The Natchitoches enterprise. (Natchitoches, La.) 1888-1965, 1916-02-24
Parker the Reformer and Parker
the Office Seeker.

John NJ. Parker has been known
as man who did not seek or want
Office for himself, nor for any
selfish purpose. He was a poll
tician OF the crusader type, who
was won't to play strenuous part
in political campaigns for the pur-
pose of curing real or imaginary
evils in public affairs. He fol-
lowed closely the methods of his
friend and patron, Roosevelt, and
thereby attained quite reputation
for frinness and sincerity Of
purpose.
A great many people believed
also that he was mere honest than
the average run of politicians, and
that he would not tolerate any
thing which smacked of trickery,
treachery or fraud.
And in the early days of the
campaign it seemed that he was
determined to play the role Of the
frank and honest candidate. II
deed people began to speak of him
as Honest John Parker"
At that time the Democrats
we're engaged in lively factional
contest for the nomination of can
didates, and many people believed
that before the fight was ended
the bitterness which 1t was ex-
pected to engender would be SO
great as to cause many OF the
voters who would be on the los
ing side to vote for the Republ,-
can candidate, Mr.. Parker.
This condition of affairs natur-
ally suggested the question of the
political honesty Involved in the
proposition that a voter might
take part in a contest and support
aud vote for his choice, and then,
if his candidate was defeated,
desert the party and support a
candidate who represented the
opposition party
Mr.. Parker promptly and very
properly declared his opposition
to any such methods, and in his
Burton speech, announced that
he wanted his election to come
clean''--meaning, Of course, that
such conduct on the part of tie
voters was politically unclean and
dishonest.
And the Times-Picayune, his
chief organ, just as :promptlY con
curreIm that view
MIR rlxers' fsiends advised
the citizens to stay out Of the
democratic primary, or at least to
refrain from voting for either of
the candidates for: governor, so
that they would be free to vote
for Mr.. Parker ct the general
election, and the impression pre-
vailed among Mr.. Earker's friends
that many thousands of Democrats
would adopt this course.
At that time no effort was madt
to conceal the fact that Mr.. Par i
ker was candidate of one of the
factions of the Republican party.
He was registered as progressive
and, when he announced his can |
didacy, declared chat he was
Progressive.
But after the primary election
had been held and when it was
seen that a large majority of the
qualified voters of the state had
refused to follow the advice giv3r.
by the friends of the republican
candidate, but had voted for one
Or the other OF the democratic
,andidates-and were thus in honor
bound, under Mr.. Parker's owl,
standard of political honesty, TO
vote for the nominee, a change of
,actics on the part of the opposi-
ion was Immediately observed.
The. papers and the republicans
Who we're supporting the progress
i've candidate began to represent
him as an independent democrat
md to appeal to Democrats to
him on that ground.
In che early days of his cam
,aign Mr.. Parker did not hesitate
o declare that he was progres-
i've, por to proclaim bis belief il
he strictly republican doctrine Of
protective tariff:
Nov he never refers to such
Kings but contents himself with
discussion of purely state issues.
While his papers and his friends
IoisilY parade him as an indepen-
ent Democrat.
If Mr.. Parker wants his elec-