The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1912-09-21
CORRUPT PRACTICE ACT
MUST NOT Be VIOLATED
Candidates Should Be Care
full in Making .Vote-get-
ting Promises.

|
IF ENFORCED-passed by the re-
cent session of the General Assem-
billy of Louisiana is that one desig.
mated the Corrupt Practices Act. De-
signed to promote, if possible in
sure, the fairness and purity of cleo
tons, it will do what is planned ii
! good citizens will demand its enforce
| ment. We take it that all good cit
| liens do want honest elections, and
| if so should welcome this law. We
| have before given a complete synop-
sis of the law, but at this time when
peculiar and particular violations Of It
are charged-and not denied-those
passages relating especially to such
violations are herewith produced and
| commended especially to the good
sense, business Judgment and the
| conscience of the voters. The above
qualities are cited because ones good
sense and business judgment should
give counsel not to waste a vote on
a candidate against whom illegal
practices may be cited, whereas the
law itself plainly appeals to the con.
science of the individual
The entire law is strong but note
| these passages:
Section 4. Be it further enact
ed, ETC., That any person candidate
for any office, or candidate for cleo
ton to any office, who shall agree
to parcel out or divide his office
with any person or persons not rem.
dring actual SrVice in such office n
the manner required by law or be-
yond the provisions of this act; or
who shall promise to pay or actual
ly pay to any person from the reve-
nues of his office or otherwise any
| money whatever or other considera-
ton of whatever nature without the
actual rendering of public service
by the recipient of such payment or
consideration, or any person who
shall violate the provisions Of his
act as set forth in various sections
shall not only be guilty Of corrupt
practice, and subject to the penal
ties provided for by this act, but he
1 G inht In NJ
ton to the office for which he may
be candidate if said fact is estab-
lished within fifteen days before the
election for said nomination, and the
proceedings tending to establish the
verify vel non of such charge shall
be tried in a summary manner be.
fore any court of competent jurisdlc.
ton, and if he shall have been elect
ed to the office, shall forfeit the
right to said office to which he may
have been elected unless there Is
a constitutional provision to the con.
trary. In the event that the viola.
ton of the provisions of this Sec
ton occur before the primary elec-
ton, or the same can not in due
course be ascertained judicially for
the purpose of avoiding placing the
name of the candidate 80 offending
on the official ballot used at said
primary election, it shall not pre-
vent the testing of said question af-
ter said primary election so as to
deprive the said candidate, If found
t. have violated this section, of the
right of appearing on the regular
ticket at the general or special elec
ton at which he may be a candidate
for election, or If so placed upon said
ticket, that the commission shall not
issue to him in the event Of his
election unless there be a constitu
tional provision to the contrary, in
any case in which 1t may have been
judicially determined that the candi.
date so selected violated in sub
stantial manner the provisions of this
act.
Section II. Be it further enact
ed, ETC., That any candidate who
shall refuse or neglect to file, CT
who makes a false statement OF
moneys received or expended, as pre-
scrbed by section three of this act,
SHAH, in addition to the punishment
for such offense prescribed by the
laws of this State, forfeit any office
to which he may have been elected
at the election with reference to
which the statement is required to
be made, etc,
Section IS. Be it further enact
ed, etc, That no sums OF money
shall be paid, and no expenses au-
thorized or incurred by or on behalf
. CONTINUED on page fOur.)