New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1913-08-16
Subscription $3.50 per Annum.
THE THIRD DISTRICT AND
CONGRESS.


ocratic State Central Committee,
more correctly diagnoses what IS
going to happen in Louisiana as
a result of the passage OF the
Democratic tariff bill than Mr..
Jules Godchaux, chairman OF the
Third District committee who,
| in announcing the candidacy OF
Mr.. +. A. Pharr for Congress,
forecasts a revolution against
the Democracy which will put
, the Republican party in power.
We rather believe with Mr..
Lewis, that, while there will be
a revival of the movement of the
early 90's to disrupt the Demo-
cratic party on the ground that
industrial Louisiana will suffer
from the operation of the new
tariff, the great bulk of our
white people will continue to
stand for the party of constltu-
tional government and that they
will regard the question OF the
imposition Of the tariff tax upon
any particular commodity manu-
factured here or imported into
this country as a question pure
ly temporary and local
Mr.. Godchaux, who is and has
peen Republican, and therefore
not in a position to give Demo
Gratis advice, charges that De
mocracy having broken faith
with Louidiana, she ought now
to turn her back on Democracy
and join the Republican party
with it's record Of support OF
measures that have redOunded
to the best interests of this sec
ton.
If politics was purely a ques-
ton Of commercialism and not OF
principle, what Mr.. GOdchaux
says would carry considerable
weight, if considered solely from
the standpoint of those whose in
vestments are in the sugar busl-
ness. But remembering what
the Republican party cost Louis
lana in blood and treasure in the
past and knowing that it stands
today as it has always stood for
the enrichment of the classes at
ne expense o the masses Lou
isianaians, and especially those
not engaged in the sugar indus
try, will think twice before they
break with the party which saved
them their civilization and which
in its principles represents their
convictions of government.
We are perfectly willing to
concede that Louisiana would
be better off if she had a strong
minority party, and such party
would seem to be especially de-
sirable as a refuge for those who
profess to be Democrats but at
heart are not. But the Republi-
can party will have to learn the
great lesson of the last campaign
aud modify its attitude toward
the masses before it can ever
hope to attract to its permanent
support in Louisiana any consid-
cradle number Of our people.
Notwithstanding what Mr..
Godchaux says, it is unlikely
that the recent meeting at New
Iberia foreshadows any serious
Democratic detection, even in the
Third District. We believe Con-
gress is unjust in departing from
an economically sound party pol
icy and in legislating against SUI
gar to the extent of the probable
extinguishment of the industry
in this state. We are sure this
policy is to result in a great deal
! of temporary suffering in some
sections of Louisiana. But no
policy which seeks to level the
high tariff walls, built around
this country to the grave injury
of the consuming masses, can
fail to bring relief to the people
as whole, however hurtful it
may be in some individual cases,
as of the sugar industry until
there is an adjustment to the new
conditions.
If the sugar industry is des-
troyed Louisiana eventually will
find some other industry to take
Its places and she owes too much
to the Democratic party and
she too truly believes in the
principles of that party as
opposed 70 the principles of
the Republican party to assume
that she will change her political
faith becarse in working out a
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