The true Democrat., 1912-01-20
Saturday, Jan. 20, 1912.
on WHLCH SIDE?

Before the passage Of another|
week and before the editor again
bears a message to you, the results
Of the primary of the 23d day Of jan
uary will be known. Some issues
and some fates will be definitely Set
tied, while those still in doubt will
only be comparatively so. For in
deed the whole matter of Louisiana's
officials for the ensuing four years
will be largely, almost entirely deter
mined, by the voting done next Tues
day. The fate of those remaining
over for a second primary will be su
jected to conditions easily forecast.
Be that as it may, duty assigns on
ly what a man should do to-day and
leaves the issues Of tomorrow for
their own hour. Hence, voter, We
ask you in all seriousness, on which
side are you arrayed to-day. For Of
a truth, there are only two sides in
this contest, whetheryOu look at it
from psychologist or an economic
viewpoint. On the one side, the ad-
ministration forces of the Democrat
ic party present their candidates, and
though these Ostensible leaders ut
ter fair words and make smooth and
attractive promises, the men behind
them who are supporting them and
urging them forward, have no ideals
to match the soft speech Of the lead
ers. Admitting no need of reform or
retrenchment in the administration
Of public affairs, crying peace when
there is no peace and ieering and
hOOting at the suggestion that there
should be clean registration rolls, ca
ger for the pillage and rape OF the
body polite that sinecural offices af-
ford, these supporters Of the ring, tn
men that will have to be fed, give
palmer pointers than do the personal
platforms and campaign speeches OF
their leaders of what may be expect,
ed. Are you on that side? Does a
fat place for you or your brother
mean more than a more economical
government for the taxpayers Of all
Louisiana, yourself included?
On the other side, there are the
candidates, standing on the Good
Government League platform, whose
every plank is a pledge for REFORM
retrenchment or progress. These toe
are fair words and soothing prOmis
es, but the guarantee of fulfillment
is in a ratio of one hundred to one
since behind these men and urging
them on is a non-Office holding class
men, who want no office and whose
sole motive is the Improvement Of
economic conditions and the reform
Of their beloved party. In the ranks
may be Office-seekers and men with
ringsters' ideals, but no army is with
out mercenary substitutes and posi-
BILE deSerter3. The mass Of the
Leaguers are not such, and these
are urging their leaders forward
while they march behind in solid
phalanx.
On this side is reform. On which
side are you?
There is to be sure, another gal
liant little army in the fray. Many
most of it's soldiers are sincere in
their fight for better things. But by
not allying themselves with the re
form organization, they spend their
shot in vain. They weaken by divi'
sion what they might strengthen by
union. Are you on this side? Then
pause, before it is too late and ask
yourself, if you can afford thus to
weaken the cause of reform when
your assistance at this time will
make the issue swift and certain-a
skirmish, instead of a hard-fought,
though successful, battle