The Donaldsonville chief., 1916-04-01
SENATOR BROUSSARD DROPS A
BOMB.

BY far the most important and ex-
citing of recent occurrences in con-
nection with the pending guber-
material campaign in Louisiana took
place in the senate chamber at Wash
ington on Monday last, when Senator
Robert T. Broussard arose to a ques-
ton of personal privilege and deliver
ed d vigorous speech in correction and
contradiction of statements made by
his colleague, Senator JOS. E. Rams
dell, in the course of the latter's ap-
pearance on the stump in the third
Louisiana district in support of the
candidacy of Col. R. G. Pleasant and
the other nominees on the Democratic
state ticket.
The matter to which Senator Brous-
sard took particular exception was
what he characterized as his col
\ leagues fulsome praise of National
N Committeeman Robert Ewing as the
y savior of the sugar industry, and the
consequent belittlement of the ardu-
Z Gus services of the entire Louisiana
congressional delegation and many
others who labored long and faithful
ly to prevent the sacrifice and ruin of
the states great agricultural interest
involved in the administration policy
of placing sugar on the free list.
Mr.. Ransdell in effect asserted that
Col. Ewing's personal influence with
President Wilson had prevailed after
that of all others failed in the effort
to secure the chief executives assent
to the respite of three years finally
granted to sugar in the Underwood
tariff bill; that following fruitless
Senators Ransdell and Broussard and
Col. Ewing, during which the presi-
dent remained obdurate in his seem
ingly fixed determination to force SUI
gar on the free list Immediately, the
national committeeman renamed be-
hind when his companions took their
leave, and presumably as a result of
the private conversation that ensued
between the colonel and the president
the text of the tariff bill was changed
so as to include the clause retaining
the reduced duties on sugar and mo-
lasses until May 1, 1916.
Senator Broussard denie1D this
statement specifically and emphatical-
ly, showing that it was himself and
not the national committeeman who
remained to confer with the presi-
dent, and this denial is coupled with
a scathing review of the anti-sugar
course and proclivlties of Col. Ewing
and his two newspapers and of their
connection with Democratic politics
in Louisiana. Mr.. Broussard recalls,
for instance, the criticism and ridicule
which the Daily States heaped upon
Mr.. Ransdell several years ago when
the latter voted to retain duty on
lumber, and charges that the chief
animating cause of the present in-
congruous combination in Louisiana
politics is to crafty the ambition of
the "boss of the tenth ward to be-
come as we'll the "boss of the state.
There can be no doubt that Bob
Broussard's bomb will produce pro-
found effect upon the political situa-
ton in this state. No man in our
public life has larger circle of per-
sonal friends and supporters than he.
His devotion to the interests of his
constituents, even at the risk and
sacrifice of his party standing and in
fluence at Washington, has won him
warm regard and admiration beyond
the limits of the district that kept
him in congress through good and
evil report for sixteen years, and
when he exposes a combination to
belittle and deride his own accom-
plishments and to undermine him in
the confidence and estimation of his
people, it will be strange indeed If |
his legion of friends do not rally to
his defense and strike with their
ballots at the conspiracy to cause his
and political downfall
The New Orleans dailies of Tues
day published the full text of Senator
Broussard's notable speech, and it
deserves to be read and pondered by
every citizen of Louisiana.
Can the 'Darkey and Drink" Stuff
The prohibition issue, which was
out SO prominently in the pri-
nary campaign, has fallen completely 1
tut of sight. 1t would be for the
rood of this state if were never made
m issue. Napoleonville Pioneer.
And it would be better thing if a
,ag could be put on the officeseekers
nd spellbinders who persist in ring