The Natchitoches enterprise., 1916-01-20

Ii lie is as close an observer as
we think he is, he probably noted
in all the parishes he refers to
people stole hogs, and shot. ono
another, now and then, and com
United various other crimes. And
vet he would hardly contend that
the laws prohibiting these things
ought not to be on the statute
books, or that they make hypo-
critics Of the people.
One of the most fertile and
populous sections in Louisiana Is
the Red River valley from the
Arkansas line to the upper line OF
Pointe COupee Parish, and Ye5
| it is and has been for many years
one Of the strongest prohibition
areas in the State, made so, not by
the women and the preachers, but
lby big cotton planters like Mr..
Parker, and by the small white
farmers and the men interested In
labor conditions, such as the
owners of saw mills, railroads and
other large industrial concerns.
The thought which we want to
convey is this:
That Mr.. Parker has never been
able to look at this question. as q
police regulation, but views II
simply as a moral or religious
question. He cannot grasp the
larger aspects of the problem; one
| in which the great agricultural IN
terests of the State-so dear to
him-are vitality interested.
1t is a painful fact, we say, to
note that Mr.. Parker, unlike his
| friend, Mr.. Roosevelt, has made
no progress along these lines; and
that while the business men, the
scientists and statesmen of the
world are profoundly considering
the best methods Of abolishing the
saloon, because of its destruc-
tion effects upon the industries of
the country, the health and lives
of the people, and above all, be-
cause it is the relentless foe to all
political reforms, Mr.. Parker is,
without realizing it, repeating the
thread bare, worn out clap trap of
the booze seller, whose business
has been banished from 10 States
of the Union, ard condemned to
Punishment bV a majority of the
white people Of the United States,
as expressed by tie votes of their
representatives in congress.
Mr.. Parker is an advocate of
regrIatiun-strict regulation the
thing that every saloon keeper in
the country yocifesously demands!
'--w -r-.rs''- A1S
claims thg constitutional right of
the free American citizen to
ignore and defy the law he has
demanded. For a forcible illus
tration of this fact we refer Mr..
Parker to his homo city, where no
pretense is made Of enforcing the
laws passed to regulate the saloons.
Does Mr.. Parker advocate the
repeal of those laws. He ought
to do so if be wants to be consis-
tent, because they undoubtedly
make hypocrites of the people.
Mr.. Noise, who accompanied
Mr.. Parker, is a Natchitoches boy
and we are proud of him-even if
he is or IS a little off color politi
eally. He made a good speech
which was free from offensive
illusions to the other candidates.
His description of the ward boss
organization of New Orleans was
a piece of vivid word painting.
We are not prepared to question
the truth of it, because he ought
to know all about system of
which he was until lately vigor-
Gus and eloquent advocate and
defender. Unlike his patron,
Mr.. Parker, he is a recent convert
to the virtues of anti-boss govern
ment.
By the way, his only criticism
of Mr.. Barrett was. that here to
fore the latter had stood for local
option. 1t will not be expected
that a young man who has grown
up in city of 220O saloons and
700 blind tigers, whose public men
and papers openly declare that the
laws passed to regulate the saloons
cannot be enforced, would know
that Statewide prohibition has
never been az issue in the politics
Of the State until the present time.