The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1912-07-12
After Battle Lasting Through
Session Johnson Bill
Passes House
GOVERNOR HALL BEHIND IT
Measure Has important Bearing on
Future ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
News Items.

primary election bill finally passed by
a vote of GA TO A., following a truce
that was entered into, both sides being
weary Of the prolonged battle that had
dragged through almost eight weeks
Of this session.
But the peaceful end did not come
ever enacted in the house. Men were
running down the ailses shaking their
fists in each others faces, declaring
| themselves responsible either inside
or outside of the house, and shouting
the top of their voices.
It was agreed by the Oreanians to
cease hostilities, which blocked other
| legislation, and to allow the election
| bill TO go through the house. They
will now lay" for it in the senate.
The notable administration victory
was cheered for several minutes. 1t
| had been spurred on by the aid Of
special message from the governor urg-
| ing the Johnson bill,
Gov. Hall was greatly pleased with
the outcome
AS the johnson bill stands and as it
went to the senate it provides:
First-That no one can secure as
sistance at the polls unless he is ply
sically disabled or cannot read or
write.
Second-That affidavit will be re-
quired for any one asking assistance
who is registered under the educa-
tional clause, false swearing leading to
perjury charges.
Third-That sample ballots will be
provided for aiding.
Fourth-That system of perforat-
ed slips officially numbered and at
tached to the ballots will prevent the
endless chain racket.
This bill annuts the recent decision
Of the supreme court legalizing as
sistance in making ballots.
Joseph E. Generelly, who led the
fight against the bill, said:
1--WE desire to enter protest against
this measure, which will have the ef-
feet Of DISTINGUISHING thousands of
white men. We repudiate the doctrine
that an illiterate white man has no
more right than negro. We desire
to state here and now that we do not
fear the shotguns held up a threat
in kilograms from New Orleans. Our
organization has never lost a white
mans fight and it will not lost this
one"
Judge Charles Kilbourr ., of Clinton:
II stand for the enfranchisement of
every white voter and the freedom of
the ballot. There is no danger of any
white man being disfranchised under
this act"
Delos R. Johnson, author of the bill:
"This bill is to do away with bossism
in Louisiana, just as years ago the
good men of this state rid it of car
petbagism."
Gov. Hall was greatly incensed and
displeased over the continued filibus.
tering in the house, which was orig
inally organized to force terms on the
primary election law as to the assist
ance clause.
Anyone has right to vote against
measure If they see fit and if it is
inimical to their interests, but they do
not have the right to block and re-
tard the passage of other legislation
which this body has been sent here
to enact" declared Gov. Hall to per
sons in his executive office who were
discussing the legislative deadlock In
the house.
Commissioners Salary Fixed.
Hot words and much confusion came
up in the house over the bill by Mr..
Caulfield, fixing the salary of the COM
missioner Of agriculture at $4,000.
The vote was announced as IS yeas
and IS nays.
Senate Rushes House.
The senate served notice OF the
house by resolution introduced by Sen.
ator Patterson that unless the house
acted upon the senate bills that the
enate would refuse to act upon any
mouse bills. There has been a great
deal of criticism in the senate of the
delay in the house in disposing Of sen.
ate bills, especially as the senate has
advanced all house bills and passed
many.
Nurse Bill Postponed.
The bill by J. E. Mechanism of
Caldwell, providing that white female
nurses shall not wait on negro men in
public hospitals, was indefinitely post
poned in the house. Opponents of
the will said the spirit of the bill was
right, but that 1t would be hard to put
into practice. 1t was opposed strictly
On the ground of'expedfency.
T. Sambola Jones Arrested.
T. Sambola Jones, Of East Baton
Rouge, in the house spoke to a ques-
ton of personal privilege because he
had been arrested by the sheriff of
this parish on charge of dual office
holding. He said that he was handed