The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1912-02-24
THE RIGHT WAY TO DEFEAT THE
WRONG CANDIDATE.

The fragrant viohtion Of the pro-
)rieties and breach of public conf
1ence committed bJ T. II. Harris, |
Democratic nominee for state super
ntendent of EDUCATION, when he
brew off his mask of non-partisan-
shin and became an active spellbind-
ar in the recent glDernatorlal CAM
paign, has produceda wave OF crltl-
cism and condemnation that threatens
to sweep the faithless candidate from
his moorings and carry him INTO the
whirlpool of Well-nerited discount
ture.
The Chief two months ago COM
mented on the gross bad faith
of Candidate Harris, who proclaimed
his answering determination to
keep the schools out of politics"
and avoid all semblance of partisan
ship-even refusing$t to attend meet
ings at which candidates for ottice
were invited to attend or speak-un-
til the time limit within which an
opposing aspirant for the state SUI
perintendency mightqualify as can
didate had expired; then leaped IN
to the thick of the tactional fray and
not only strenuously advocated the
election of Mr.. Michel for governor,
but went further than any other
stump-speaker of the campaign III
the direction of dragging the schools
into politics, making the senseless
and offensive declaration that the
election of Judge Hall would set
the public school system Of the state
back ten years.
The people manifested their conf
dence in Judge Hall and their lack
of faith in his selfappointed critic
by giving the judge a plurality IL
the primary which assured his noml
nation and election as governor. Il
| is. eminently proper that this result
should be followed by the defeat o.
the critic.
A number of the newspapers O.
Louisiana have severely condemnet
Mr.. Harris and called upon him Z
resign his candidacy A pubic meet
ling was called for the 22nd instan
at the Lafayette courthouse for tn
purpose of giving expression to tn
general indignation prevailing amon
the people of that parish because Q
the indefensible course of the NOM
nee for state superintendent, an
| to demand his withdrawal. It is ar
nounced that the signers OF this ca
comprise supporters of Mr.. Niche
as well as of Judge Hall, and the
are all prominent citizens OF Lafa1
cite. A similar meeting was held
Cheneyvil1e ION the 21st instant.
4 This movement Isl likely to gal
!. momentum, but whether its scope an
force will be sufficient to. force th
: abdication of the obnoxious nomlne
is problematical.
The most effective means Of secu
ing his defeat Is to be found IN tt
election of the Republican candida
5 for state superintendent, Alvin
Carpenter of New Orleans. TIL
gentleman is not politician and h;
; probably never been a candidate Il
/ public office before. It need scare
ly be said that his acceptance OF Il
Republican nomination rather d1
proves than indicates a desire
J his part to hold public office no
5 He is manager of the Gulf Bag Coz
pany and stands well with the bu
, ness community. His character al
+, capabilities are avoWed by 4
friends to- be of a high order al
may readily be inquired into al
ascertained by the press and peoI
of Louisiana between this time a!
the date of the state election
\ April. If the results of this invt
tigation prove favorable, as there
reason to believe will be the cas-
! why may not the Democratic vote
properly resent the unworthlness
the Democrat who obtained his no
I nation by deceitful methods-.und
I false pretenses,' as the legal phra
goes-and give their support 1nste
to his clean-handed and worthy i
publican opponent?
This may sound to Democra'
ears like a startling proposition, .
let's listen to it coolly for a while
fore fleeing from it in a parus
panic. Isn't it worth something
Louisiana to show to the world, q
particularly to the immigrants
are inviting from other states a
1 countries to come here and sett
that our school system is indie
kept free from the contamination
h Darty and factiOnal politics? WI