St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1912-01-06

KNOW IndG LnlS Ism { so. II Mf
Michel had committed anything
violative of his oath as Secretary
of State, he would have long age
been brought before the bar o1
Justice by the very bitter enc,
mics of his. The fact of the
matter is that they have nothing
to stand on, depending entirely
upon their efforts to deceive the
| people. !"
Mr.. Fortier said that if Mr..
Michel is to lose st. Landry, as
it is said by the opposition he is,
why is it that Judge Hall has
found it necessary to come to st.
Landry twice, and is scheduled
to return a third time?
Hon. John T. Michel was in
troduced as Louisiana's next
Governor, amidst a storm of ap-
plause.
He reviewed his platform,
elucidating his scheme to revise
the assessment and taxation sys-
TEN of the State in snch man
ner that there would be an i'm
mense saving to the taxpayers
as well as a healthier and sonnder
financial policy for the State.
Notwithstanding that the fierce
weather Of many weeks past has
been trying on Mr.. Michel, MAX
ing two and more speeches every
day and Wading through mud
and water, he looked fresh and
at himself at Grand Coteau, and
went right into the subject with
clearness and energy.
At first the Times Democrat
charged my platform with being
a rehash of Jared Sanders !"
said Mr.. Michel, but after the
League adopted it in a great
measure, they quit that line of
attack, and said I was not sim
cere in my promises. Ny
friends, I am no longer on the
defensive Judge Hall is doing
the explaining. I have not
waited until the election was
over to demonstrate in every
way in my power, my sincerity Of
purpose but wherever I had any
influence and that influence could
be brought to bear I have shown
my earnestness, and my past
record / believe is a guarantee
that ! will continue to do so.
Mr.. Michel said that his know
ledge of the affairs Of State,
gained through sixteen years in
cumbency Of the office of Secre-
5ary of State, had made it possi-
ole that he could tell the people |
Just what it was possible for him /
to do as Governor, and what he |
could not do, and that he had !
not promised anything but /
hat which he knew he
,ould do. He prided himself
IN his record as Secretary of I
State, and he would not now
'hatter his good name and the
hopes Of the people, as Governor.
He had builded well, and now in
he zenith Of his career he would i
certainly not do anything which +
night tear down the edifice sol
ouilded.
I plead guilty to the charge
# being from Orleans, and Of
oe1ng a Ward Boss, and of be-
to the organization, or
ring, as they call it. And / am
lot ashame of being from New /,
orleans, and I see no reason why !
man from New Orleans, the
metropolis Of the South, the COM
ng greatest port in the world, I,
he home of Louisiana S greatest
nen, the pride Of Dixie land, the
of the shaft which
marks the last resting place of
he heroes of the 18th Of Septem- !
'er the heroes who laid down
heir lives for Democracy and II
White supremacy no, / am not
shame of my home and it's ira !
itions and its present greatness
nd its sons, past and present,
nd [ believe the people Of Louis
ana are not ready to surrender
Q the unworthy plea of section
lism being made by some of my
pponents, Of country against
ity. / am not ashame Of being
Ward Boss, and of belonging
. the organization, because a
Ward Boss simply means a
ian selected by the vote of his
eople to be the head of party
fairs in his ward, Just like you
ave a Chairman of the Demo !
ratio Executive Com (
littee, to head parry matters in
our parish or town except that
i the case Of the city Of New I
rleans the people elect their [
Ward Boss, as some call it, di- i
ectly by a vote of the people, IL
nd here in the country the
1airman is elected by the com {
Iittee, 2 said Mr.. Michel, with i
reat effect. \
Referring to his conduct of the h
flee of Secretary of State, 4