The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1912-03-10
Will STAMP the Rooster" Regardless

: Will STAMP the Rooster" Regardless
The Shreveport Caucasian asks II
the Banner is sincere in its advice
TO vote for Mr.. Harris for State Sup
erintendent. The Banner is always
sincere in its editorial utteranceS.
We may be wrong in our views, at
times. but We are sincere IN what
we say. We have as little respect
for Mr.. HarriS-Or any other man
who has deDauched our school SyS-
tem-as anyone; but if his name ap-
pears on the Democratic ticket, we
shall stamp the rooster vote the
entire ticket, from Governor down
TO constabIe-Mr. Harris included.
Booster Banner.
In its loyalty to the party the
Caucasian will admit, candidly that
it has not reached the political latl-
tude of the Banner.
If Prof. Harris has debauched our
school SYSTEM, he is unworthy OF
recognition and he should be defeat,
ed, regardless of his name appearing
on the Democratic ticket.
1t were senseless to waste words
in Gliding or in rebuking candI-
date for an office, and then yielding
him loyal support because his name
is on the Democratic ticket.
1t Will not be disputed that the
name of Prof. Harris will appear on
the Democratic ticket for the reason
that no opposition was offered him
at the State primary, as it was gen.
arally understood and believed that
he would take no active part in the
contest for Governor, but after he
had been declared to be the nominee
for the office of State Superintend
ent of Public Education, he develop
ed into one of the rankest of parti-
sans in the State.
For this unexpected and surpris-
ing attitude of partisanship he may
be excused" but if he has debauch-
ed our public school system he
should be repudiated at the State
election OH Tuesday, April 9.
The people of the State do not
want an autoerat at the head of the
public schools.
The. public school system of the
State is now being dominated by a
political Influence which. if contin-
ned, will prove to be detrimental to
The public school interests of the
State and so great and so important
an office as the State Superintend-
ent of public schools, should be held
by man who besides being fitted
educationally, should be- of broad
views, a man who should be free
from political partisanship.
An independent candidate has
been suggested against Prof. Harris
and without hesitation the Caucas-
ian would declare that if such a
candidate were nominated it would
give him support, if he were COM
petent to fill the office creditably.
The Caucasian would say in all
candor that the day is past when
the intelligent citizen shall be com
PEELED to vote for an incompetent
or an undesirable candidate simply
because his name is on the Demo
cratic ticket.
The independence of the intelli-
gent voter was gloriously manifest
ed in the contest for the Governor
ship and other offices at the Jan
uary 81 primary and such depart
Ire from fossilized system ,as a
response to the progressive needs
OF the day, is encouraging.
The intelligent voter can no long
er be terrorized by the threats of
being excorhmunicated from the
party, If he would dare vote against
The yellow dog" candidate.
1t is on the intelligent voter that
reliance must be placed in the main
tainance of good government, and
The assertion is here ventured that
should there be an opponent to Prof.
Harris at the April election his ne
feat would seem probable. At ANY
rate there will be a protest against
this election of Prof. Harris by
thousands of citizens who will not
vote for him.
Succession Notice