The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1911-01-15
GOOD GOVERNMENT LEAGUE.

L
When honored and reputable citizens
of Louisiana met in the city of New Or
leans in August of last year and
launched. the Good Government League
they were ridiculed ungraciously by the
administration press as ''soreheads,"
''has beens" and the "outs crying to get
in" Such criticism was unmanly and
manifested clearly the feeling of resent
ment entertained by men who are and
have been aligned with the administra-
ton of Governor Sanders, and who,
therefore, would silence all opposition
directed against him.
Fortunately Louisiana, while in a
sense a political oligarchy, has not yet
reached the plane where freemen can be
gagged and muzzled, but are still pos
sessed of the right, unabridged to gath
er in meeting and voice their views and
take their stand for good government,
regardless of abusive criticism.
The movement inaugurated under the
banner of the Good Government League
is responsive to the demands for re-
forms in the government of the State
of louisiana, which is reliably and over
whelmingly Democratic.
The people as a rule are patient al
most beyond limit and will bear with
extraordinary fortitude the ills of gov
eminent until patience ceases to be vir-
tue, and then there comes the reaction
for betternent, which leads to radical
but satisfactory results.
The purpose of the League is not in
the interest of any man or politician or
self-seel1er.
As announced in the platform adopted
at a conference of the originators and
organizers of the League, I'VE propose
to vote in the Democratic primaries for
men who will pledge themselves TO car
ny out the true principles of Democratic
government, and who by their character
will not develop into political liars and
political prostitutes.
In its pronouncement the League is
not evasive, but strikes at the evil of
misgoyernment direct
1t is true that the friends of Governor
Sanders and the administration press
except strenuously t.. being arraig11ed
before the people, but whatever charge
has been made against Sanders and his
administration is provable.
Perhaps it is the truth which leads to
the wincing, but there can be no evasion
or contradiction of the truth when it is
based on facts which are patent
It is unnecessary to indulge in details
and it is sufficient to know that the po-
litica1 power of the Governor created
through special legislation and enlbrac-
ing innumerab1e commissions and of
fees which are to be filed by executive
appointments is greater than that ever
exercised by any Governor of the State,
even in the palmiest days of Warmoth
and Kellogg, when they were sustained
by Federal bayonets in the plundering
of the people under the guise of law.
During these days of louisiana
shame, the people were patient until
they rebelled and the government of the
State was wrested from these vena1 and
corrupting hands.
It was then as now a despotism when
the Governor was the State and his
n1ifions and hirelings obeyed his every
word and his every command without
hesitation.
Excepting the plundering Of the peo-
pie under the guise Of law, the State of
Louisiana at this time is dominated al
most as radically by one man whose die
tation and commands control politically |
i, all things according to his within or
caprice.
The aim of the Good Government
League is. to take from the ad1ninistra-
ion this extraordinary power, which |
nay be handed down in succession to
one who being Of the political SPOTS sys-
.em will continue in the footprints of
Sanders, when only the few and the
oval shall be honored and rewarded and
he rest may be eternally damned.
The aim Of the Good Government
League is greater than any personal
merit or factionalism It is simply
Shall the State Of Louisiana be re
deemed from the clutches of a coterie o
IF men who are and have been thriv-
ng on politics under the guise and name
Of Democracy?
The platform of the Good Govern
nent League is SO broad and so thor
oughly Democratic that no citizen, not
allied TO the political machine, need hes
tate in his membership.
The organization of the Good Govern
nent League is forerunner of the fri
Inaph Of the people over the political
centralized in New Orleans,
with ralnihcations throughout the State.
IN local and paroehial affairs the League