Evening star., 1915-10-22
EXPLAINS FORMATION
OF PARTY IN LOUISIANA
Representative Martin Says Not All
of the Progressives Are
Sugar Planters.
Comments on The Stars Editorial on
Bull Moosery in His State:
Defends MI. Parker.

The progressive party in Louisiana i:
not made up of sugar planters alone
the farming and business men through
out the state are casting aside politica
sentiment which. regardless of the
states interests, has heretofore KEEP
them in the democratic party. and are
openly and fearlessly espousing the
progressive cause.
This is the statement made to a rep.
resentative of The Star today by Rep.
resentative w. P. Martin of the third
congressional district of that state, in
discussing a recent editorial in The
Star entitled Bull Moosery in Louis
lana
They realize that Louisiana is natur-
ally a protective state, and that its well
fare depends on the adequate protec-
ton of all its industries" said Mr.. Mar
tin in addition. While it is true that
the present administration has changed
its policy to the extent of promising the
continuance of the present 1-cent duty
on sugar pending the determination of
the European war, yet the war will not
last always, and this inadequate tenn
porary duty is by no means satisfactory
TO the sugar interests.
Writer Misinformed, He Says.
The writer of the editorial Bull
Moosery in Louisiana questions the
sincerity of John NJ. Parker in joining
the progressive party, and attributes his
change of political faith to his friend
ship and admiration of Col. Roose-
velt," continued Mr.. Martin. This edi-
torial further states that the progress
Siye move in Louisiana is due to sugar
and nothing but sugar, and that if the
present administration continues the
present duty upon that article, the
progressive party will not grow in
Louisiana.
The writer of this editorial was
evidently misinformed both as to the
character of Mr.. Parker and to polit-
ical conditions in Louisiana. Mr.. Par
ker, like thousands of others in this
Roosevelt. but no one who knows the
character of the man will ever ques-
tion his sincerity or doubt that his
change of political faith was due to
the highest motives, and from a sin
cere desire to better conditions in his
state and country.
THE Star makes light of Mr.. Par
ker's candidacy for governor, and lays
democratic party is in control of tAe
machinery of the state. This is a
political asset, but our people are no
longer hidebound politically. and l
tion will shiw that Louisiana is not
SO welded to the ruinous free-trade
policy of the democratic party, as The
Star has evidently been led to believe
Protection Needed for Sugar.
"Of course, sugar is one of the lead
ing Industries of our state, and its
very existence depends upon protec-
ton. but the other industries of the
state are equally in need of protection
The rice planter and the lumber man
ufacturer of Louisiana realize that free
trade viii be disastrous to their in
terests, and the cotton farmer is at
last becoming convinced that duties
upon cotton products will enhance the
value of his staple.
The present 1-cent duty, together
with the protection now being afforded
by the war. will enable the sugar
farmer to continue business for the
present. but the 1-cent duty with
out the war is not sufficient to keep
present duty alone that industry will
be entirely dependent upon the dura-
tion of the bloody conflict now going
on in another continent.
THE present duty is being retained
because the revenue is needed to run
the government and not because of any
desire to render any assistance to an
industry that has already been severely
injured by the policy of this admins
tration, and which woul dhave been
destroyed, but for this timely change
of policy.
The cane, cotton. and rice farmers,
the lumber manufacturers and the busi-
ness men of Louisiana are not think
ing of the present alone" said Mr..
Martin in conclusion. but are looking
ahead and are lining themselves with
the party that favors protection, not
for revenue alone, but from principle.