The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1915-10-09
THE NATIONAL ISSUE.
New Orleans States. J

Mr.. Parker, in announcing his candi.
dacy for Governor, laid especial stress
on three points that he was Progress
sive, that the Progressive is white
mans party, and that he is unreserved-
ly in favor Of tariff for protective
purposes.
1t is clear, therefore, that Mr.. Parker's
candidacy is to be based not only on
local, but on national lines; and event
ually there will be presented to the
people of Louisiana the concrete ques-
ton of whether they are in favor of
Democratic principles or the principles
of the Progressive party, remembering
that the basic principles of the Pro-
gressiye are the same as those of the
Republican party, and that the creator
and leader of the Progressive party
was rock-ribbed Republican until
three years ago, and will be Repub-
lican again whenever his leadership
is accepted
Mr.. Parker is a Progressive funda-
mentally because he is an idolatrous
worshiper of Mr.. Roosevelt. He would
have become Republican if Messrs.
Barnes & Co. had accepted Mr.. Roose-
velt's dictation in the Chicago conven-
ton of 1912 Secondarily, he is Pro
gressive because he believes there
ought to be protective tariff on sugar
and he is willing the Underwood bill
shall be wiped off the statute-books
and the infamous Payne-Aldrich law
substituted, if sugar is given this
benefit.
We are willing to concede that Mr.
Parker will be supported by majority
of the vote in the district which the
sugar planters control. He will pick
up votes here and there in other dis.
tricts where there are men whose
selfish interests impel them to favor
the Republican doctrine of protection
In New Orleans he will be supported
by portion Of the vote which went to
Gov Hall in the primary of 1912.
But Mr.. Parker is obviously reckon
ing without his host If he expects the
Democrats of Louisiana, so overwhelm
ing in the majority in the other seven
districts, to surrender their lifelong
principles and agree to submit tC
onerous Federal taxation upon the ne
cessities of life in order that the sugar
planters of the Third District may live
in aff1uence.
Moreover, Mr.. Parker will find tina
the Democrats of Louisiana still have
a keen recollection of how Mr.. Roose
welt coddled the northern negro, of thu
Booker Washington dinner at the White
House, of the prominence of Negro
delegates in the Bull Moose convention
at Chicago, and of the places of dis
tinction which the negroes of New
York occupied in the Progressive cam
paign committee in New York and othe
states; and, much as they may respec
Mr.. Parker's good faith, they are hardl.
likely to accept his assurance that h
is leading pure white party, whel
they know that the Progressive part.
outside the South is a hot bidder 70
the negro vote and that the Republican
party, which whenever Mr.. Roosevelt
:. gives the word will swallow the Pre-
gressive party, was the author of al
e the horrors Louisiana suffered during
Reconstruction and to-day is as mucl
the champion Of equal political right
for the colored brother in the South a
1t has ever been.
Mr. Parker, as a Democratic cand
date for Governor, would have con
manded the support of Democrats al
over the State, But Mr.. Parker wi
- -