The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1916-01-13
FROM OUR STATE EXCHANGES.

FROM OUR STATE EXCHANGES.
Natchitoches Enterprise: Barret de-
serves the support of the people of Natchi-
toches Parish.
Bastrop Enterprise: Mr.. Barrett did not
bring on the prohibition issue, for that
issue was forced on the people by the un-
holy alliance of the saloons and Ward
Bosses, with R. G.. Pleasant at the front
and j. Y. Sanders behind the curtain. No,
indeed! Barrett did not force the issue
the issue simply brought Mr.. Barrel to the
front to defend the people.
Shreveport Journal: We regret to find
Col. Pleasant repeating charge which he
should know is slanderous. 1t will not
elevate him in the estimation of pure mind
ed Democrats. Practically every interested
voter has read the unanswerable testimony
offered by Mr. Barrett in refutation of the
charge that he voted a secret ballot in the
first LIQUOR election in Caddo. Col. Pleas
ants repetition of the charge will not tend
to strengthen public confidence in his
sense Of fairness and justice. On the con-
trary, it will have a tendency to create
serious doubt of his desire to treat MS OPP
ponent fairly. 1t was Col. Pleasant, We
believe, who declared that Mr.. Barrett SIM
ulated case of appendicitis to escape
casting his vote in the second prohibition
election in Caddo. The testimony Of five
reputable physicians disposed of that ride
ulous accusation. Yet COL Pleasant him
self has not denied the charge or sought to
explain it away, that he himself, suffering
no physical disabilities whatever, did not
vote in the prohibition election which he
charged Mr.. Barrett with evading. Col.
Pleasant is rapidly bringing the Democratic
campaign in Louisiana to plane of ''skull-
duggery" and, of course, the common po-
litical enemy is chuckling.
Natchitoches Enterprise: Lieutenant
Governor Barrett insists that the people of
Louisiana shall be permitted to decide the
question of State wide prohibition at an
election called for that purpose. No one is
demanding that the Legislature shall enact
prohibition for the whole State-the demand
is that the people of the State shall be per-
mitted TO decide one of the most important
public issues which ever confronted them.
This proposition is opposed by the saloons,
the distilleries, the breweries, in short-the
| liquor trust. And unfortunately for Col.
his attitude on the liquor question has
driven him into the leadership of the forces
which are striving not only to defeat
any reform along this line, but to deny
the most sacred right of free people-the
right of majority to govern. 1t is true
| that Col. Pleasant claims that he is as good
prohibitionists as Mr.. Barrel is, but it is
| passing strange that if this is true, the
| liquor interests are united in supporting
him and in an effort to defeat Mr.. Barrett.
The experience and observation of intelli-
gent men everywhere teaches them that the
liquor interests never make mistakes in mat
tiers of this kind. It is not to be questioned
that large majority Of the people OF this
parish are opposed to saloons. They have
banished them from their own parish, and
as a result, they have enjoyed period OF
moral and material prosperity never known
before. 1t would be strange if they pre-
slferned a man for Governor who has the
backing of the united liquor interests, as
against one behind whom stands the pro-
hibition and moral forces of the State.