The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1915-06-05
TO ELECT A MAYOR.

their First, Second and Third
Choice among the several cand,
dates now Offering for the Mayors
chair of this city. Last week
the candidates opened up much
like popcorn for the first day or
two, then took a rest. The ac
ton of some clearly exemplified
the candidates firm belief in the
old addage-"The flst blow is
the half of the battle. The vot
ers must be seen personally. and
SD. uld be seen FIRST, before any
other candidate Lad q chance at
{ rem.
The correct idea Of the Prefer
entail Ballot, apparently, has not
fully taken hold of the minds of
all of the people. There are some
who hold to the idea, that an ex-
preston of any but the one
choice upon a ballot weakens the
force of that ballot. 1t so ap-
peared to them-they honestly
thought they were correct in their
view-therefOre, they could not
be persuaded to take any other
view of the problem Many hold
the view, that to express a "Sec-
ond Choice" for any one Office
weakens the force OF vote for the
"First Choice" candidate. And
they believe the argumentlss Is sound,
and are not disposed to take any
other view. They are much like
King Ferdinand, who ridiculed
the ideas of Columbus, and would
have nothing to do with them.
The view, expree sed by q king,
however, dill not deter Columbus
from Drawing the risk of sailing
too close to the edge of fat
world, or from sailing on the un-
derside of round world. :
Our experience In the last city
election amply fortified every
claim advanced in favor of the
Preferential Ballot. Mr.. Fonte
lieu. himself, was one of those
who doubted the wisdom of the
theory of the Preferential Ballot
and 80 advised his supporters.
He claimed to have had s'First
Choice" votes enough promised
him to land him in the Office;
therefore, stake no risk of c0nfus.
ing things by voting any but one
chOice". Yet, when the returns
came in, it was found that Mr..
Fontelleu was not only disap-
pointed IN the number Of "single
shot" votes promised him, but he
was dependent upon the votes cast
for him as Second and "Tblrd
Choice" for the success Of his
candidacy. Therefore, it is clear,
had all the voters used bnt one
choice, no one candidate would
have received the legal majority
necessary to elect.
The same may be said in every
detail, of the candidacy of Mr.. J.
r. Suberbielle for the Office to
which he was returned elected
He was likewise deeply indebted
to his Second and Third
Choice" votes for being returned
.selected".
For the third position on the
city's Board Of Trustees there
we're but two candidates-there
fore there was no chance for the
exercise Of the peculiar privileges
of the Preferential Ballot for him
Who was destined, by the popular
will, to fill this Office.
| It must be the practical work
ine Of the ballot, and that only,
which will convince the people OF
its practicabllity. There will be
some who will never be satisfied
that they do not understand the
ascbem6" and see it's weakness.
Prejudice and blindness will pre-
vent many others from endorsing
and using it.
The coming election promises
another good example Of the value
OF the Preferential system Of vot
ing. We will have, from present
| indications, seven, or more, can
didates for the Office Of Mayor
we will elect q Mayor-by . ma
jority Of the voters voting at one
election, and with but little dan
ger Of & tie between any two can.
didates. This il our forecast o.
| the results OF the system, and thu