The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1912-01-06
MAKE II ONLY
ONE PRIMARY
cTimes-Democrat, NOV. 18th

The TlmeS-Demotral noted, a lev
days ago, that oyei % per cent oil th'
country voters have already maze "a
their minds as to the governurshlp
and that a canvass of these diStricE
indicated a plurality for iia'l OF be
tween 2U.oa0 and 5000. IN" 'ilS Il
in doubt because large prop1ftlot
of the voters have not get made III
their minds, some 5000 lloaterS Wat'
ing until the last moment, hoping t
pick the winner. and vote for nm, 81
as to be in Il position TO ask place o
favor OF him.
AS We expected this statemen
about the 5000 voters who ar" wait
ing to pick the winner has broH&u'
out rival claims from the AsWeil an,
Michel headquarters that each o'
their candidates is q sure winner
This game Of bluff has been played II
every campaigu. state or presidential
for wears. but it has long since loS'
its power, because II Is so easy hA
the simplest inquiry to learn th'
truth
The plan of claiming everything II
the hope that ii would encourage al
influence some voters VAS brought u
It's highest point of Development W
the seventies by Jacob Thompson, the
great Democratic claimant, who. W'th
out lctting his eye. would lay claIlli
to PENNSYLVANIA for the Democrats, IN
spite of he Republican majority 81
EhO,o staring him in the face, and
who found thousands OF enthusiastic
Democrats to believe him and to lose
their money by backing his misln-
formation hut this grew tiresomH
and onerous IN time. and he and
the other claimants were left without
credit especially when II Was found
that any voter of average intelligence"
could get The truth without serious
difficulty by making inquiries among
his friends and acquaintance.
The Thompson claim system sur
wives in New Orleans long after 1t
has died elsewhere, This is due to
the fact that SO large a proportion
OF the city voters know nothing about
political conditions in the parishes.
Even those great statesmen. the ring
leaders themselves, are ignorant OF
what is going on outside the city
limits: many know nothing beyond
their own wards. Boss Fitzpatrick or
the Third. Boss Michel of the Thir
tecnth. understand country condi
tons. but Bosses McCue, Conell
Murphy. Hauer. Pniol, Malloy, Bond
NCrlander ct al. are as ignorant of
public sentiment in big voting par
ishes like Calcasieu, Acadia, Nermil-
lion and others as they are of Ger
man or English politics.
In number of the parishes very
careful canvass has been made from
mouth to mouth. SO that it is possible
to give almost the exact maiorities or
pluralities now, two months before
the primary. Even where there has
been no canvass. the average voter
can find out for himself the political
situation The wild bluffs now being
therefore. Of not value or
profit In the parishes, nor are the
voters of North Louisiana deceived
for the ring, while those OF the south
ern portion Of the state are told
wonderful stories OF Michel's and
Aswells strength In the northern
Thompsons, their boasts and bluffs,
like Chinese fire works." do no harm.
as every intelligent person who In
estigates them soon finds that they
are manufactured for campaign pur-
poses. in the vain hope that some
silly voters will accept these stories
because they saw them in news
paper.
AS a matter of fact, not more than
half dozen parishes in the state arc
in any doubt If a canvass were
made today of the voters as to what
they know and believe, it would show
that Hall will carry Al, Michel Is and
Aswell possibly five parishes: that
Hall would have plurality In all the
country districts and majority in
all but one. None the less. because
Of the floating vote in New Orleans,
there are doubts as to whether he
can that majority which is necessary
n m R,cf
Some of his most ardent supporters
are claiming this victory: but it can
be rendered certain only by the sup
port of the city floaters. by their be-
Ing convinced that Judge Hall is go
Ing to win. or by the aid of patriotic
and philosophical voters in the par
|shes who refuse to waste their am
and fire, straight at the
enemy the state and city ring.
A second primary will he unfortu-
nate fer many reasons The question
Of the additional cost is of small con-
Germ compared with the demoraliza-
ton and confusion Of five weeks more
Of campaigning. the loss to business.
the bitterness engendered, the frauds
encouraged. 1t ought to be possible
to settle the governorship of Louisi-
anain a single primary. when what
the voters hope to do Is to DESTROY
The rings now in control of state and
city. and to prevent a ward boss from
getting into the governorship and
placing Louisiana under boss rule and
ring methods
Why then risk two primaries? Why
give the ring two chances? Whv not
strike now? How much better will II |