St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1915-07-03
THE ST. TAMMANY FARMER, SATURDAY, JULY s. 1915

sense than to do any such act as
this, and you know it.
In addition to this, there is no cef-
tainty that will be reelected judge,
and il not, how and to what extent
would or could / be personally inter-
ested in the judges salary.
My opponent says: THAT he will
not be a candidate for judge next
year, nor for any other office as far
as he knows Well, how far it
that? / do not know, do you. Now
if Mr.. Ellis is elected a delegate to
this Convention, and after the close
of this Convention he decides to be-
come candidate for the judgeship
in that event will he not have revised
the courts and fixed the salaries OF
the judges just as much as | would
have, had / been elected tho dele
gate to this Convention? In that
case whose interest would be at
stake? Ellis Or mine?
Again, my opponent has three very
close kinsmen now serving the State
as judges, just as | am. His blood
cousin, Judge Bob Ellis, is the Judge
of the adjoining judicial district.
His uncle, Judge Steve Ellis, is .one
Of the judges of the Court Of APP
peals of this circuit. His uncle,
Judge Thomas Ellis, is one OF the
judges of the Civil District Court OF
New Orleans. II Mr.. Ellis is elected
as delegate to this Convention, will
he not revise the courts Of this State
presided over. by, and fix the salaries
OF Cousin Bob of ''Uncle Steve, :"
and of Uncle Tom?'' Then who IS
more vitality Interested in revising
the courts Of this State and in fixing
the salaries of the judges, Mr.. Ellis
Or myself? My opponent must be
to the questionable arguments he
has advanced and the specious issues
he has raised in favor of his own
candidacy.
In conclusion permit me to say
THAT l regret very much the lengthi.
ness of this document, but as l am
at present and will be until tae 31st
day of July a very busy man, it is
impossible for me to see the citizens
of this parish, and to personally dis
cuss with them the issues of this
election; and l can only reach them
through the columns Of the news
papers. After announcing my can
didacy l was perfectly willing to let
the question rest with the people,
but my opponent has seen fit to in
ject unfair and false issues into this
ELECTION. Out of respect to my own
sense of honor and integrity, / was
compelled to make answer hereto.
If you elect me as delegate to
this Convention, you need have no
uneasiness that l will do anything
but my duty. I will render you an
accurate and just account of my ac-
tons. The power Of punishment is
with you, and should | SO far forget
the principles and standards that
have ever guided my life as to do
any wrong in that Convention, will
be before you next year, and you can
then administer the punishment you
deem deserve
Upon my honor / say to you
have given serious consideration to
every feature, every fact, and eTery
condition connected with this COM
ing Constitutional Convention, and
my candidacy thereto. Not single
fact escaped my serious considefa-
ton. Each was settled and determ=
med by me before announcing my
candidacy. II there was the Slight
est improperly in my seeking to be.
elected as delegate to this ConFen-
ton, or if there was the slightest
conflict of duty between that OF g
delegate to said Convention and that
Of Judge of this district, | would not
have given the matter 9menls
consideration, and certainly would
not now be a. candidate before you.
| am candidate inNthis election
solely because have been requested
and importuned by great number.
Of the citizens of this parish who
would not take mo" for an answer.
After giving the matter serious con-
sideration I finally concluded to an
nounce my candidacy. / assure you
my sole desire is not to "covet this
honor" although no man appreciates
this honor more than !, but solely to
serve the people who so often have
honored me. The people have a
right to demand service Of me, and
when they demand it, consider it
my highest duty to respond, irres-
pective of any personal inconveni-
ence it may entail upon me.
This is all ! have done in this
matter. If there is a crime, then /
enter a plea of guilty without reser-
walton, and | will await any sem
tence that you, the people, may see
fit to pass upon me.
Respectfully submitted,
JOSEPH 8. LANCASTER.
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THE ST. TANINfANY FARMER