The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1912-03-16
HAS lE;BAUcHED !; THE SCHOOLS
5ossier Banner and Shreveport cau-
casian Say T. H. Harris is
Guilty of This offense-shouId
be Repudiated by the intelligent
Voters.
Shreveport Caucasian:


Ihe Shreveport Caucasian asks il
the Banner is sincere in its advice
70 vote for Mr.. Harris for state su-
perlntendent. The Banner is always
sincere in its editorial utterances.
| we may be wrong in our views, at
tlmnes, but we are sincere in what
| we say. We have as little respect
LOT Mr. Harris--or any other man
VINO has debauched our school sys-
ten-as anyone; but if his name ap-
pears on the Democratic ticket, we
| snail stamp the rooster''--vote the
entire ticket, from governor down
to constable, Mr. Harris included -
Bossier Banner.
In it's loyalty to the party the
caucasian will admit, candidly. that
1t has not reached the political lati-
tude of the Banner.
II Prof. Harris .shas debaucled our
school SYSTEM he is unworthy of
recognition and he should be defeat
ed, regardless of his name appearing
on the Democratic ticket.
1t were senseless to waste words
IN ending or in rebuking a candi-
date for an office, and then yielding
him loyal support because his name
is on the Democratic ticket.
1t will not be disputed that the
name of Prof. Harris will appear on
the Democratic ticket for the reason
that no opposition was offered him
at the statg primary, as it was gen
orally understood and believed that
ne WoBld take no active part in the
contest for governor; but after he
mad been declared to be the nominee
Tor the office OF state superintend-
ent OF public education, he develop
ed into one of the ralkest of parti- |
sans in the state.
For this unexpected and surpris-
ing attitude of partisanship he may
be excused but if he has debauch- |
ed our public school system he
should be repudiated at the state
electlon on Tuesday, April 81.
The people of the state. do not
want an autocrat at the head Of the
public schools,
: ne public school Of thei
political Influence viii which 5if eontin- +
ued, will prove to be detrimental to
the school Interests, and so great |
and SO important an office as the
state superintendent of public schools
should be held by man who, be-
sides being fitted educationally,
should be of broad views, man who
should be free from political parti-
sanship
An Independent candidate has
been suggested against Prof. Harris
and without hesitation the Caucasian
would declare that if such a candi-
date were nominated it would give
him support, if he were competent
to fill Ehe office creditably.
The CAUCASIAN would say in all
2andor thai the day is past when
he intelligent citizen shall be com
oelled to vote for an incompetent
or an undesirable candidate simply
because his name is on the Demo-
cratic ticket
The independence of the intelli-
gent voter was gloriously manifest
ID in the contest for the governor
'hip and other offices at the Jan
lary 27 primary, and such a depart
ire from a fossilized system as a
esponse to the progressive needs
# the day is encouraging.
The intelligent voter can no long ]
n be terrorized by the threats of
,eing excommunicated from the
'arty, if he would dare vote against
he yellow dog" candidate.
1t is On the intelligent voter that I
must he nIaced in tho main s
ainance of good government, and It
he assertion is here Ventured that ]
hould there be an opponent to Prof
Harris at the April election his de-
eat would seem probable. At any
ate there will be a protest against {
he election of Prof Harris by
hotSsands of citizens who will not I
ote for him, a
SchOo}hOys desniSe and deteSt a