St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1914-11-14
TWO PARTIES IN LOUISIANA

The New Orleans States says that the
lake Charles-American Press believes thai
the result in the Third district is a warning
! to the State Democracy that it must look to
its defenses, that it must get rid Of the
swarms in it's own ranks who are signaling
the enemy, that it must throw overheard
the Democrats-for -offc e-only who, like those
in the Third district, will show a change of
heart wherever there is a better chance to
win on the other side.
THE new white mans party appears
to have arrived. Its success in the Third
district will give it sufficient encouragement
to dispute with the Democrats for the mas
terry of the State one year from mex April"
says The American-Press.
Wherein our contemporary errs is in be-
lieying that it lies in the power of the State
Central Committee to meet the new situa-
ton. Time was when the Committee might
draw the line which so obviously needs to be
drawn nov But the power was lost when
the old convention system was illegalized
and a compulsory primary law put on the
statute books.
80 & ouN 40 io SQo WHY OIlN ClIO
cratic party, overwhelmingly in control of
the General Assembly and also entrenched
in the Executive Office, should not do what
the American-Press urges.
We have not the data at hand, but we
have not the slightest doubt that the regis
tration records of the Third district will
show that Judge Martin was elected to Con-
gress as a Progressive by men who were en-
rolled as Democrats. Two years ago not a
Progressive appeared on the rolls in Orleans
parish. But nearly 5000 Democrats, who
only a short time before had participated in
the Democratic primaries, went to the polls
and voted for a Bull Moose candidate,
though they would have scorned in business
or private life to be guilty of such a breach
of honor.
We have repeatedly expressed our de-
sire 10 see another white mans party in
But we are unalterable opposed /
to the continuance ON our statute books of
the laws which permit men to affiliate with
the Democratic party when it suits their sell
interests, to desert and stab it in the :
back when self-aggrandizement dictates and ,
then to return to its %counsels at their pleas
ire and participate in the naming of it's can :
lidaSes. /.
The Governor is the titular head of the !,
oartv. The responsibility rests on him of
preserving it from destruction at the hands
# its enemies.
A special session of the Legislature
arly next year cannot be avoided. One of j,
he Fundamental subjects which should be s.
mbraced in the call is legislation which will le
axe oat Of the hands Of traitors within it's 81
wn ranks the club they now possess to beat d
to death. 4
If the result in the Third district means
arrival of the new white mans party in
1eh and good. But the men who are in CO
ne party now or who wish hereafter to Join OF
ought to have the decency not to desire o,
lso to be members of the party whose over er
lrow they are seeking. They have no tr
ght to hunt with the hare and run with be
ounds. If their sense of personal honor is be
sufficient to measure the extent of such tn
srfdy, then, as long as the state has under ne
ken the control of political parties, the
W itself ought to put the seal of condem- 81
atien and prohibition on such treachery.
ARRIVING OF CONCEAL FL