St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1915-07-03
COyington

Coyington, La, June 80, 1915.
To the Citizens OF st. Tammany
Parish:
Having announced my candidacy
for the nomination for delegate to
the Constitutional Convention to be
convened, l deemed this fact suffici-
ent TO place before the people of this
parish the sole issue involved in this
election, namely, a choice or selec-
tiod of either my opponent, Mr.. Ellis,
or myself, to represet them as dele
gate in said convention.
But, my opponent has seen TIT to
inject in this election issues that are
wholly unfair and, in my honest be-
lief, absolutely foreign. to the subject
matter now before the people for
their determination. He has nls
hesitated by veiled inuendo and sug-
gestion to impeach my official integ-
rity. and seriously to question both
my legal and moral right to aspire to
the honor of being delegate to
this Constitutional Convention, ana
in the event of my election to prop
erly and honorably represent the
people therein.
Mr.. Ellis does not dare to state
publicly that l have not the legal
right to be a delegate to this Con-
yention, for he knows this is untrue.
BY no possible construction in fact
or in theory is delegate to Con-
stitutional Convention held to be an
officer. A Constitutional Convention
is a body that has no permanent ex-
istence, and is only resorted to ana
called into life by the people OF a
State when they deem it necessary
to rewrite the constitution OF thelr
State. The Constitutional Law IS
basic foundation of all laws, leglsla-
tive or otherwise, enacted for the
guidance Of the people individually
or in conducting the affairs OF their
government.
The last Constitutional Conven-
ton held in this State was in the
year 1898, over seventeen years ago.
The moment the work Of this COM
ing Constitutional Convention is
completed, the Convention as body
will cease, ipso facto, to exist, and
it is not probable that another Con
stitutional Convention will be con-
vened in this State for many years
to come. Therefore, by no possible
construction or Interpretation OF
either fact or law can it be justly
and truthfully held that il l am
elected as delegate to this Conven-
ton | would hold at the same time
two Offices.
The Constitutional Convention OF
1898 and all other previous consul
tutional Conventions of this State
were largely composed of judges.
Judge Thompson OF this parish, now
gone to an honored rest. and who
was for many years the judge OF our
old judicial district, and was the
Judge of the present district, while
serving in the capacity of judge was
a delegate to the Constitutional Con-
yention of 1898, and by his learning
and experience materially aided the
deliberations of that body. Judge
Frank A. Monroe, now the Cn1ei
Justice of the Supreme Court OF tn.
State, served in the Convention OF
1898 while Judge of the Civil Dis
trict Court Of the City OF New Or
leans. Any one who reads the daily
newspapers can ascertain the fact
that many of the District Judges
throughout the State have announc-
ed that they are candidates as dele
gates to this same coming Constltu-
tional Conven- on.
If it could be said that a delegate
to Constitutional Convention Is an
officer in the meaning OF the law
which he is not, l could not under
the very law itself hold both Offices
The fact Of being elected as a dele
gate would Immediately vacate my
office as Judge, and as now recollect
the law l would subject myself to
a criminal prosecution. No reason
abe man, therefore, could for mo-
ment believe that l would be SO
foolish as to jeopardize my office as
Judge to be elected as delegate 70
a Convention that will not exist fol
longer period than sixty days, and
the emoluments Of which cannot ex-
ceed the sum Of $4,000.
Yet, in spite Of all these facts, my
opponent has not hesitated to at
tempt to impose upon the credulity
of the people the fact that, il am
elected a delegate, will be holding
at the same time two Offices, that oi
delegate to this Convention and thai
Of Judge Of this District, and he thus
injeets into this elect on the issue o1
dual office holding, which In fact and
in truth is not nd cannot justly
and fairly be considered an issue
herein. All of these facts are vel
known to my opponent.