t shall speak to the world OF the 9
sir and square deal one can expect n
hen either running for office or vot- Il
10 for it within the confines OF this G.
reat Pelican state, that it shall an q
ounce that within Louisiana's do c.
ain every ballot is counted as it is 81
no matter for whom. 49,"
I heartily subscribe to these senti- G.
ents. There is no crime defined by 1t
atute that has a greater influence @
r evil on u system of government 81
the corruption of the ballot, in tt
hateyer form it may be committed, IN
= 4ha ronrnn That Il ~cfrirnn nA 4ha nI