St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1918-07-27
THE TURN OF THE TIDE

II is some fortyfive days before the primary which will decide
whether Governor Hall or Mr.. Overton or Mr.. Gay will represent
this state in the senate of the United States, and while no maj s
sufficient of a prophet to predict the final outcome OF that election
vet indications point very strongly to the former governors cleo
ton without perhaps the necessity Of a second primary.
Governor Hall is ably fitted for the position-better fitted, we
believe, than either Of his opponents. We say this without east
ing any reflection on the ability of either Mr.. Oyerton or MI. day.
Go,efnor Hall has had ample experience as a public servant to
qualify him for the high post as senator. He has been state sena-
tor, district and circuit judge and relnquished his position as sa-
irene Judge to which he had been elected and had not yet quail
fled ii order to run for governor. His enemies charge that his adj
ministration was a failure. We don t believe it, and their charges
are nothing but a lot of rot put in circulation in order to fool the
unwary.
Now. against Governor Halls vast experience what have
either of his opponents to show in the matter Of public service9
NE. Overton frankly confesses that he has never held office but
claims that he is amply fitted for the high position. Mr.. Gay has
had eight years experience in the lower house OF the state leg1sa-
ture. His career in that body has not been a spectacular or bril-
liant one, if we recall the facts and surely his experience as a state
legislator does not entiue him to rank with the states great men.
Both he and Mr.. Oyerton may have remarkable ability but if SO
that ability has never shown forth il the political annals Of Louis
lana but for some reasons has been hid under a bushel basket.
IL their claims for preferment have to take precedence over those
DC Governor Hal, then ability well known and fully understood
has no place in the political calendar of why & man is entitled to
recognition.
Governor Hall needs no apoigts. He is known from one end
Of the state to the other. Every campaign in which he has been a
candidate for office has been a successful one. Every time he has
gone before the people and asked for their support he has received
ii in full measure. The present campaign, we believe, viii be. no
exception and the former governor will be elected as a fit successor
TO Bob Broussard.
His enemies and opponents have offered no tangible reasons
why he should be defeated. They harp continually on the fail
ure'' of his administration as governor. They howl about the
awful deficit" in the state treasury. Pattng their sanity shout
ders and prating of their stalwart and unquestioned democracy, !"
they inform you he did not vote in certain elections and it there
fore not entitled to the support of all true democrat like
themselves, for instance. No one is trying to canonize Governor
Hall but if he is not a christian saint when compared with the
bunch Of muck-rakers, then we have missed our guess. Their
main desire in this life, it appears, is to destroy a man they have
10 utterly failed to destroy heretofore. Wut Governor Hall has
successfully stood the brunt Of their pnny attacks before and can
stand them again unscathed. Their "barrage'' fire is too scatter
ed. their ARTILLERY of too small caiber to touch the man who
cleaned them UP in 1912 and who is going to wipe up the earth
with them in September.