New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1915-08-14
REASONS WHY L. E. THOMAS
OPPOSES CONVENTION.

tlIHt are HidIillo1t. III tilN III -
place the CunN cntiOn itself Wit
the various elections thereon vii
cost at least $50, 10000 to *l11,
10000, which will be an added
burden upon the taxpayers OF this
State to pay, in addition TO the
$500, 100000 shortage they claim
in the revenues and a half million
Or more of interest bearing bonds
for the Penitentiary Board. Not
only that, but the probabilities are
that the Convention will be fol
lowed by another extra session of
the General AsSembl y to pass the
necessary acts hereunder, which
would make four extra sessions,
two Constitutional Conventions, a
Tax Commission and a Probe Com
mission. besides the two regular
sessions Of the Legislature during
the present administration. |
fail to see the pressing necessity
for this undue haste in urging a
Convention at this particular
time. The legislature can I'M
doubtedIy authorize New Orleans
to fund her floating debt into
bonds, unless they want to exceed
the Constitutional limit. the Wis
dom Of which latter course would
certainly appear somewhat doubt
full. | also would call: your at
tention to the fact that it does
not require a Constitutional Con-
vention to place officials on a sal
larry basis, as the legislature can
do that if the people so desire.
| do not believe there is any
great demand among the masses
of the people of this State for a
Convention to be held now, and
] am sure they would tbe bitterly
opposed to it, if they thought it
was for the purpose Of increasing
taxation. with which they are al
ready Overburdened. and this
seems to be one of the principal
objects to the proponents of the
Convention.
A Political Convention.
One Of the main objections to a
Convention being held at this
time is that | honestly believe that |
it will become largely a political
Convention rather than that
solemn deliberative body it should
be. Why, plenty of politicians
will tell You, "Just wait until the
Constitutional Convention is held.
and We will then select the Gov
ernor for you" One candidate
for Governor is already an aspi-
rant for the Convention. Why?
Another prospective or tentative
candidate for Governor has a.
brother running as ''Bull
Moose" delegate for the Conven-
ton from st. Mary Parish. Num-
erous political contests have al
ready been waged for delegates
and considerable factionalism is
manifest. That Convention will
be composed largely if not almost
altogether of men, who take an
active interest in politics, and al
though the Convention system of
nominating Governors has been
abolished by the Primary Election
Law, yet the politicians are ex-
pecting this Constitutional Con-
vention to play it's part and have
its share in naming our Governor
for us. Watch and see if what is
here stated is not proven true,
should the people call the Conven
ton Listen if you do not hear of
dickers. trades and barters in the
Not only that, but also remem-
Der that in that Convention there
will be many delegates who will {
have friends out for various State ]
offices and who would like to see
them aided in every way possible.
Now. | have not a thing in the
world against the New Orleans or
ganlzation. 1t is a well discip-
lined political army, and with
their solid twenty to twenty-five
thousand votes to throw either for
or against a candidate for a state
office, don t you think it will ex-
ercise some weight and influence ,
in that convention, whereas next
year such political influence
would prove Intellectual. WHY.
Gov. Hall has been writing to the
country to get his friends to run
for delegate to the Convention.
and other candidates have doubt ,
less done likewise. Can YOU guess
why? Do you think it is patrio- ,
tismg 1 opine not.
l cannot help but believe that
such a convention held at such a
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