The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1914-10-10
1.-THE THIRD
DISTRICT CAMPAIGN

ton from a Progressive reader
Who comments upon our discus
sion of the Third District cam
pAign ard closes his letter with
the question: Gould a Progress
live Representative bring home
any fewer results than the present
Democratic Representative in the
way Of sugar protection or rivers
and harbors appropriations"
With respect 10 sugar protec
ZION" we think our friends ques-
ton may be answered very feadi
lv. Fhe Democratic Representa-.
tive Of the Third District, and the
| Democratic Senators Of the State.
made so vigorous a fight for the
sugar industry that Progressives
10 the district ale praislng their
stand and c0ntending-rather lilo
gically, it seems TO us-that a re
volt against the Democracy wonld
serve as its Endorsement. Their
work and influence helped to Sc
cure delay of the enforcement OF
the freelisting provision, an agrl
cultural survey OF the parishes OF
the district, and an appropriation
for a demonstration farm, whose
establishment within the district
is welcomed by ProgressiVes and
Republicans as well as by Demo
Gratis. 1t is very doubtful, to say
the least, whether a Progressive
Representative could have accom-
plished so much. Ii our memory
serves, there were Progressive
Representatives in Congress who
voted with the majority IN sup.
port Of the very bin upon which
he revolt is founded. AS for
The rivers and harb0rs bill the
fight upon it was led by Senator
}urton, Republican, AID Senator
Kenyon, Progressive Republican
IT'S revision downward was forced
by war conditions and cmargeD
cles which could not be changed
10y NE Progressive or by any 9th
or party Progressive sentiment
regarding 1t is quite as sharply
divided as Democratic and Repnb
lcan sentiment. Progressive at
tempts to make capital upon that
Issue need not be taken seriously.
The Times-P icaynne's discussion
Of the "revoit" was based upon
the assumption-frankly conced
ed correct by some of our Pro
gressive friends-that the sugar
issue is the Progressive issue par
amount in the hiid District
The Progressive appeal, stripped
of its embellishments, Is an ap
peal to the sugar interest. It's
chief and most attractive promise
is that for restoration of a pro-
tectIve tariff on sugar. Its hopes
aud efforts are directed TO the
winning over of Democrats who
approve the Baltimore platform
but oppose the free listing of So
gar, as many Democrats else
where do. We do not attempt to
dissuade our Republican friends
10 the Third from welding the
Progressive club temporarily
against the Democracy, nor are
we disposed to berate the Demo
Gratis whose resentment led them
temporarily to entertain the pro-
posal to "slap the administration"
We are only asking them to con.
slider coolly and in the light of in
telligent self interest whether they
can really serve their interests,
their district and their principles
by throwing their votes 10 Novem
Der to a party which has no hope
of success this year, and whose
vote, the country over, registers a
very mark decline.
1t is our opinion, moreover,
that the Third District, in this
year of grace, needs an economic
revolution vastly more than il
needs a political "revoIt y. Years
of high sugar tariff have failed to
bring its farming folk uniform
and enduring prosperity. Farm
ers of all shades of political opln
ion agree that intelligent crop di
versification Is as necessary in the
Sugar parishes as in The other par
ishes. A vigorous campaign, in
which Democrats, Progressiyes
and Republicans may work shoul-
der to shoulder has been launched
in the district. The agricultural
movement is of far greater impor
lance to Third District folk than
political revolt whose success
would isolate and leave them in
less fortunate position, with re-
Speet to congressional action, than
they are now. When the farming
system has been organized and
the prosperity of the district for
tried, there Will be plenty Of time
to consider the third party adven
ture. Nothing can be lost and
much may be gained 10y taking
time for calm reflection and con
centrating all efforts just now