Imperial Valley press., 1914-07-27
LOUISIANA BREAKS
THE SOLID SOUTH

New York Sun: Democratic leaders
from the South were stunned by the
news received from the Third Louisi-
ana district, where the Democratic
congressional committee went over to
the Bull Moose party in body. Lou
isiana Democrats are out of tune with
the Wilson administration and are
ripe for revolt. The split in the
Third district is expected to extend
throughout the state and may result
in the election Of three Progressive
members from Louisiana.
Another development which greatly
grieved Democratic leaders was the
announcement that George X. Kindel,
a Democratic member of the house,
has quit the Democratic party and
will in future operate in politics as
an Independent.
The leaders in the Progressive
movement in Louisiana are all repre-
sentative men, who have heretofore
affiliated with the Democrats. They
are w. Fl. Price, l.. c. Rogers, Edwin
Broussard, John Marks, Samuel lie
Blanc and w. T. Peterman.
Senator-elect Broussard of Louisi-
ana, a Democrat who at present rep
resents the disaffected Third district
in the house, testifaes to the charac-
ter of the men who have deserted the
Democratic party on the tariff issue.
81 have not been home since the
first of the year and ! have no idea
how far-reaching the revolt is" said
Mr.. Broussard. "My information is
faulty because / was not consulted
by those who made the anti-Demo-
cratic demonstration at home, but
can tell you who the men are who
have left our party so summarily.
"Mc. Price is brother of my pre-
decessor in the house. He has man.
aged all of my campaigns. He has
been a member of the Democratic
committee for twenty-five years.
"Mr. Rogers is a sugar planter. Mr..
Broussard is my youngest brother. Mr..
Marks has for sixteen years been n
state senator and a member of the
Democratic state committee. Mr.
Price and Mr.. Marks have quit the
state committee as well as the district
committee. Mr.. lie Blanc is a men,
ber Of the state legislature. Mr.. Pc
terman is sheriff of st. Mary's par
ish. They are the active Democrats
Of the Third district and the best or
ganizers in that section of louisiana
Other Louisiana Democrats declare
that the movement for the destruc-
ton of the Democratic party is bound
to sweep over the state. The Third
district leads the revolt, it was eX-
planned here, because the Democratic
sugar tariff has caused ruin to the
industry in that section. The rice and
lumber industries also have been hard
hit in Louisiana.
eight months ago there were nine
Democratic candidates for the noml-
nation for congress in the Third dis
trict to succeed Bob Broussard and
today they are all members of the
Progressive party" said Louisiana
Democrat. "E. A. Pharr, sugar plant
er and man of affairs, was groomed
for the Republican nomination. Pharr
now announces that he will not accept
the nomination, but will work for the
election of the Bull Moose nominee,
10 matter from what party that NOM
inee may come.
"The Democrats who have jumped
the Third district congressional COM
mittee are the best men in the dis
trict and are daily going over the
district perfecting an organization
The big landslide in the state will not
come in the congressional election III
November, however. That will be in
1916. This fall the Third district and
possibly one other district will elect
Progressive members of congress.
That will start the ball rolling.
81 am afraid it will be a long time
before Louisiana Will again be count
ed in the Democratic column in a gen
eral election. The indications are
strong that Louisiana will have the
distinction of breaking the solld
South"