Tensas gazette., 1911-05-19
NOT EAGER FOR THE FRAY.

llJlCdL uidtIcIo, Ni1h SnO hO" Sdh
didates for Governor announcing, a
large majority Of the country press
seem determined that an early cam
paign shall not be forced on them.
In that respect they are apparently
rejecting the will of the communi-
ties they represent, for their is still
evident on the part of the people a
marked lack of interest.
We had been led to expect that
the announcement of Mr.. Michel's
candidacy would be the signal for a
general and furious uprising Of the
country against the city Democracy,
while Judge Halls would fire the
heart Of the opposition from one
end of the commonwealth 10 the
other.
Neither of these representations
has been borne out. Except by a
limited number Of papers whose at
titude would be unaltered il saint
led the regulars, Mr.. Michel's can
didacy has been well received wher-
ever the country press has INDUCED
in comment. His sixteen years OF
unusually efficient service in the Of
flee of Secretary of State has ap-
pealed to even those papers which
later may oppose him as emitting
him to fair treatment. Even the
intensely partisan Gueydan News,
which assumes that every New Or
leans ward leader wears horns, is
generous enough to say Mr.. Mich
els has record as an official which
speaks for itself and his opponents
will know that he is very much in
the race"
On the other hand, Judge Halls
candidacy scarcely can be said to
have set the woods on fire, esti-
mable as Judge Hall is. Even in
his own section there is not want
ing evidence of the disappointment
OF his friends over his decision to
abandon the judicial office with
which they labored SO faithfully and
so zealously to honor him. The
Monroe News-Star, his home paper,
which first suggested him for Judge
Lands seat and supported him with
intense ardor, is in doubt whether
it can follow him in his pursuit Of
the gubernatorial will o. the wisp.
The Ruston Leader and the Nat
itoches Enterprise, both able papers
and consistent baiters Of the present
administration, are not certain that
he viii prove stronger candidate
than Mr.. Aswell. The Waterproof
Enterprise doubts whether he viii
give up the supreme iusticeship and
il he doesn't intend to it thinks he
would not have the semblance Of a
show. The Natchitoches Times, an
anti-ring paper, desires to know il
Judge Hall is true himself, his re-
cent election, his friends and the
principle Of fair play and square
dealing by becoming a candidate at
all?" The Richland News, regards his
action as selfish and lacking in ap-
probation Of the service of the peo-
pie rendered him in elevating him
toa great judicial honor over tried
and true judge.
1t is evident, therefore, that even
IN his own section and among bis
own friends the wisdom of Judge
Hall, in yielding to the cajolery OF
the Hon. John M. Parker, is the
subject Of dispute.
But, as we started out to say,
what is more particularly impress
i've in the editorial columns of the
country press is the reluctance to
set the political pot aboiling 50 much
sooner than is at all necessary.
The early opening of political
campaigns, says the Colfax Chron-
icle, is generally recognized as
hurtful to the business and social
= relations Of the community and for
that reason is to be deprecated. In
the present instance it viii doubt
less prove no exception to the rule
OF creating dissention and strife in
many quarters where it was least
expected y
For the welfare Of the State and
all concerned, says the Waterproof
Enterprise. it is to be hoped that
the campaign viii be short. The