The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1912-05-21

with needful regard for the wishes
and needs of the people seems as
sured by the ability, high character
and civic worth of the senator's and
representatives composing it. Their
patriotism and the rectitude of their
principles and purposes are not to
be questioned.
The labors of all of us which will
be difficult in any circumstances
would be simplified and made easier
by the early enactment of string
ent law to prohibit the practice of
lobbying. There should be welcomed
at all times the attendance of able,
true and patriotic citizens who,
without selfish and petty ambition
and loyal to the whole people, are
working for the best interests of our
State and seeking to place it in the
first rank in the march of progress,
but no pernicious Hobbies should be
tolerated, expanding their activities
here to further private ends and
abort proper legislation.
| While the field of legislation and
true governmental policy is a broad
one and there are many important
subjects which might well engage
our thoughts and action it seems
| better that our attention and efforts
should not be distracted at this time
by the consideration of other mat
ters until the programme mapped
out by the people shall have been
executed and other legislation of
most pressing need disposed of. It
would not be amiss, however, at this
| time to add to the observations al
ready made, brief reference to GER
tain subjects vitality affecting the
material welfare of the State.
Just now we are passing through
The Greatest Flood
that has visited the Mississippi val
ley since its settlement by civilized
man. Our levee system which has
afforded protection to our delta
lands for some years proved unable
to Withstand the unprecedented and
unexpected demands made upon it,
and in consequence large part of
the most fertile lands of the State
have been overflowed.
The protection of the vast extent
Il
of delta lands of the Mississippi val
ley, which surpasses in fertility of
soil, ease of cultivation and value of
products all other valleys of the
world, has always been of vital i'm
portance to Louisiana, possessing as
it does large area of it which with
out complaint and with courage
that has been undhunted, its people
have been struggling to protect from
| overflow and redeem for the State
and Nation as well. 1t is of no i'm
| pOrtance now to consider what vast
sums they have spent in the con-
struction and maintenance of their
levees. Security, which we thought
had been almost if not entirely at
tanned, we now know can not be
reached without the expenditure of
much more. The people, whose fl
nancial vitality has been seriously
impaired, are now in no condition to
bear the increased burden suddenly
thrust upon them and the time has
come when the Federal government
should in all justice to so many
thousands of its citizens come
to their immediate relief by respond
ing in full measure to its duty and
obligation to control the waters of
the river and prevent them from de-
vastating so, many homes and de
stroying such enormous amounts of
property.
With the increasing development
of the vast territory embraced by
the upper basins of the river, the
waters gather more rapidly and
floods increase with frequency and
severity. The burden thus placed
upon the people of the lower valley
to protect their homes and property
is an unnatural one and they should
not be compelled to bear it or be
made the victims of the development
and progress of the country else
where.
Without discussing the matter
further, l do not hesitate to declare
that I favor the full and complete
control by the
Federal Government
of the construction and maintenance
Of the levees and such other means
as engineering skill may determine
to be necessary to afford adequate
protection from overflow 1t is to
be hoped that the General Assembly
may in its wisdom take prompt ac-
ton at once to secure, if possible,
the active cooperation Of all other