The Caucasian., 1912-03-28
FULL AUTHORITY VESTED in
THE PARISH COMMITTEE


submitted by Hon. Horace Wilkin-
son, Chairman of the Executive
Committee of the Democratic State
Central Committee, to Attorney Gen
eral Guion, as follows:
lin eases of failure of any parish
to elect parish committee in the
recent primaries, does the old com
mittee hold over or is it compelled
to call a primary election for new
committee?
2 Where elections have been held
for parish committeeman in certain
wards of a parish, and not in other
wards, do the old members hold over
or has there to be another primary
to fill the positions not filled in first
primaries, and if a new election is
required, upon whose call should
said election be held?
g. Has the Democratic State Cen
tral Committee authority to order
primaries to fill vacancies in the
parish committee, in case the local
committee refuses or fails to act?
4. Would it be permissible or le-
gal to hold primary election for
delegates to the Baton Rouge con
yention of June 4, or to elect mem
bers of a parish committee at the
same polling places with the same
commissioners and officers as are
delegated to conduct the general
election on April is next?
5. Where a senatorial district
committee ceases to exist by reason
of death, removal or failure to act,
in causing an election of their sue
cessors, what step will be necessary
to revive such committee or to re-
establish the same?
II would seem from the Caucas-
ian's Interpretation that each of the
queries may be answered catagori-
cally If considered from a practical
common sense basis.
Indeed there are rulings, in pre-
cedence, which have been applied
and have met all the queries with
out the reference to the Aftornes
General.
The only query which concerns
The Caucasian and the Democracy
of Gaddo Parish is the fourth query.
The opinion of the Attorney Gen
eral submitted recently in the case
Of the Parish of Washington is all
sufficient, but it is not possessed of
the legal scope that would annul the
election of the delegates from Cad
do to the State convention if chosen
as already devised by the Democrat
ic Executive Committee of Caddo
Parish.
In ordering this primary election
Tor the nomination of delegates to
the State convention, The Democrat
ic Executive Committee of Cadao
Parish had for guidance the man
dates of the Democratic State Cen.
tral Committee.
The Caddo Parish Executive Com.
niittee could have directed the Sc
lection of the twenty three delegates
to the State convention by a par
ish convention, or could have
reserved to themselves the ap-
pointment of these delegates, but
such proceeding was not believed to
be consistent with the oft repeated
and proclaimed principle, If mol i
pretence, .let the people rule.
Incidentally, it is threatened tina.
II heed is not given to the anticipa,
ed ruling OF the Attorney General.
there will be contests of delegation
In the convention and il is suggest
ed as advisable that it would be bet
ter 10 wait and find out what is the
law.
BY what law or authority could
the delegates from Gaddo Parish be
excluded from participation in the
State convention when the delegates
are duly and fully accredited by the
Democratic Executive Committee?
Would not such credential be
equal, if not better than the eerti-
fieate of a parish committee which
has arrogated to itself the authority
Of selecting the delegates, who
should be chosen by majority of
the votes participating in pri-
mary.
Is il suggested by implication that
the Democratic State Central Com
nlittee was without legal authority
when If decreed that the selection of
delegates to the State convention
could be by primary, by convention
or by the committees of each par
ish9
Is the Democratic State Central
Committee is and was possessed OF
legal authority to devise and to de-
cree how the delegates from each
parish could be named why in
woke the opinion Of the
Attorney General On question self