The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1912-03-07
How to Punish Superintendent Harris.

of Lafayette and Cheneyvllle IN calling on
Superintendent Harris to resign is general
over the State There has never been
such unanimity on any proposition among
the country newspapers. Many OF them
are exceedingly bitter in their attacks on
the Superintendent. Thus far we have
found not single defender OF his course;
and some of the strongest Michel papers
have Joined the chorus against him.
In spite of this sentiment, however,
there is in many quarters belief that Mr..
Harris will not yield to the popular de-
mand to stand from under, that he will
hold fast to his nomination and his job IN
the hope that ultimately the feeling against
him will subside. If that is his idea, how
ever, he is likely to be disillusionized, and
if the people can find no other way OF am,
putating him from his office they will
probably pass recall law for his especial
benefit.
Meantime, however, there is much dis
cussion as to the best method of expressing
the popular feeling in the April election.
The Donaldsonville Chief, which claims to
be no longer Republican, but an inde-
pendent newspaper, suggests that the most
effective way of rebuking Mr.. Harris
would be for all Democrats to vote for A.
". CdtpCuiCI, tuC I've PuOAASoA NoANANUSo
for State Superintendent; but that is an
extreme to which even the angriest Demo-
Gratis is not likely to be willing to go.
The Louisiana Democrat, in scathing
arraignment of Mr.. Harris treachery,
appeals to the people to ''show their dis
pleasure of the Infamous conduct of this
Janus faced and Pecksniffian'' official by
refusing to vote for him, leaving blank the
hn tioCot nrpnsItn his
That also, however, would scarcely
answer: for the voter, following this sug-
gestion, would have to cross the square
for every other candidate on the ticket.
He could not stamp the rooster, as the
average Democrat is always inclined to do.
If the feeling against the Superintendent
reaches such a heighth as to make it
probable that any considerable number
would be willing to go to the trouble of
voting for each individual name on the
ticket, the more rational thing to do would
be to go step farther and have every such
voter write another name en- the ballot in
place of that of Mr. Harris, thereby making
possible his defeat.
i The very scrupulous will, of course,
insist that under the rules Mr.. Harris is
the party nominee and that it is the duty
of Democrats to swallow him, however
unpalatable may be the dose; but the
great body of the people appear to feel
that the Superintendent obtained his nomi-
nation under the falsest of pretenses and
that he is not, therefore, entitled to claim
the support of those whom he fooled
}, Neu Orleans States.
Why make an exception in Mr.. Harris
case?
We will admit that he is guilty of ''per.
nicious political activity and we woule
2 gladly see him put out of the office which
! he dishonors. He should be forced by
: public sentiment to resign his position OF
!, the State ticket, and in the event he re-
fuses to do so the General Assembly
should pass a constitutional amendment
to be submitted to the voters of Louisiana
:. next November, abolishing the office o
;. Superintendent of Education, and let tn
State Auditor disburse the school funds
y furnish all necessary educational statistic
and, under common sense school law, lie
!. the parish school boards control tn
~ schools of their respective parishes.
: The Superintendent office has been
i political machine ever since the retiremen
Of that excellent and nonpartisan educa
n tor, Prof. ]. V. Calhoun of New Orleans.
- Early uufluS Tic CdiupdISH IIlo Dduie
: proposed that the people of the Stat
o should nominate better man for Stat
It Superintendent than Mr.. Harris, who, a
: member of the school ring of Louisiana
n we considered unfit for the high positio
Il he held. But there are others as guilty {
If "pernicious political activity" as has bee
Mr.. Harris. Who put the schools i
politics? Certainly not Mr.. Harris. H
> found the departure" of Education up
r its eyebrows in politics, and he has simpl
h followed in the wake of his predecessor.
What shall we do with the president {
y the highest educational institution in tn
IT State, who rode on Governor Sander
N 'steam roller" in a political parade
at Baton Rouge? What shall we do with tn
father of the ''school ring" whose influ
ence makes it almost impossible to ha,
Il, any other candidate for State Superintenc
- ent but the anointed?
81. al Well and good. Let US get rid of M
y. Harris, if possible. But let US be consis
70 ent and smash the entire ''school ring"
;n the State, and Furthermore, see to it tn
- no man who has debauched the scho
y system shall be rewarded with Office #
- his discreditable work.
~ Faith Required as Well as Energy.
lis You may have unbounded faith in Il
-. -