The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1916-11-18
PARKER MAKES FINAL APPEAL
Progressive Candidate for Vice Presi-
dent Cordially Welcomed.

(The subioined synopsis of the address
delivered here last Sunday afternoon BY
John NJ. Parker, Progressive nominee fol
vice president of the United States, is ex
tracted from the Times Picayune of the 6tf
inst.-Edtor Chief.
Political autonomy, freedom from
boss rule and conscientious voting
were the ideals which John M. Parker
held up before the state of Louisiana
in an address Sunday, Nov. a, in
Donaldsonville. The district court
room, where the meeting was held
was packed to capacity with at least
three hundred persons, almost all OF
whom were voters, despite the fact
that the Republicans, in an effort to
neutralize Mr.. Parker's meeting, 81,
multaneously held an opposition s'Pro.
lection, rally in Napoleonville, fit.
teen miles from Donaldsonville, and
drew number of the people coming
up Bayou Lafourche away from the
Progressive rally.
Introducing Mr. Parker, Mayor
Walter Lemann of Donaldsonville
i designated him as "the standard
bearer of the Progressive party, the
members of which will do so much
to decide who is to be the next presi.
dent of the United States" The ap-
plause was heavy, as it was each time
Mr.. Parker's name was pronounced
| Taking the platform amid storm
of applause, Mr.. Parker launched i'm
mediately upon the theme of his mes
sage to Louisiana's voters, in the di-
rect, dignifed, earnest manner which
characterizes his addresses. And his
unquibbling presentation of eondi-
| tons and issues, without malice or
| the involving of personalities, coupled
| with his easily apparent sincerity and
| fair-nindedness, and spiced with an
occasional dash of humor, caught and
held this audience as always occurs
wherever he speaks.
First, he told his hearers of the
way Michigan does things, politically,
| by relating an incident of his recent
tour of the east and north. At Ira
verse City, Mich, he visited an in
sane asylum, which was so spotlessly
sanitary, SO perfectly regulated in
every detail and so modern in every
particular, that it excited his interest.
He found that the superintendent
had been at its head thirty years,
and his assistant had served in that
capacity twenty-four years; and that
though Michigan is adyed-in-the-
woop' Republican state and the SUI
perlntendent is staunch Democrat,
the politicians do not dare attempt
his removal, because he has proven to
the people his exceptional worth as
the head of that public institution
and the voters of that state do not
believe in making political spoils of
such positions when an ideal man al
ready is In charge, regardless of his
political affiliations. This ideal condi-
ton of affairs Mr.. Parker contrasted
in bold relief beside that obtaining in
Louisiana, where boss domination is
the rule and everything is a political
plum to be dropped to the favorites.
BOSS domination is your curse in
this state" he announced, and the vo-
tiers applauded to man. an nv OBJ
position to the present chief executive
OF this state during his candidacy,
was not against him personally, but
against the shadows behind him; just
as now, | am not against the Republic
can candidate for president, but
against the shadows behind him. But
what | did fight, and what am fight
ing here and now, is the gang of |
bosses controlling this state and |
throttling it and domineering and
duplng our people. What we must |
have is more efficiency and less politi-
cal measurements. And I'm here to |
tell you I've had bully good time
contributing toward the breaking up
81 this machine-ruled system Again
ne received an ovation of applause.
have been asked what I am going
70 do with my vote next Tuesday.
Ny answer is that I shall vote the
straight Progressive ticket. And, in
my support to candidates who
ire not Progressives and in a race
there is no Progressive to
Tote for, | simply am exercising nv
natural prerogative as an individual
Foter, selecting the man to whom I
an consclentiously give my vote and /,
Using my best efforts to elect the best
nan for the place, as any man who
las the interests of his state at heart
would do.
- Every one knows how I fought
woodrow Wilson four years ago.
SUIT remember now that he is pres
dent, not of the Democratic party. .
ut OF the United States. He admits
onestly wherein he has made mis-
axes; and he has accomplished so
luch for the nation that. comparing
I'M with the Republican candidate, I
believe him to be the
ogical man to elect at this time.
he Republican aspirant has made !
Q constructive talks, and has indulg- .
d wholly in vitriolic attacks ON the
resident and vituperative abuse of :
ne Democratic party. Having tour /
q the east and obtained at first hand /
nowledge of the sentiment in that |
ectlon, ! strongly believe the presi- /
ent will be reelected, for at present
le preponderance of the sentiment
IN his favor there. Of course, at I
lch critical time, no man can fore I
ast what the ensuing twenty-four or !