The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1916-03-25
WALTER DENECRE
ALWAYS A DEMOCRAT
Declares Himself of John Nj
Parker.

THE Democratic organization hay
ing gotten the voters into the primary
to climate Barrett, the prohibitiopists
now are telling them that they are &C
bound by that participation In that in
Hated primary that they cannot vote
for Parker; that they must sacrifice
the good of the state to the benefit OF
the party. Will the people be again
fooled into surrender of their rights
and duty to vote for the best mani |
do not think 80.
II am not Progressive party man,
but Democrat, and have never voted
Ianytbing but Democratic ticket in
state and national elections. / am not
supporting Parker because he ~
Progressive, but In spite of it; be
cause he towers head and shoulders
above his opponent In ability to look
after and further the needs of the
state; and because he is making the
fight Of the people against the Sys.
tenn.
| 1T is immaterial to me that Park err
joined the Progressive party because
he thought IL best to have two par
ties in the state, that the fear Of one
might keep the other on its good be
havior. What | do know ~ that at
heart and in his promises, and in his
performances, he IL the kind of man
a Democrat should be, therefore
good enough Democrat for me.
with due Difference to our former
governor, Parker Is the best equipped
man ! have known for governor oil
this state. He has better all around
knowledge OF the needs of this city
and the state than any of them had.
A resident OF New Orleans, he knows
the problems of the city, the owner of
plantations and farms, he knows the
problems of the country.
1T has been SO long since a New
Orleans man has been governor that
Its citizens should rally to Parker;
aud the country parishes should be |
willing to vote for the city man be-
cause he understands their problems
better than lawyer who has spent |
most Of his life as an Office holder,
while Parker has been an active and |
successful business man and planter.
1T is about time that we should
break away from the habit of eleoting
lawyers to office. Give us business
men TO run the business Of the state;
and give us such man ms Parker.
whose successful administration Of his
business and planting interests proves
his ability to successfully administer
the affairs of the state.
"The primary contest between
Pleasant and Barrett resolved itself
into prohibition contest. Neither
Of them developed any ideas for the
betterment of conditions. Whatever
Of practical good was suggested orig
mated with Parker.
Parker has shown a constructive
force. They did not. He never trim
ned nor evaded an issue. He put
principle above party, patriotism
above patronage. He stood out fore
most for the abolition of useless Of
ices and the fee system. He stands
or economy against wastefulness, for
efficiency against incompetency, for
he destruction Of that political sys
en- which has sapped the energies OF
he state, wasted its revenues, and
obbed the people of their votes. both
It primary and state elections.
THE election of John Parker would
lot, in my opinion, mean either the
OF the Democratic party,
II the triumph of the Progressive
'arty, but IL would teach the Demo.
ratio organization that the govern.
nent must be administered for the
'enefit of all, not for the profit of
ew. That this party means the peo-
lie and not self perpetuating anar-
by. keeping itself in power by raping
he ballot boxes, and the distribution
( the patronage among the members
T that oligarchy, to the exclusion OIL
len far better fitted for the public
ervice. L.
There was time when the Demo
ratio party In this state was control Il
ID by great leaders. Today II is In
ne hands of inefficient bosses. It is
me that the control should pass into
orthier hands. The election of such
representative and able men az John =,
arker is the lesson needed to bring =
bout that result VI
AT no time have the bosses sought III
} enlighten the electorate any leg W
lation or enterprises for The benefit h,
the people at large. Whatever Of
bod has been accomplished has been
spite of them, and has been forced W
, them by leaders independent in
ovements, such as John Parker =;
mes-Picay une. :"