The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1916-05-20
INAUGURATION OF GOVERNOR
PLEASANT.

I PIEtASA1N H.
Hon. Ruffin G.. Pleasant was formal
l1v inducted into the office Of Cover
nor Of Louisiana at Baton Rouge last
Monday noon ID the presence OF the
largest assembly Of people eyel
| gathered in the state capital. 1t i
estimated that not less than 10000
visitors were added to the city's pop
ulation, attracted by the momentous
event of change in the government
of the commonwealth which IS ex
peeted to mark q new era IN methods
and systems appertaining to some o.
its most important functions.
The oath of office was administer
| ed to the new governor by Chief
! Justice Frank A. Monroe of the su
preme court Of Louisiana, after ar
imposing parade through the naif
streets Of the capital in which many
prominent state, city and parochla
officials, the cadet corps Of the Lou
isiana State University, members Of
Col. Peasants Spanish war regiment
| Confederate Veterans and other or
CARNATIONS took part. Philip Wer
| lein of New Orleans was grand mar
shall Of the parade, and Col. /. Sam
| bola Jones of Baton Rouge was the
efficient master Of ceremonies.
Tumultuous and prolonged applause
greeted the young governor when he
| had taken the oath and was intro.
duced to the enthusiastic assembly
and there were frequent outbufsts
of approval during the course OF the
eloquent and forceful inaugural adj
dress which he directed to the people
rather than the general assembly o.
the state. The general trend and
spirit of the admirable utterance are
| indicated by the following quotation
from the opening paragraph:
Having been called to the high Of
flee of governor by the people OF this
commonwealth, !. approach the duties
and responsibilities of that position
with the prayer that Providence may
be my guide and that ] may be sus-
tanned by the good will and hearty
cooperation of all Louislanians. We
have before Us many problems that
need consideration and solution, and
I trust that the legislature, the of
fcers of the state, and all other cits-
lens will contribute every effort pos
sible toward q proper consideration OF
these questions during this admins
tration, so that the work Of orr term
may be thorough and complete. In
my humble judgment. what the peo-
pie Of Louisiana wish and what they
ought to demand is a period Of rest
and peace-a period free from politi-
cal acrimony, partisan Wrangllng, and
fractional discord. And, so far as it
may lie in my power, shall earnest
" seek to accomplish that end. "
The governor said that the result
pf the election was equivalent to a
mandate from the people that the
principles ard policies of the Demo-
cratic platform should be carried into
effect, and he pledged his best efforts
to that end, expressing confidence
that the general assembly would be
actuated by a similar view and mo-
tive.
The necessity Of bringing the ex-
penditures of the state government
within its revenues, of equalizing as
sessments and taxation, encouraging
agriculture, immigration and manu-
features, was dWeIt upon by Gov.
Pleasant, and so were the magnificent
and as yet undeveloped resources of
Louisiana which render the state ca
pable Of supporting 4 population more
dense than that III Holland. He re-
ioiced in the renewed declaration Of
the states allegiance to the Demo
cratic party, whose leading achieve
ments under the leadership of Pres
ident Wilson were cited, and the
eloquent address was closed with this
fervent aspiration and pledge:
u hope that this Inauguration will
mean something more than the mere
induction of an individual into the of
flee of governor. trust that it will be
the beginning of a clearer under
standing and a more fraternal coop
GRAFTON among all Louisianians as well
as the initiation of policies and of
laws that will greatly advance the in
terests of the state and her people.
ITO this end pledge my whole be-
ing, again praying that God may be
my guide, and that the result of our
labors during the next four years may
add to the honor, the glory, and the
power of Louisiana.
In marked contrast to the imposing
ceremonies of the governors inaugu-
ration was the induction into Office Of
Lieutenant Governor Fernand Mou-
ton, who took the oath in the senate
chamber at 1880 o'clock a. M, read
a brief address promising his best
services to the state, and unostenta-
siously assumed his new duties.
Three peace-at-any-price citizens