The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1913-08-09
SATURDAY, AUGUST 8, 1918.
The New Iberia Meeting.

. l0V lvVV 1UV1 " U1VVO1u6o
The mammoth meeting Of demo.
Gratis held at New Iberia on Satur.
day last to endorse the action OF
Senators Thornton and Ransdcll
on their course in Congress, and
especially on their fearless stand
against the free sugar clause OF
the democratic tariff bill, was a
fitting and overwhelming rebuke
to the meeting held at Ruston
about Q month ago.
The meeting at Ruston was
small, sectional and local. The
meeting at New Iberia was large,
general and non.sectional. 1t
vas composed Of ardent patriots
from almost every portion of the
State. The speakers at the Ruston
meeting commended that q subser-
vlence to party discipline was the
nrst duty Of the law.giver; that
the democratic party in recent
caucus assembled had declared
for free sugar; that . democratic
senator who resists the party FIRE
should be punished; that Senators
Thornton and Ransdell had Of.
Tended against the party dictum,
therefore they should be con-
demped to political qualification.
The people at the New Iberia
meeting endorsed a greater, truer
and wiser doctrine, and COM
mended our senators for their
wisdom and bravery in main.
tanning 1.-THE doctrine that the
welfare and safety OF the people
70 tie supreme law. That when.
ever . servant of the people, in
the course Of his public life, is
forced to choose between fealty to
a. unfair party movement and
loyalty to the vital interests of
the people, he should not hest.
tate TO cling 10 tho cause Of the
people, In despite OF party dis.
cip1lne, II he wants 10 be true to
the trust conhded to him.
Sometimes in the history of
governments and parties, those
who for the time control party
machinery. lured by false lights,
allow themselves to drift away
from the moorings Of party princi-
ples.' That is just what the
gentlemen who control the demo.
cratic party in Congress are doing
to-day. When such q contin.
gency presents itself-so vigorous
is the party lssh-it is difficult to
dad men strong enough to rise
superior TO party. and defend q
great and vital principle simply
because 1t is right, be the personal
conse quences what they may.
Happily, Louisiana has two
such men in the United States
Senate to-day. All honor to
them. Above all they have the
earnest endorsement Of an over
whelmiDg majority of the loyal
democrats of their State. The
ringing resolutions adopted by
the meeting held at New Iberia
unquestionably chow that.
The temper of this meeting
showed, not only an unequivocai
endorsement of Senators Thorn.
ton aud RansdelI, but it showed
further that, In the Third Con.
gfessional District, at least, no
candidate fox Congress vii! re-.
esive demo cratic support unless
he 10 in favor of q tariff on
sugar and VIII continue to fight
for It Il elected, even though the
present Congress may put it on
the free list.
We learn that there are several
prospective candidates for the of.
nee Of Congressman in this dis.
tficG-their friends could be seen
circulating among the mass meet.
Ing at New. Iberia. Prominent
among them were the friends of
Hon. Wilson T. Peterman. the
present sheriff Of st Mary. Mr.
Peserman has not as yet au.
nounced his oaAdidacy, but his
many eNpporteRs aud friends il
the third congressional dist,;c,
are urging him ia consent to ecter
the race. The BANNER nop,s tina,
hIs CouSrGt VII. spo8 be gain. j
and shat bic pubic announce ment
will Immediately follow. He is in
I've Respect fitted for the Office
Il he enters the race, he will be
and when elected, he viii
luldll all the requirements of that
position. He has in his compo.
Iitton the elements Of leadership.
q Cone1> % he will not be a mere
follower Of others, but will be
zen taking the initiative and
ooding othefs-in fact will do |
omeehtng for his constituents. |
2avia1 the courage Of his con. !