The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1916-01-22

THE TIMES-PICEV NOT RDR

conditions and the ogress of the
pending gubernatorial campaign in
Louisiana has been given in a series
of articles published last week by the
New Orleans Times-Picayune as en-
anating from a member of it's editor
ial staff, Norman Walker, one of the
best known and ablest newspaper
writer's of the state. The belief ex-
pressed in these articles that the tre1f6
of Democratic sentiment is toward
Col. Pleasant and that his defeat of
Lieut.. Gov. Barrel in next Tuesdays
primary is virtually assured, gave rise
to the more or less general impress
sion among the cursory readers of
the Times-P icayune that the paper
had arrayed itself among the support
ers of the attorney generals guber-
material candidacy.
The Times-Picayune on Sunday last
took occasion to correct this errone-
Gus impression through the medium
of the following plain-spoken editor
ial, bearing the caption, "Our Choice
for Governor"
"No one who knows the Times-Pic-
ayune will imagine for a second that
what we have published lately of po-
litical conditions in the state-the
chances of the several candidates and
the issues most discussed throughout
Iouisiana-ln any way affects our
views as to the governorship. The
is as far from being
an opportunist as possible and its en-
tire course has shown this. It has
never favored or supported party
or faction or candidate because that
party or faction was in power or like
ly to win. 1t fought the Republican
party when it was in control of the
state, and it has clearly expressed it's
opinion of municipal governments
when they administered the affairs of
the city in manner we did not think
to the best interests of the citizens.
1t has always spoken it's mind freely
and has fought the battles of the peo-
pie without thought of favor or of
the strength or power of those in Of
fee whom it has opposed.
'fWhen, therefore, one of its rep
resentatives was sent over the state
to find out the drift Of sentiment and
to give his views of the campaign, no
one who knew anything of the past
policies of the paper on public ques-
tons imagined for moment that The
was in this round
about way expressing its preferences
for governor, but understood that
what we were seeking to do was to
give, in more vivid and striking way,
the news of a campaign which for
dullness and lack of interest or issue
has exceeded anything ever seen in
Louisiana. This dullness had clouded
the facts and aroused doubt and con-
fusion over the state. We, therefore,
sent one of the associate editors of
the paper to see and study the situa-
ton and probabilities in the several
sections of Louisiana, in the towns,
the crossroads and the back woods,
and to present them to our readers.
He has given during the last few days
the result of his inquiries, the con-
illusions he has reached from them
and the facts on which they were
based.
His conclusion was that COL Ruff
in Pleasant would win the Demo-
cratic nomination in the primary, and
hat only most vigorous and excit-
ng campaign that would arouse the
entire state could give Mr.. John NJ.
Parker any chance to defeat him.
1'But this does not mean that Col.
Pleasant is our candidate for gov
ernor or that we regard him as the
pest man to preside over the destinies
If Louisiana at this time. What we
thought of Col. Pleasant as a candi-
late for governor we stated at length
months ago, almost at the beginning
# the primary campaign. Nothing
las occurred since to cause us to
change that opinion in the slightest
legree. The fact that he has devel-
,ped greater political strength ought |
lot to affect our judgment, and does
lot.
eve me9tion this not because we
ear any of our old readers will mis-
our position, but foe the
'eneft of those opportunists who are
llways with the victorious candidate,
md who, like the old negro, votes
With the majority The Times-Pica-
Fune is just where it stood at the be-
inning of the campaign in the mat
er of issues and candidates. favors
hose issues that can build up Louisi-
ma and those candidates who can be
ounted on to carry them out. AS we
aid months ago, we do not think Col.
Pleasant the man for this great
york"