The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1914-10-24
THIRD DISTRICT CONTEST.
Fair Survey of situation Presases
Close Fisht-Progressives and
Democrats Both confident-St.
Mary Holds Balance of Power.

close Fl9ht--loSFSssis r. efia
Democrats Both Confident-St
Mary Holds Balance of Power.
What seems to be an absolutely IN
biased review of the political condi.
tions prevalent in the third district
Of this state was published as fol
lows in last Saturdays S issue of the
New Orleans Times-Picayune::
with the Ransdell-Foster meet
ing in New Iberia Thursday night fol
lowed by a Ransden-Bur5e meeting
in Houma Friday night, the hottest
political campaign Louisiana has seen
in recent years got under full steam
in the third congressional district
Although both Democrats and Pro-
gressives have been actively at work
for more than two months, the en-
gagements with heavy artillery and
big meetings began only this week,
the New Iberia and Houma gather
ings formally inaugurating the Demo
cratic efforts. The Democrats used
United States Senator Ransdell, Ex-
Senator Foster and State Senator
Walter j. Burke at New Iberia, and
at Houma Senator Ransdell and State
Senators Burke and John d. Shaffer.
''The big effort of the Progressive
campaign will be made Sunday, when
eighteen separate meetings with for
ty-tWo speakers will be held in one
day. Last Sunday the ProgressiVes
started this type of campaign with
an even dozen meetings. They con-
tinued it through the week with seY-
eral meetings nearly every day. Get
ting up steam they arranged for
eighteen separate gatherings at as
many different places for next Sun
day. The following Sunday even a
greater number will be held.
'.The Progressive idea is to have
small meetings and cover as much
territory as possible. An exception
ally large corps of speakers is at
the disposal of the party headquar-
ters in New Iberia, and these are dis
posed of by telephone at the call
Of the parish organizations, which
bodies arrange the meetings.
Fewer meetings, but big gun
speakers at most of them are con-
templated in the Democratic plan.
L
were the first. At least one siml-
lar meeting will be held in each par
ish. Gov. Hall is to be one of the
speakers. He will appear at Abbe-
vile Sunday, Nov. /, and at Lafa-
yette Monday, Nov. Q.
Careful analysis of claims made
by both sides and of information OBJ
tanned from sources practically nom
partisan, indicates that the present
fight is to be exceedingly close as
well as remarkably active There is
excellent reason for believing that
the issue in its fnality will be de-
termined by what St. Mary parish
On the east Judge lit Mar
tin, the Progressive candidate, is
conceded Lafourche parish The only
question atfissue Is the size Of his
majority. From the best information
obtainable it ought to range some
where between 500 and 1000 The
claims of the eontending factions in
this parish are so widely at variance
that it is difficult to fix any more
definite figure In both Assumption
and Terrebonne, in each of which
Judge Martin has a strong personal
influence, the best information seems
to be the vote will be light because
of the small number of poll tax pay
ments during 1912 and 1913, poll tax
receipts for both years being neces-
sary to vote this fall. There is lit
tie reason to doubt, however, that
Judge Martin will get a majority in
both parishes.
At the western end Of the district
practically the same situation pre-
walls with reference to Henri Il.
Gueydan, the Democratic candidate.
Vermilion probably is the premier
Democratic parish of the district and
undoubtedly viii cast the largest
vote of any parish in the district.
1t is Mr.. Gueydan's home. The Dem
ocratic majority in Vermilion, there
fore, should go a long way toward
offsetting the Progressive majority in
the trio of Martin parishes on the
east.
Next to Vermilion, Lafayette is
the most strongly Democratic par
ish in the district. It is conceded
to the Democrats, although the Bull
Moose assert they will hold down the
Democratic majority to a very few
votes.
TO offset Lafayette, both st. Mar
tin and Iberia have evidenced strong
Progressive inclinations. Moreover,
Iberia has long had a large element
of citizens with Republican leanings,
and is the home of Henry N. Pharr.
AS a eounteracting Influence, the
probable candidacy of Walter j.
Burke of New Iberia for the COVER
norship has developed. The plea that
Iberia must go Democratic in the
interest of the Burke candidacy may
have a great deal, of weight.
Setting claim against claim and
parish against parish, the proposition
finally resolves itself down to ST.
Mary's attitude. Sheriff ". T. Pc
terman of st. Mary was a candidate
for the Progressive congressional
nomination and was defeated. There
is no question that with Peterman a
candidate, st. Mary would have gone
strongly Progressive. But with Pc
terman out of it, although he is ac-
lively supporting Judge Martin, the
issue is different. Most of the polit-
ieal lieutenarts and office holders in
the parish have remained Democratic,
but have also remained Peternan
men. The result viii be very much
in doubt until the vote is counted
There is absolutely no way to get at
the situation because so much de-
pends upon friendships and personal
influence"