St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1916-06-03
THE D0BE PRIMARY BILL

far III do4fg away with crooked elections. Inc
bill provides for the placing Of each candidates
picture on the ticket; by this means the neces-
sity of commissioners assisting a voter would
be done away with.
The Clarion has already expressed itself in
favor of such a measure; we believe that the bill
introduced by our young friend from Vile Platte
is safe and sane.
Louisiana, and especially the Southwestern
and extreme Southern portions, is composed of
a large amount Of ~illiterate voters; on the day
of election these men have to- be assisted by a
commissioner. Experience teaches us that all
commissioners are not honest; and oftentimes
an election is decided on the crooked work of a
commissioner.
The bill would not only DISCARD commissioners
of their powerful influence in politics, but it
would serve to do away with the purchasing of
votes.
If the Dore bill is adopted the voter who is
unable to read and write will have the same op-
portunity of voting on candidates as intelligent
ly as the educated one.
There are many good, honest and conscien-
tious men in Louisiana, bereft of opportunities
in their young days, who are unable to read and
write. These men when they go into the voting
booth on the day Of election are compelled to
rely on the honesty of the commissioner who
fixes his ticket. Tt is not too infreduent that
these men, who know the character and worth
of the candidates, through the i~ntrigues of a
dishonest commissioner is voted for the very
man, whom he desired to cast his ballot against.
We make this assertion and believe it to be
absolutely correct, that the result of every close
election in any of the parishes Of Louisiana
where a large per cent of the voters are unable
to read and write is unavoidably decided by one
or more commissioners.
When the ~illitefate yeter is allowed to cast
his ballot unassisted then we will be reasonably
certain OF having clean elections. Until then
candidates are almost entirely at the mercy of
the commissioners.
This paper for one heartily endorses the
change in the primary election law as proposed
by the Dore bill, and we trust, for the benefit of
the great commonwealth that the bill will be
passed by the legislature.
&@ -
Chief Hayes, always over anxious and ener-
getic, coming to the conclusion that Uncle Sam
would not intervene in Mexico, has declared a
war all his own. AS a consequence Opelousas
dogs are very careful not to cross our old
friends path.
Those new police jurors who will take their
seats uayt uraoly viii oo, aI:.. ~. - Z. $3.50
to manage a stubborn mule than to govern
some fifty thousand human beings. whose de-
mands are entirely different from one another.
Our friend Bill Bryan will deliver a peace
Grafton in Alexandria. Despite publicity given
MN there will be a large number of Alexan-
drlans to participate in the preparedness dem
IN New Orleans on the sam day.
Ruff Pleasant, Bob Ewing and Martin Rehr-
man appear to have had their way at the state
democratic convention. Here lately Dame For
tune aas favored them to a great extent; they
are able to mop up and secure their wants.
Ii New Orleans would make as much noise
oppoI UTILITIES III IIat city
IT IS making about the preparedness parade
t would undoubtedly be the largest city in the
United States within the next few years. |
Just as long as cotton remains above 12 cents
The United States is at peace with the other
lations, the Southern farmer does not give a
ap, whether his European cousin comes to his
enses and asks for peace.
Job hunters were generous with compliment
Try remarks towards the mayor and the mem j.
ers Of the board of aldermen. Of course we q
gree with them that the new city fathers make \
handsome bunch. :
The farmer most bitterly opposed to a drain
e tax IS generally the man who never succeeds
4 the farm, and usually loses his crop each
on account Of too much water.
When Kelly Andrus receives his commission (
Landry voters will be able to compliment Ii
.~enselves on electing the handsomest assessor Il
J. Landry has had. S;
Patriotic Louisianians have evineed more in