The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1916-02-19
Mr.. pARkEH's SPEECH AT
ST. FaANCiStILLE.

The True Democrat has no desire Il
deny that large and repfesentatiy,
gathering listened to Mr. parker's
apeech lh 81 t'raucissIla last frida,
morning Mi Parker liz partly eiti
gen 0f Aest Felieiana he has larg.
business interests here. and he ID
popular both IN business and sooia
way. consequently though he can make
no pfetensiuns 10 be an orator. ans
talk from him would be seil received
even were 1T on the subject of how ts
dispose of brfrkbats, or the best way
TO fssoie old shoes. but to infer from
this Haltaring reception that the parish
"a Democratic stronghold since the 7o's
"iil relinquish It's fine old principles
for MIR parkws sake liz TO make calcu
lations that the returns Of the general
election will not justify
Mr. Parker delivered no new message
In his ~. franeisyiile speech II was
practically the same as he delivered In
the Hall campaign. and however Justly
aud rightly he inyeighs against the
evils of boss rule, just as he denounced
them In lai2. II 80 be that the people
should act upon bis denunciation of
the machine and heafknn to hls prom.
Ises. what guarantee have they that he
would stay sith them To the end Just
so fefcefully did he speak la 1919. In
almost identieally the same words. and
yet II IL matter Of record that he
deserted the administration that he
had helped 10 snaugarate, so aeon after
i.s inception that Gov Hail might well
have asked the reproaehful question.
Gould you not watch With me ONE
hour"
Mr.. Parker heard the Masters voice
III Biren tones. and broke away from
his democracy la instant answer There
~ absolutely no guarantee that history
would not repeat itself
Mr. parker's claim tina, the Progress
Hse party In u white mans party may
be true from bis point NJ view, and
from the desires of the naleonteats
Who are responsible for Its existence
In Louisiana, but In n national sense,
Theodore Roosevelt. who is at once It's
essence aud its raisoa d'etre, has
record that shows he never scrtiples TO
Use the negro when II suits his politl
cal fortunes recall, RooseYelt's ap.
pearance ON the stage OF the frst and
only Progressive convention with his
arm around black brother. and the
fact that he gave places OF honor 10
negroes oh his campaign committed
Without citing other incidents In HIS |
career, these are sufficient To refute |
the idea that the Progressive party Is
tbs N8iRS HlfH HfhiHs iAHt thHt ONE AAF 1
that this happened only In the North |
Southern instances showing the true
Rooseyeltian attitude to the negro can |
be cited
MIR. Parker In doubtless sincere In |
the Wish that the Progressive party |
should be- composed Of white men only.
but stronger hand than his Ia at the
helm, and ON that day when the two
factions OF the Republican party come
together again and should its chief be
Roosevelt, II takes not the Gift of
prophecy to foreteIl where MIR Parker
silI be also, Should he be- also gov.
efnor of Democratic Louisiana what q
sight for gods and men II vii! bel
Though Mr. Parker sere ten hundred
times the fine man that he Ia. the risk
Ia soo great Far better for Democrats
to bear the lila they have than fly to
hose they know not of