The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1915-05-28
GOVERNORS initial MESSAGE TO LEGISLATURE

penalties and forfeltureS, and general
ly to do in relation to the subject mat
ter, what may be deemed necessary.
Generally speaking. there should be
effective laws to protect the people
against unlawful combinations and
conspracies In restraint Of trade. But
there is special and mediate need for
such legislation to safeguard and pro-
tect the interests Of thousands OF PEG.
pie who are engaged in agricultural
pursuits. The future progress and ma
terial welfare Of the state depends UP
on the prosperity Of it's farmers. They
cannot be successful II the state
through inaction tolerates and thus
promotes such combination and con-
spiracies as to rob them of the fruits
Of their toll. The situation that con-
fronts the people engaged in the pro-
duction Of sugar and the effort made
to protect the industry against threat
ened ruin are well known. NotWith-
standing the protective duty levied by
the Federal government on imported
sugars, the sugar industry Of the state
has been gradually decling until 1t has
reached a state Of prostration. This
condition resulted from the unlawful
operations within the state of the
American Sugar Refining Company and
its allied interests. which had in effect
reduced the producers Of sugar to
| condition of serfdom. Proceedings
were instituted to curb the capacity OF
I the trust" or force it to leave the
state. It's response has been an AFRO
| gan defiance OF our state laws ana
now apparently with confident belief
in its power. it has impudently given
notice to the people Of the state that
it will send it's paid representatives
here to prevent the representatives or
the people from enacting such legisla-
| ton as may be needed to drive 1t from
| the prey upon which 1t has been feaSt-
ing unmolested for so many years. II
a somewhat similar situation does not
exist as to other agricultural indus
tries, it Is liable to arise unless effec-
tive measures are adopted.
Honest Capital Safe.
1T was to be anticipated that any
effort to secure adequate and effective
legislation for special purposes indica-
ted would be followed by the usual ar
gument that capital will be deferred
from seeking investment in the state.
There would be as much reason to ar
que against the enactment of more
stringent laws against larceny on the
ground that such legislation would
prevent people from coming into the
state to make their homes. We do not
need the capital that might come for
the purpose of robbing the people any
. more than we need and desire the i'm
migration Of thieves.
/ THE State Of Louisiana has never
been unfair in its treatment Of capi-
: tai, and there Is no ground even for
n suggestion that its policy will be diff
ferent in that regard in the future.
o Its policy has always been and will
: continue to be sane and liberal The
ttegftfmato operations OF capital have
been and always will be promoted and
e assisted in every way possible. Even
the American Sugar Refining Com
,. pany has no just cause of complaint.
5. 1t has been left undisturbed for many
e years, during which it has been doing
l business In the state, and the contro-
versy with it arose only when it in
0 solently refused to deal justly and
fairly with the thousands of the peo-
q pie of the state engaged in the pro-
I duction Of sugar.
1T must be borne in mind that the
agricultural activities of the state rep
8 resent an investment by our people of
0 productive capital. The material well
e fare Of the state and the prosperity of
: all our people are dependent directly
II and indirectly upon its avails. On the
n other hand there is or in any event
q will be comparatively a small amount
y Of unproductive capital invested in
z. such concerns as may Cypress our ag-
q ricultural interests. To fail adequate
e ly to protect the large and vital inter-
: ests through an unwarranted fear that
> legitimate capital might be frightened
: would be nothing short OF a crime.
lie 1.-The people of the state many years
- ago adopted as its policy with respect
l. to the prohibition of the sale of intox-
{. icating liquors what is known as local
"a option. 1t gives to the people Of the
lr parish, as the unit adopted in the state.
le the right to say whether or not the
y sale of intoxicating liquors shall be
"a prohibited therein as majority Of the
re people of the parish may determine.
ol The policy, in common fairness and
honesty, imposes upon the General AS
sembly the obligation to provide by
a legislation adequate means whereby
ar the people may be enabled to render
E. their expressed will effective. Exist
as ing laws, 1t appears, are not made to
~ accomplish that end. They should be
Is. amended OF new laws enacted. But In
ts framing such leg latiOn, care should
u be taken that there be no discrimination
re against the liquor dealers in this
mt states Such discriminatory legisla-
sc, ton could accomplish no appreciate
nd result in the way Of protecting the
m people Of a parish wherein the salt
an Of liquors is prohibited.
e. Another phase of the subject mat
ST. ter relates to the statute by which 10
he cal option is stablished. An impor
er tant provision Of this statute was by
lis comparatively recent decision of one o
in the district courts declared null, ant
ng should his decision be affirmed, tn
statute will have been destroyed by
lie, construction never contemplated tn
'e- law should stand in essential respect
les as it has been uniformly construe
let and enforced for many years. In viey
he of the presidency of the litigation
Die may be deemed advisable to amend tn
mt existing statute or to enact new on
lily and thus place the law beyond Ques
ed ton.
of ut is deemed proper to call your at
an tention also to the duty that rests up
lf- on the state to recall by appropriat
of legislation. the lake, river and othe
)p- bottoms which belong to ii in virtu
all of its sovereignty. and which were nc
vs. intended to be conveyed to the Boar
Ia Iof Commissioners of the Caddo LeNn
ed. EDNtrict but are now being claimeS
tthat board under a certification of
~. lRegister of the State Land Ofh
nv 1These bottoms are rich in miners
ara wealth, and the state should no longe
40. suffer the loss of revenue flown
nd from control over the board as one {
or it's agencies. 1t possesses the power.
an would SEEM to recall all lands convey
for ed to il, and certainly to recall sue
ion as were conveyed enormously or will
,en out authority of law.
al "As to the other matters submittt
for your consideration. beg In lieu
, "a special reference to them to invite 20,
Tho attention to the proclamation CONVEX
has ing you in extraordinary session.
Sc "All must realize. am sure. that Il
,er. people of the state can receive q
,icb service which they have a right to e
and pect Of your honorable body only VIII
~ all personal and political consider
itu- lions are for the time laid aside. I q