The Natchitoches enterprise., 1916-04-13
Do Your Duty!

On next Tuesday, the 18th, thu
voters of this State, one hundred
and forty-five thousand, will b.
called upon to perform the mos
sacred duty that befalls to the 10
of a free people, the right BY
their vote to select their officials
who will administer the affairs o.
the state and parish government
for the next four years.
It is a high and responsible
duty.
In the present instance there is
but o1e contest, that for the Office
of Chief Executive of this State,
the Governor,-between Hon
Rufin G.. Pleasant, the nominee
of the Democratic Party, and Mr..
John NJ. Parker, the candidate Of
all elements opposed to the Demo
cratic party, the Republicans,
the Progressives, the Socialists,
and the so called Independent
Democrats, Ia mis-nomer).
In the Democratic Primary OF
Jan. 25th, one hundred and four.
teen thousand five hundred and
nineteen out of the possible 145,-
700 voters, voted, in the Demo
cratic Primary, out of which Col.
Pleasant received 84,407, and his
opponent Lieut.. Gov. Barrett, re-
ceived 30, ia; leaving only 30,4Si
voters whD did not participate in
the Democratic Primary.
There il no contest in the State
except for Governor. The Demo
cratic nominees for the eight state
are un-opposed; there arc
contests in only about six parishe,
in the 3rd, or sugar district, for thu
Legislature and Senate, therefore
there ere 100 un-oDposed Demo
Gratis for the Legislature and q
out of 80, un-opposed Democratic
In the contest for Governor,
Col. Pleasant, the Democratic
no ninee, is the equal of his oppo-
n"nt, Mr. Parker, the Republican
Progressive candidate, personally,
socially, educationaIly and as man
to man.
But politically Col. Pleasant is
as superior to Mr.. Parker, as the
mountain to the mole hill.
Not one word has been uttered
against Col. Pleasant by Mr..
PirIer or his orators.
Candidate Pleasant or his friends
ha 70 not been called upon to de-
fend a single charge against bis
his honesty, his charac-
ttr, or political integrity.
10 the contrary. Candidate Par
ker and his friends and news
Iapsrs, have had to defend his
political record from every stump
In the state; and he and they have
been unable to explain away bis
various political changes, first q
Democrat, then q local indepen-
Ient, then a Republican, voting
for Taft, then a good government
then a Roosevelt Pro-
g~ressive, and now no one knows
Khatl
AS well has he had to defend
lis business probity. in connec-
ion with his cotton transactions,
$ a commission merchant, 10 the
of averaging cotton"
nd the appropriation to his own
interests Samples taken from
otton entrusted to him for sale.
And as we'll has he had to de-
end bis platform principles of
The Short Ballot" which gives
D the governor supreme aDpoin-
I've powers; and the plank advo-
ating the abolition of the White
Urinary Elections" taking away
10 rights of the people to select
leir officials and placing it in the
ands Of a convention Of a few
picked men,"
There can be no question as to !
The Duty" Of the 114,519 demo- !
-ats who voted in the Primary. !
/ Of any true citizen who has the 5
iterest of his State at heart. !
! Is to vote for Rufin G, ]
Ieasant. To stamp the Rooster, !