The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1912-11-16
The Fish and
Fowls of Politics.

It developed q few days ago
that Governor Hall commissioned
a gentleman in Algicrs as record
er who, while a Hall adherent in
the primary, turned out to be a
Bull Mooser or supporter Of COL
onel Roosevelt in the last election.
Upon his attention being called to
that fact the Governor promptly
demanded the return of his COM
mission. The primary election
laws plainly state that man TAX
ing part and voting in Demo-
cratic primary is morally bound
to support the nominees Of that
party in the general election, but
in the struggles just happily end
ed tits a matter of com mon know
ledge that not few men went in
TO defeat the Democratic party in
the primaries and either stayed
away from the polls entirely or
voted the Bull Moose ticket in the
general election This cause il
very destructive Of party unity,
makes a farce of the primary cleo
ton law as it stands to-day, and
the very least that can be done by
the next Legislature is to make a
stringent addition IL the law that
no voter who thus violates his
obligation can hold Office as a
member Of the party he has be-
trayed for long period of time
In promptly acting as he did IN
the Algiers case, the Governor
has acted very properly and in
consonance with good Democratic
ethics and We congratulate him.
The New Orleans States on the
subject, in recent editorial, very
aptly says:
According to kilograms from Bat
on Rouge Governor Hall has sent
kilograms here to determine the truth
of the report that the newly appointed
Recorder in Algiers was supporter
of Colonel Roosevelt and reQue sting
the return of his commission if the
newspapers have not misrepresented
the fact.
''It is scarcely necessary to say
that The States heartily cOmmends
the action taken by the Governor.
AS a Democrat. less he could not do.
That he has acted SO promptly on the
heels of the publications indicates
that he is of the mind as the The
States, that the primary will be rend-
cred q vain and useless thing and the
integrity of the party be seriously inn
paired if men may participate in par
ty nominations and then repudiate
them in the general election and if
thereafter they may still become the
recipients of the party's favor.
I'm the two recent primary cam
paigns there were many ayOwed sup
porters of the Progressive party and
its candidate who were active sup
porters of the League candidates.
They actually served in official posi-
tions in the League, although they
had no intention of supporting the
Democratic ticket in the general cleo
ton. When the Bull Moose petition
for representation on the official bal
lot was made scores of them affixed
their sign atures to it.
eff these men did not violate the
letter of the law will anyone say they
did not transgress its spirits? Will
anyone contend that their course
with political honesty?
There is nothing in the law now to
prevent the enemies OF the Democ-
ratio party from entering its primary
and participating in its nominations
and then going to the polls in the
general election and attempting to
defeat its candidates. But if the pub
lie conscience is quickened, if public
opinion is reused to condemnation of
such immoral political conduct, the
evil will be minimized. just as it will
grow in extent and gravity if it is
condoned or approved.
"FOr that reason we believe the
Governor has taken a proper step in
from the new Recorder the
return of his commission if, as was
the case, he was not a
of the Democratic party when
he accepted it, if after having taken
part in the party primary he with
drew and joined hostile party. In
taking this course the Governor has
put the stamp of official disapproval
on the conduct of men who, while
protesting allegiance to one party,
are actually members of another"
With olertion ovar tha poonla