Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1911-07-07
THE Bosss WORK WELL DONE.

NJ. Parker on the complete success
OF his Good Government League
convention. II was an achievement
OF no small magnitude to bring
several hundred delegates here and
make them ratify cut-and-drie
programme without whimper of
protest against the overseer, and Mr..
Parker deserves all the laurels that
60 with Boss-ship of the highest
order.
OF course, the new political over
lord has yet his day of reckoning
with the People, as have all Bosses
sooner or later; but, in the full
flush OF the triumph which Judge
Halls nomination brings him, he
can well afford to laugh to scorn
those critics who held it to be inn
possible for a man who supported
the Republican candidate for Presi-
dent two years and half ago to
obtrude himself into Democratic
primary, bend faction to his will
and, ignoring the letter and spirit
Of the primary law, force it to take
a candidate at his bidding.
But while we freely accord to the
Hon. John M. Parker the credit of
an unusual achievement, we have
not the remotest idea that he can
consummate his plan to the extent
Of landing Judge Hall in the Exec
utive chair. 1t is not on the cards
Tor any man to win an election
whose candidacy has been made
possible by methods so raw as those
which have given Judge Hall his
nomination"
There never was a more inexcus-
able breach of faith than that by
which the League has, in this in
stance, bestowed the crown of its
leadership, and Judge Hall, highly
as we esteem him personally, be-
gins his campaign with handicaps
that insure his overwhelming de-
feat.
The Louisiana primary was the
result of a Statewide uprising
against the old convention system,
under which the people were per-
suaded to believe that not their will
but that of their political bosses,
rural and urban, was registered in
the selection Of their public servants.
Under the whip Of a militant pub
lie sentiment, the Legislature re-
stored the right to every voter to be
untrammeled in the choice of those
servants.
The League convention or confer
ence. call it what you will, was an
attempt, therefore, to rob the peo-
pie OF that right; and hence it is
illegal and indefensible and an in
sidious attack on the integrity of
the party.
But even more undemocratic than
the convention itself were the means
by which the nomination" has
been made.
When the earlier conference was
held several months ago an invita-
ton was extended to every Demo-
crat in sympathy to announce his
candidacy and submit his statement
Of principals in order that his avail
ability, his fitness and his views
might be discussed by the people.
From the list Of these candidates
convention, coming fresh from the
people and in touch with their pulse
beats, was to choose those men best
qualified by character and ability
TO insure reform Of existing polit-
ical conditions.
Instead Of abiding by this pledge
to the people, however, Mr.. Parker
andhis executive committee prompt
" proceeded in a secret caucus sew
eral weeks in advance of the meet
ing OF the convention to make their
own selection Of candidate in the
person Of Judge Hall, and, having
wrung from him a reluctant consent,
q deliberate campaign was begun to
organize mass meetings" control
the appointment Of resolutions COM
mittees through friendly chairmen,
secure the endorsement of Judge
Hall in those resolutions, tie upl
each delegation by the unit rule and