The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1913-05-18
Corrupting the Electorate.

Practices Act of the last Leglsla-
ture. operative since January OF the
present year, there may be some de-
terrent to such dishonorable and
Outrageous practices, and unless
frauds at elections can be checked
and stopped it will become the i'm
operative duty of good citizens, who
do not cOnnive at such frauds, TO
become radical in their resistance
Ito such high-handed proceedings.
At a recent sitting the State Su-
preme Court of Louisiana affirmed
1.-THE decision of the Criminal District
Court of the Parish of Orleans III
the election fraud eases involving
AGO odd election officials, commas
lsioners and clerks. who were lndlct-
ed and charged with falslfylng the
returns of the vote east for the
amendment of the State Constltu-
ltion. submitted to the electorate, at
the State election held in NoVem-
Der 1912.
These individuals, charged with
frauds. have escaped on technl-
calty of law, which is, i'll effect,
THAT an election held for cOnstitu-
tiOnal amendments is not safe
guarded with the requirements pro-
vidcd for political elections for the
selection of officials of the State,
parish or municipality,
But it may not be amiss to recall
the glaring frauds perpetrated in
The City of New Orleans at the cleo
ton held for an associate justice OF
the Supreme Court, where fraud
was unnecessary, but the rascally
instinct of some Of the commission
ers and tire clerks at some OF the
polling places during this election
was irresistible, and, as if to keep
their cunning at such dishonorable
tricks, altered the result to their
fancy. These rascals were arrested
as joke and escaped the punish
Iment that should have been melted
to them.
It is charged that the blame must
rest on the Legislature, whose laws
are defective and therefore give en-
couragement TO frauds at elections,
ESPECIALLY in elections such as was
held in November of last year on
constitutional amendments, but ac-
cording to the provisions of the
Corrupt Practices Act of 1912, swim
ding at elections and corrupting
the electorate should be made al
most impossible.
The crime of corrupting the cleo
torate is not essentially limited to
New Orleans, nor is Shreveport ex-
cepted from such disgraceful
methods.
| 1t is fact we'll known that in
Shreveport, as in New Orleans and
Elsewhere, there are purchasable
lvoters, but these would soon be-
Icome a nullity if men of prominence
Ibid not encourage, indirectly, such
methods.
The gist of the entire issue,
Viewed from any perspective, is
that few men with money have it
in their power to control any cleo
ton, with the purchasable voters,
whether the issue be political or
economic. It is about time the peo-
pie were awakening to the sup
Ipressing of the individuals who are
purchasers and sellers of votes. And
if, as declared, there is no law suf-
ficient to reach and punish such
rascality, the Legislature must en-
act such law that will assure and
will secure, as far as human power
can devise, honest elections when
ever held and for whatever purpose
lit is, being held.
Mrs. Longstreet Offered Position.
In telegram from Washington
ID. c., it is announced that Mrs.
Lieut.. Gen. Longstreet of the Con-
federate Army, has been offered .
position by former Union soldier.
Mrs. Longstreet said that Col. AL
bert E. Boone of Clarksburg, w. ",
had offered her a place in his office
at $4,000 year. IF | find that l feel
fitted to do the work in Colonel
Boones Office" he said, Il shall ac-
cept this offer in the same spirit in
which General Longstreet accepted
a commission from President Grant
when he found himself an outcast
in the land whose battle flags he
had followed in supreme devotion"
1t would seem that Mrs. Long
streets bitterness is suggested by
her failure to secure re-appoint-
ment as postmistress at Gainesville,
Ga. General Longstreet was nevel
an outcast but was honored, re-
iSDectpd and beloved nv his com