The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1911-07-08
The Political Rally at Ruston July 4th.

Auc OutRo ~ manly ~ AsoSsO" . Wy 1ssss
Ruston, La. July 1.-The rally held
here to-day which marked the formal
opening OF the political campaign in
Louisiana, was attended not only by
all of the candidates with the excep-
ton of one. Senator Foster, who was
detained by business in Washing on,
but by large crowds Of supporters Of
the various ca ndi,lates from as many
different parts of the State.
The meeting was enthusiastic and
every candidate was given due meas
ure Of applause rs his views were
made known. Three candidates for
the 1915 term in the United States
Senate were present. These were
Governor Jared Y. Sanders, Con-
gressmen A. p. Pujo and Robert +.
Broussard. The only candidate pres
ent for the 1918 term was Congress
man Joseph E. Ransdell, who il max
ing the race in opposition to Senator
Murphy j. Foster. Judge Luther E..
Hall, Hon. j. b. Aswell and Hon.
j. T. Michel, all of whom are aspir-
ants for the governorship, were also
present. Each one of these candi-
dates addressed the assembly.
One of the features Of the day was
the announcement made by Hon. j. t.
Michel at the beginning of his ad-
dress that he appeared before the
people as private citizen, having
rendered his resignation as Secretary
of State to the Governor.
1t wns cOnservatively estimated
that not less than 10000 people
were present, and some estimates ex-
coed this figure by several thousand.
The tabernacle, with the seats built
around it, held about 3 500 people,
and it was packed and damned from
the time Governor Sanders led of in
the morning until Mr.. Aswell wound
up the speaking program in the af-
ternoon. Many thousands were scat
tered about the grounds, being I'M
able to get close enough to hear the
speakers inside the tabernacle.
All the candidates for Lieutenant
Governor were here and occupied
places on the platform. These were
Senator Barrett, Senator Gueydan
aud Senator Wimberly.
The candidates for Commissioned
ofAgriculture, Commissioners Bruner
Hon. VIM. Polk aud Capt. b. W
Marston, were also here presenting
their claims to the individual voters
Hon. LeDoux 4. Smith, OF AIexan
dria, who is making a strong race
for State Treasurer, was here an(
was greeted heartily by many friends
The meeting WAS presided over b,
Judge X. b. Dawkins of the judicia
district composed of the parishes o
Union and Lincoln. The order o
speaking for the governorship wa
MIR. Michel first, Judge Hall aud DR.
Aswell following. There were sever
speakers altogether, and it was de
cided to limit their speeches 10 fort.
minutes each, which with an inter
mission for dinner would take u
nearly the whole day, and SO cand
dates for the other offices were bal
red from speaking. The order of tn
speakers was determiped by lot, an
il fell to Gov. Sanders to lead of.
Governor Sanders had every res
son to be proud of his reception
The first part of his speech deal
mainly with u defense Of his admin
tration, and a frank statement az t
every pledge he had made in his can
paign for Governor four years ago
and the manner in which he ha
striven to keep them.
Continuing he said: 81 am not
Republican in thought, in belief.
sentiment, nor in tradition; nor al
la near-Republican or a near-Dem'
crat; and in this campaign you wi
find lined up against the all the +
dictionaries and all thestand-patter
If l were in Congress to-day, woul
not he flirting or consorting wit
Joe Cannon or Serene Payne; but
would be found fighting the BATH
of Democracy under the leadership
Champ Clark and Oscar Underwood
Congressman Robert +. Broussar
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