Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1913-11-28
THE PROGRESSIVE PARTY IN LOUISIANA
New Orleans Daily States

1t will be recalled that when the regis
tration office closed last October, a month
prior to the presidential election, there
were not more than one hundred voters
on the list who had registered their af-
filation with the Prog essive party. Yet
when the votes were counted on Novem-
her 9Th it was found that nearly 5000
had been east for Colonel Roosevelt, the
Progressive candidate.
Most of these 5000 had registered as
Democrats They participated in the Dem
ocratic State and city primaries, most Of
them, we might add, voting the League
tickets. Yet in the presidential election
they went to the polls and deliberately
voted for party other than that with
which they declared their utilization.
In private or business life this would
be called clear breach of faith and viO-
lation of moral obligation. Why should
it not also he in politics?
Senator Beveridge spoke here last Sat
-urday night, firing the opening gun of a
Progressive campaign in Louisiana. Out
of it we are promised new Statewide
party, which is to make itself felt in some
of the congressional districts in the cleo
tions next year and perhaps in the State
and national elections in 1915.
The new movement has our cordial APP
proval. We hope to see it gather within
its folds every man who is now masque-
rading as Democrat, hut whose pOliti-
cal sympathies lie in other directions.
Such a party, il it is organized az real
white mans party-a task of some diff
Guilty if Mr.. Roosevelt is to remain its
leader, when We recall how at the Chic
ago Bull Moose convention Mr.. Roose-
welt prOiessed to spurn the Southern ne
gro while cOddling the Northern-might
very readily become an efficient instru-
ment for better politics and better gov
eminent in Louisiana. In every State
where there are two strong and aggres-
sive party organizations one acts as spur
to and check upon the other, resulting
in keener interest in public affairs and a
corresponding improvement in public adj
ministration.
The name Of the Republican party in
Louisiana is so linked with odium that
only the drawer spirits have the nerve to
become affiliated with it. That is one Of
the reasons why we have here so many
Democrats of Republican proclivities.
But the Progressive party is new, with
its record yet to make, and it should offer
an inviting asylum to all those who wear
the Democratic livery while subscribing
to the Republican principles. We have
long hoped for the day to come when
there might be in Louisiana separation
of the political sheep and goats, with
principles rather than men as the bones
of contention in our political campaigns.
II the organization OF the Progressive
party will bring ms a contamination so
devoutly to be wished, we trust the day
may he fastened when that party will be
real political entity in Louisiana.
But il we are to have this new party,
let us have it in the open. Let us not
have it as it appeared in the November
election--a party of Democratic deserters.
Let every man who desires to join in
it have the courage of his convictions.
Let him not register his party utilization
as Democrat when at heart he isn't
Democrat and doesn't intend to support
the Democratic candidates.
Let us have no more sailing under false
colors. Let us have two white mems
parties, and let the Democracy be made
up only of men who believe in its prin-
ciples.