The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1913-04-06
for the commemoration of the valor
of the Confederate Veterans from
Louisiana who have shed imperish
able lustre on their State.
The Corrupt Practices Act.

In response TO the genefal Senll-
ment of the State for fair and hon
est elections, the General Assembly
of Louisiana in 1912 enacted cor
rupt practices act which is opera
tive since January 1, 1913.
In this act is defined corrupt
practices applying to elections.
1t may be held that the corrupt
practices act refers to only political
elections, but in the first section of
this enactment are the words ANY
election"
In this act it is provided how cleo
ton shall be held, together with
the penalties:
To give, offer or promise, or to
make any offer of gift or loan, to
advance money or pay or cause to
be paid, any money or valuable, to
receive or contract for, before or
during an election, any gift, loan or
valuable consideration for the pur-
pose of inducing or influencing the
vote OF anyother is crime punish
able by fine and imprisonment, and
it becames the duty of the district
attorney, if notified by an officer OF
other person, to institute proceed
ings, on reasonable grounds.
The tendency to swindle and
cheat at elections has become so
bold that the corrupt practices act
was suggested as means OF check
ing this crime, which threatens the
very fabric of good government.
In support of this declaration may
be instanced the crimes of the
crooks in New Orleans who tam
pered with the amendments to the
Constitution of the State, submitted
at the State elections in November
of last year, who have escaped well
deserved punishment on technical
point of law.
1t will not be questioned by any
good citizen that the law against
trickery and bribery at elections,
political or otherwise, must cease.
Unfortunately in every community
there is a class of voters who are
always in evidence on the day OF
any election in waiting to be in
duced, to which Shreveport is no
exception. It is this class which is
a menace to good government, espe-
cially in Shreveport, but if these
were not encouraged by individuals
who too frequently occupying the
higher strata of society, there would
be no bribe-takers.
In palmer words, the bribe-taker
would not exist and flourish in his
unlawful act without the bribe-
giver; therefore, the purpose Of the
corrupt practices act is to squelch.
if possible, the briber and the
would-be bribed and the bribed.
Could this act be enforced to. the
extent of minimizing this crime ii
it can not be eradicated?
After all, the countenance of the
briber and the bribed is dependent
on the sentiment of the community
where the crime is committed.
Against this crime the hand OF
every honest man should be turned,
regardless of the issue, be it politi-
cal or otherwise.
What is the use of wasting time
in holding an election, if few in
dividuals in any community can
control the result by corrupting
with their money enough of the
electorate who sell their votes to
the highest bidder as they would
any article of merchandise?
This is a serious problem, which
no good citizen can ignore, and one
which demands, if necessary, the
most radical proceedings to check
and to stop il.