The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1916-04-01

Wilson r Peterman. THE super
human who eau bold down two big
iohs like the .shrlsvalty Of st Mary
MD the Parker campaign manager
ship ut one and the same timel Is
quoted al saying
7 am surprised at q gentleman Of
Mr. Peasants standing making such
statement. and the more surprised at
Ms argument of the case For one
hing let me say right now that II
here are lo.0oe qualified negro setefs
n Louisiana, as he is quoted as saying
at Carenero. Il IL news to me II there
are 10000 qualified negro voters in the
State, who registered them? The self
styted white sapremaeists are In con.
troll Of the registration Offices,
Mr. Pleasant should know that MI
Parker viii net receive the negro vote
\ neither II is io.o00 or 100000 Mr.
Parker said al Bogalusa, and be has
said IL all over the State. The only use
have for the negro In politics, Ia to
make him know bis place As for my
ELF II Mr. Parker had brought or IN
any way tended 10 bring the negro Into
euislanas politics. | would most a.
uredly not be managing hls campaign,
or would | be Ia any way connected
with IT,"
Any one who has heard Mr. Pleasant
.se In his speeches. the Negro" Illus
ration referred 10 above knows that
ne never said there we're 10000 negro
voters and Parker would get them
Mr. Peasants statement was exactly
AZ reported In these columns, last
&eek. namely. that two nearly equally
matched political parties could net
exist la this state. siae by side. without
bringing the negro In as a voter. He
,ald tia, he fully believed tina, Mr.
Parker had no personal wish TO bring
his about any more than the Demo.
rats do, but II would result auto.
nateally. tn the event OF two white
mems parties struggling for mastery
The Democrats. he said would do II.
~ welt as the pFogresslyes And then
Mr. Pleasant introduced the illnstra'
ton referred to. using the purely hypo-
lhetleal figures OF G6.0o0 Democrats,
600 progressives and 10000 negro
votes No claim was made for aecH.
racy and every enc knows the figures
sere not accurate. but we're entirely
for the illustration Of Mr. Peasants
argument.
Nr Peterson says further: THE
very fact that any politician tried TO
Use lo.oo0 negroes TO give his 10000
hite allies majority would promptly
drive $4,000 OF his $4,000 away from
hIm Ia this state
And he IL right, But these matters
comt te pass more insidleusly because
hey are gradual In development. No
out and oat bid for the whole aegro
vote would probably be made by any
bite mans party, but silent pres
sure would be made by each party 10
secure nay force, that vote ~ It's re.
paetive ranks, aud the negro back in
elites would be an accomplished fact
before Il sas realized
The trend can be seen to-day Every
negro vote In Louisiana ID for Parker
In every parish. those negroes who can
qualify for the fraaehise are doing 80,
hat their numbers are comparatively
mall Ii due 70 circumstance and not
90 desire or purpose, And when added
to that is another portent sinister In
he extreme namely the undivided
flegianee 10 the Parker cause OF every
old earpet-bagger and aealasag In
he state, having lain dormant and
auiescent, II not aequieseent. during
lnehallenged Democratic admInlstra-
ion in Louisiana, the chances are all
Ia favor Of the brother In black being
introduced as rapidly as possible into
The scheme OF things political These
black Republicans. II is evident, have
changed neither their political com
plesions nor their old proelIyittes and
since they alone can hold Office legally
ihder Parker regime the danger is
real and not q fancied one that the
negro is already making first steps In
return 10 the old game OF being a
political pawn
----~------~--e -~-------
NOT pknAt. Ell