Le MeschaceÌbeÌ. [volume] ([Lucy] La.) 1853-1942, 1916-04-08
BERTHELOT REPLIES
TO HART STATEMENT
ReitCrateS Pleasant Mas Given
Raw Deal In Naming Of ST.
John Vote Officials

| J0nn HOte OiiiCldlS
! Paul Berthelot. chairman OF
the st Jo1n Parish Democra-
tic committee, Of Lucy, reaffirms
charges from Democratic sour
ces that the William J Hart
faction in st. John is supporting
Parker for governor, and that
the election officials appointed by
the st. John supervisor, are Par
k6r men.
In reply to an interview by
Ar. Hart, printed in The Daily
States, March %, Mr. Rerthelot
says:
Mr.. Hart seems to take of
fense at an interview of District
Attorney Marrero, published in
The Daily States a few days ago
In said interview Mr.. Marrero
commented on the fact th4t the
board Of supervisor of st. John
had denied representation to Col
Pleasant at the polls in the COM
ing election. Instead of answer
Jag the charge made by the dis
trict attorney, Mr.. Hart attempts
to justify his political course and
that of the board by hurting
abuses at me personally. Mr.. Mar
rero, in his interview knew
whereof he spoke and was not
imposed upon by me, as Mr..
Hart would have the people un-
derstand. The duties of the dis
trict attorneys office make it
necessary for him to be in this
parish frequently and he Is just
as familiar with political condi-
tons mere as either Mr.. Hart or
myself.
Registered As Democrats;
Working For Parker.
Mr.. Hart states that every
commissioner and clerk appoint
ed by the board Of supervisor of
this parish is a Democrat and so
registered. 1t never has been in
timated by anybody that these
election officials are not register
ed as Democrats, but the fact
that they, together with the
balance of the Hart followers,
are boosting and shouting for
Parker make it at least apparent
that they will vote the Progress
sive-Republlcan ticket neXC cleo
ton. The opinion of Mr.. Hart
that these election officials will
support the Regular nominee
and represent him at the polls is
ridiculous to the well-informed !
here in st. John The mere fact
that they are registered a. Demo
Gratis will not in itself help the
cause of Democracy and give re-
presentation at the polls to Col.
Pleasant.
Il want to deliberately state !
and corroborate the interview i
given by Mr.. Marrero that Col. |
Pleasant has received outrageous |
treatment at the hands of the |
boa0 Of supervisors Of st. John
parish. After careful investiga-
ton | have reached the conclusion
that every election official ap-
pointed by the local board is a
Parker man. This | do not state
as a mere pinion, bat as a fact /
revealed by thorough investiga-
ton. This fact is OF common know
ledge here in st. John, and | can |
not see how Mr.. Hart can honestly
be of the opinion that these elec-,
ton officials will vote for and re-
present Col. Pleasant at the polls. /
'Mr. Hart, realizing that am |
the biggest obstruction to the I
Parker campaign in this parish, I
would like to have the Democrats
of the state believe that | am a
ffth-wheel in the politics Of st. +
John and that my remaining
silent would inure greatly to the
benefit, of Col. Pleasant.
Bsrthel1t Faction
Workers For Pleasant. ]
1T is a matter of record that
in the last primary the Berthelot
faction, of which | am the lead
er, championed the cause of Col
Pleasant and succeeded in carry
ing the parish for the Colonel af-
ter a warm fight. 1t is also
matter of common knowledge in
this parish that the Hart faction, /
supposedly headed by Mr.. Hart, !,