The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1916-03-04
PARKER DENOUNCES
TENTH WARD BOSS
IN STRONG WORDS.
Charges Ewing and Pleasant
With Attempt to Rob
Him of Good Name.

John M. Parker threw tn,
challenge Of veracity and of hi
good name into the teeth OF Rob
ert Ewing, boss Of the Tenth
ward and publisher Of the Dali,
States, and of Col II q. Pleasant
10 ringing speech in the Sixtl
precint of the Thirteenth ware
Monday night.
~ have taken part in public
affairs for a good many years." he
said, 81 have been in many poll
teal trays, and IN all these years
there has been only one man &c
reflect upon my private characl 81
and to attempt 10 rob me of my
god name, and that man il Rob.
ert Ewing
"At the proper time, want 60
say Ia dead earnestness, ! am 90
ing TO give him an opportunity to
prove his statements And If he
does prove them, | am unworthy
OF the trust the people Of New Or
leans and of Louisiana have re
posed in me in the past Aud If
he can't prove them, and | tell
you that be can't, then he is the
most Infamous scoundIel that
uses u pen.
MIR. PARK ER'S BEST SPEECH.
The effort was the best political
speech OF Mr.. Parker's career.
He had intended 10 make only q
five minute talk, but under pres
sure of an enthusiastic crowd of
five hundred Thirteenth warders,
he expanded into q mastery cam
gaign address Fire blended
with humility and the masterful
voice OF leadership with the spirit
of Democracy. In delivery It was
perfect The audience, respon.
sive from the outset, was swept
into the widest enthusiasm at
each successive period. While
Mr.. Parker always has been rec
oghized as splendid speaker,
his rapid Improvement through
stump experience is source Of
keenest delight to his followers.
The excoriation Of Mr.. Ewing
and Col. Pleasant was the high
note Of Parker's speech, but he
also touched upon his policies
and plans. The short ballot, his
idea for constitutional conveD.
tion, non partisan elections, aboli.
ton of slnecures and his pledge
TO give the state an efficient, busi.
ness administration, be dwelt
upon in some detail. Then he
spoke of the progress Of his cam
paign and his confidence In cue
,ess. He stressed the inslsteDce
II himself and his friends upon a
'quare deal at the polls in April.
RULE OF THE PEOPLE.
"Democracy means the rule of
he people," Mr.. Parker said IN
opening. "Wben absolute con
rol Of public affairs is vested in
me man, it ceases to be Demo-
'racy.
~ had the privilege Of speak
ng in this ball four years ago.
1t that time the man who had
urned on HE fellow ward bosses
ame out daily in his papers say.
Dg his candidate was sweeping
You know how much
weeping was done election day.
"You know, too, how after this
nan was elected natioDa al commit.
elected by Luther e.
iall at the request and solicita
ion of Daniel D. Moore, editor Of
he mes-Picayune, that he went
ack on these men and on the
orces of reform who had q right
0 expect that he would stand by
hem.
"That man today asplres to be
hief boss of Louisiana He has
OF hesitated to use the columns
{ his newspapers TO villify men
ho oppose him. am here to
ay that never under any oondI.
ion do | propose to bow my neck
nd kneei at the feet OF Robert
wing, boss of the Tenth ward"
Mr.. Parker continued, making I.
he statement quoted above
hen he said that, although he !
ad fought the ward boss system
,r years, the leaders personally
ere his frienes, and lie had never :
ldulged in personalities. Even /.
fter the States had attack ed him
Q remained silent, he said, "until :
ley went to the end of the rope !
nd then l pulled the rope" p :
lines Picayune.