The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1912-02-23
Columbia, La, Feb. %, 1912.

10 ne voters OF Lha A'tll oel1a-
,Dial District:
Wnen | entered the race for
Senator | recognized that princi'
pies and not men would form the
paramount question with the
voters, and accordingly | draft
ed and published a platform in
which clearly expressed my at
titude on certain governmental
questions.
! am deeply appreciative Of the
confidence in me and my plat
fuIm expressed by over one thou
sund tal.ots cast for me in the
recent Democratic primary.
Recently | read an article in
the local press in which my op-
ponent makes a bid for votes.
Although am against newspa-
per non-contcoyersies | feel that
the voters OF this district should
know ali the facts before render
inc ,ueir decision at the polls.
Ny opponent claims that a
second primary is a useless ex.
pense, and then shows that he is
really opposed to it on quite an
other ground, forgetting that
ne had already said that the ex.
ponse was to be consider, he con.
fessed his real objection to a
second primary by stating THAT
he 0ad been lead to believe by
my friends that / would be given
a larger vote than he, owing to
TIC TACT that other officials had
to be nominated in Grant parish. "
My answer is, that as a Demo-
crat | have been taught to be-
lieve in the voice Of the people
and a rule by majority. The
law wisely provides for a second
primary when no candidate re-
ceives a majority for the reason
that we live in democratic state
where the majority rules. My
opponent wants a majority to
rule, for such would be the case
if there was no second primary.
From the returns received the
majority did not want Mr.. Har-
per to be their Senator. The
majority of the ballots were cast
against him. Evidently and con.
fessedly he fears the voice Of the
majority. | welcome that voice
and | want that voice to say en-
phatically who shall represent
the district in the Senate. :.
do not believe that the I'D.
vantages of majority rule can
be calculated in dollars and cents,
for it is a principle upon which
the perpetuity of this govern
ment rests.
Mr.. harper says that he is a
reformer. | stand for more re-
forms than he does, and | invite
comparison of our platforms.
Mr.. Harper says that intro.
duced Michel speakers at Verda,
and with wonderful logic con-
cludes that | was a Michel man.
Here are the facts: / was in
Verda conducting my own cam
paign, and while there / did in
troduce Mr.. Ross Breazeale. an
Ola trend OF mine. ! did this as
a matter of courtesy. But why
does not MIR. Harper blame me
for another introduction? Does
he forget that when he came to
Colfax | introduced him? Does
that prove that | am a Harper
man? In both cases it proves
that which will meet the approval
ofevery true Democratic proves
that |, even in the heat of 4
political campaign do not forget
to be gentlemanly and courteous.
OF course this does not exactly
harmonic with that unique sys-
tenn of logic lately invented by
nv friend Harper.
MR.. HARPER went all over
the district abusing Aswell and
his cause. At that time he was
not hunting Aswell votes, but he
is now vainly hoping that the
Aswell voters have forgotten the
the fight he made on their candi.
. date. The event is so recent
that he should be asking forgive
ness instead of presuming that
the Aswell men are 50 forgetful.
Believing DR.. Aswell to be a
good Democrat, and knowing him
personally, voted for him.
Mr.. Harper has not attacked
my platform nor my sincerity or
ability to- carry out it's princi-
Piles. He only attempts to pre-
JUDGE the minds Of the voters