The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1915-06-12

William Allen White, just at time
when the people of Kansas were least
expecting it, touched off few hundred
tons of dynamite and woke them, up.
He did it through the editorial columns
of his Emporia Gazette, and he called
his article whats the Matter With
Kansas" William Allen White told
EN- just what was the matter with
Kansas. He didn't mince any words
doing it, either; he told EN- it was just
about the rottenest little State in the
Union, and that it's citizens were head
ed straight for demnition. He roasted
EN- until the flesh came off in huge
chunks and he singed all the hair off
the populistic boards.
Editor White woke 'em up most thor
oughly and effectively. They went
cunning for Editor White, they 'cussed'
him and called him "knocker" and
made it generally unpleasant for him,
but pill" White just grinned, dipped
his pen in sulphuric acid and wrote
another editorial, and for some reason
the people did not run Editor White
out of Kansas. Possibly because after
pouring the healing oil of enlighten-
ment on their wounds they discovered
that he was telling some mighty plain
truths, and it was not bad idea after
all to have a man or two in the com.
munity who could see their faults and
was not afraid to make them public
property.
They are glad they didn't run Will
liam Allen White out of Kansas now.
In fact, they are exceedingly proud of
him, for he is a national figure and he
made the State what it is to-day. Their
mortgages are all paid up, their lands
have quadrupled in value, they have
money out at interest, good roads,
schools, and unbounded confidence in
themselves and their State.
The parish of West Feliciana to-day
| is in exactly the same state of mental
and physical decay that existed in
Kansas before Willoam Allen White
woke 'em up" The people are ha-
raised by debt; they are deficient in
schools, and their roads for the most
part are little more than cow-paths.
There is spirit of distrust in each
other, and there is no health in us"
1t is time we lay aside politics, petty
differences, jealousies and suspicious,
and analyze ourselves individually and
collectively and find out What's the
matter with West Feliciana?"
Fortunately for West Feliciana, we
do not need William Allen White to
wake her up. Her citizens are alive to
the needs of the community, and a
movement has been started that de
Serves and merits the support of every
red-blooded person who lives within
her boundaries. These men know that
the time has come to let Louisiana
hear from us. West Feliciana has been
the banner parish, the garden spot, the
dwelling-place of the mighty of the
greatest State South in the past. She
is going to be a contender for that
enViable place again. She is on her
way toward that goal, and she is gath
ering Roadway all the time. But these
men realize that she must build from
within, make her lands habitable, give
her people means of transportation for
their crops and make it worth while
for her young men to stay on the land
and new families to settle in the waste
places.
They realize that the time has come
when all prejudices must be laid aside, |
and when all men can meet on a COM
mon ground of understanding and work
for the betterment of the parish, for
what is just and right and necessary
for it's development and upbuilding;
that the time has come to have those
things which are best and those only. |
They realize that it is time to construct
for the future, to build permanently, to
forget the expediency of the moment
and raise monuments which will en-
dure for future generations.
They know that the eXpediency of !
the moment in road and bridge con-
struction is the most wanton waste and |
extravaganza, that no successful bust |
ness is, or can be, conducted except on
the firm foundation of permanency. !
They know that this parish is expend- |
ing enough each year in repairing roads
to pay the interest on any investment
it would be necessary to incur, to make
these same roads permanent,and bridge
all its streams. They know means
can be found to have this whole situa-
ton bettered, and something started |
that will eventually lead to a perfect
system of highways and bridges. They