Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1915-08-20

Oh the mouse Oh REPRESENTATIVES, AOul6l
! ana Legislature, has sent Sol Wexler, O
the Whitney Central Bank, q singing re
ply to Mr.. Wexler's circular urging al
bank presidents to support the constitu
tional convention. -
Speaker Thomas who received th
Wexler letter as president of the Cont
mental Bank Of shreveport declares We
hemently that he will not support tn
lconvention but will do all in his powe
to knock it out in North Louisiana.
| Several days ago Sol Wexler sent on
letters to all bank presidents in the stat
urging that the convention be supported
because of the States finances.
The letter sent out by Mr.. Wexler is
81 understand that some opposition il
developing in the country parishes sgains
the holding of q constitutional convention
This opposition is being formed by two
classes. First, the professional Office.
holder, who is fearful of losing his job Of
being prevented from obtaining one
Second, by the uniformed public which
does not realize the urgent necessity fol
holding the convention and the DANCE,
of putting it of to some future indefinite
date.
81 am, therefore, writing to ask you
to kindly use your influence in your sec.
ton with as many voters as possible To
secure their vote in favor Of holding the
convention; it being my idea that should
the convention not produce . sound and
satisfactory constitution, tbst then the
people can vote it down and hold Q new
convention at some subsequent date. But
I firmly believe that this convention will
be of vast benefit to the interests of the
whole State, and in any event, I believe
that it should be afforded that opportu-
nifty. ...
ut distinctly is not the purpose of the
Convention to increase the tax burdens of
the people but it is intended to take the
the question of taxation and assessments
out Of politics and equalize assessments
a. far as possible, by which it is believed
that additional revenues for the State will
be gained without any injury to any one
except the regular tax-dodgers who do
not pay their just share of taxation.
II am very anxious to see the stigma of
illiteracy removed, which can ouly be &C.
complished by better educational facilities
and l also wish to zee established, . land
credit bank, afording to farmers an OPP
portunity to borrow at long time and
reasonable rates, thus benefitting the farm
ing community and relieving banks Of
making longtime loane.
"Will you kindly let me know the
sentiments that prevail in your section
and whether or not you will lend your
aid in favoring the holding of the Conven.
tons.
"very truly yours,
"SOL. WEXLER."
Speaker Thomas letter IL:
Shreveport, La, Aug 10, 1915
Hon. Sol. Wexler, President Whitney.
Central National Bank 1.-THE largest
bank in the city), New Orleans, La.
Dear Sir:-I am in receipt Of your letter
requesting me to support the call for the
constitutional convention, and to assist
in enlightenine the public because the |
people are uniformed on the subject
matter. have read same with interest
and in reply will say l am trying in my
feeble way to give such information az |
possess in the question.
/ am bound to confess in the light Of |
The past, very serious doubt % to your
patriotic interest in the financial welfare
II this State. l remember only too we'll
hat q few months ago your trust COM
'any was one of those that assisted in
nulcting the State of Louisiana to the
une OF nearly million dollars in princi.
bal and interest on refunding our State
'onds and that You made large profits at
he expense of the State and never put
Up dollar on the transaction, notwith.
landing your national bank which owned
he trust company was under written con-
ract with the state - fiscal agent to
ssist her in refunding the bonds without
|
Furthermore your statement that you
'ish TO catch the tax-dodgers sounds fine
ut the recent press reports disclose the
vet that you were custodian of the large
slush fund" raised BY the corporations
defeat the tax reforms some two yean
20. Also know that you worked on
lr. Ewing for weeks to get him to meet
overnor Hall and that you desired to
q his term a. governor extended, a. he
as the best governor Louisiana had ever
Id Il presume you spoke for yourself).
can we'll under stand your interest in
70 call for the constitutional convention. :
may be oil disinterested patriotism on
mr. part, but cannot help but take it y
I'M granum sails.
No, Mr.. Wexler, / cannot support your =
institutional convention, and l hope the y
ople Of this state will not. call it your Y
invention because we eli know you we're :,
9 the moving spirit that prepared that y
tie dinner at the Louisiana and there y
ought the Governor, Col. Ewing and y
ayor Behrman together, and without u
air influence the -Govornor vonld I,.voI