The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1915-05-15
SATURDAY, MAY Is, 1915
Can't The People
Be Trusted?

We clip the following ar
ticle from the N. 0. Daily
States, Of the 18th inst. II
is a criticism and a reply tc
an editorial which appeared
in the Banner Of last week,
though the States has seen
fit to speak of the article as
coming from the st. Mary
Waterman:
1.-THE inclusion by the Governor
in his call of provision for the
amendment of the existing law rela-
tive to the selection Of voters brings
an excited protest from the St. Mary
Waterman. which considers il
aimed at the Progressive movement.
"Says The Watchman:
''The registration has been per-
formed by the clerk Of court in
each parish since 1913, and no
complaint or dissatisfaction has
been heard in the public press of
the State, nor do we know o. any
private complaint anywhere
The Governor is the leader of the
Democratic party in the State.
Does he want to be invested with
this inOrdinate power. If so. for
what does he wish to use il?
1t is to be hoped the Legislature
will not consent to take away from
the people the right to select this
important officer, just to satisfy
the ambition of partisan political
power"
1--WE do not enjoy the Governors
confidence. We do not know what
be has in mind in respect to this pro
vision of his call. But if it is his
purpose to divorce the registration
from the clerk and make the former
appOintive by some public board, we
do not hesitate to say his purpose is
cOmmendable from party standpoint
ut is perfectly natural that the
Third District Progressives should
protest against this plan. They are
engaged in political conspiracy
against the Democratic party; and
having cleo ed member of Congress
they are now fighting for the local
Offices, as part of a pla eventually TO
capture the State Government
Zone of the essentials OF this plan.
in their opinion, is control of the re-
gistration Office. In the congression-
al campaign they intimdated Demo
cratic officeholders by threatening to
defeat them for reelection if they
showed any activity for the DEM
Ocratic candidate By the same
method they hope first to dominate
the registration in any parish in which
they have a majority vote and later to
take possession of it by electing the
clerk if the law is not changed.
The Democratic party would de-
serve to be dethrOned it having the
power it did not protect itself against
the Progressive conspiracy. 1t can
not be expectsd TO hand its enemy
club with which to batter out its OWL
brains.
mo one wants an unfair registra-
ton and every Democratic stands for
the right OF every white man to vote.
But we have had too many eviden ,es
OF the quality ofProgressivc partisan
ship 10 this State not TO know that if
the registration is put in its hands.
thousands Of worthy white men will
be denied the ballot by reason of the
large discreptionary power which is
lodged in the registrar.
1--WE want no such unfair and parti-
san administration of the registration
ONCE. We want no such violent at
lack on the spirit of the suffrage
clauses OF the constitution.
I'VE have said we welcome an OBJ
white mans party in Louisi- |
ina. Ii 1t can master a majority Of |
he white votes Of Louisiana the
aestinies OF the State ought to be re-
nitted to its hands. But that is no
for continuing on the statute
'ooks law which ought never to
ave been passed and which the Pro-
'ressives would not hesitate so to use
10 permit minority of the white
eople of Louisiana to control its
overnment.
Noticing that the Cover
Tor, i'll his call for an extra.
ordinary session Of the Legis-
ature had authorized legiS-
alton on the methods of
electing the Registrar of
'Oters, We asked what was
he object and purpose of the
change and what
nightly reason, if any, there
as which made the change :
ecessary, and why should I
he selection of this Office be {
ken away from the neonle