The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1918-08-08
Elect Watkins.

same arguments that impelled it to
give its support to United States Sen
ator Joseph +. Ransdell, who has been
Journal feels that it is fol-
lowing line Of duty plainly indicated
by the national situation in urging the
reelection of John T. Watkins.
Mr.. Watkins has served long and |
in the lower branch of Con-
gress. and since the best political
thought is against a change Of repre-
Sentatives and the consequent passing |
OH of vital problems to judges unfa- |
miliar with them. we can see no reason
for displacing the Fourth District Con-
gressman at this time. 1t is to be con-
ceded that changes are necessary when
men in Office at Washington are out Of
touch with the spirit Of the times,
when they have forfeited public conf
dence, when they stand forth as an
tagonists within the party Of the Pres
ident of the United States, or when
they lack the patriotic fervor which is
SO essential at this critical period.
But in the case of Judge Watkins
none of these causes exist. His work
in the House has greatly strengthened
him in the public confidence: he has
stood by the President in his war
measures: he is an enthusiastic Amer
lean patriot and his party loyalty is
uniml :e;lchaEle. While we have moth
ing to say al out his antagonist. we
can't believe that the voters of the
Fourth Congressional District will
count personal ambition a factor in
settling the congressional contest. This
il no time for swapping horses. unless
the horse we are riding is unfit and
useless and an infinitely better animal
is offered.
Recourse to the records show that
Judge Watkins is in every way worthy
of the continued confidence and sup
port Of the people Whenever moral
issue has been raised in Congress, the
active support of Judge Watkins has
been enlisted on the right side Of it.
He cast his vote for national prohibit
ton, for the suppression of the white
slave traffic, for eradication of vice
and the closing of the saloons at the
National Capital.
Judge Watkins comes from an agri-
cultural section and during his con-
gresSional career has given much at
tentiOn to the development of farming
interests. National movements against
the hog cholera. the cattle tick, the
Eoll weevil and other farm pests and
lanes have received his earnest sup
port, and lie has been strong advo-
cate of good roads ever since the Fed
eral Government began to take help
full interest in their construction.
During his term of service the rural
delivery routes in his district have ill.,
creased from two to seventy-eight
Here in Shreveport we have tangible
evidence of the zeal and influence of
Judge Watkins in the fine federal
building which his labors provided
lie has helped greatly, too, in MAIN
tanning federal aid for Red River i'm
provement against influences and poll
cies that threatened the work. He as
traffic bridge over Red River. and i'll
the Development through leases to in
dividuals, of government Oil holdings
in this section of the state.
To show that Judge Watkins has
given his cordial support to the war
measures of Mr.. Wilson, it is only nec-
essary to cite the fact that he voted
for the draft ILL., the food adminiStra-
ton bill, the war insurance bill, the
civil rights bill. the trading with the
enemy act. and kindred other enact
| mentS. lie secured or helped to secure.
soil surveys in many of the parishes of
his district, and as Chairman Of the
Committee on Revision of the Laws
has done splendid work in effecting
| codification of the federal statutes.
| The Congressional Directory shows
him to lie member of several other
committees.
| This il part Of the record. which
is il long and faithful one. and we sub
nit that it argues for the retention OF
| Judge Watkins in the National House
| of Representatives. As we have point
ed out before, President Wilson. i'll
whose hands we have placed the con-
duct of the greatest war in American
history, holds it to be unwise to permit
factional differences to interfere at
this time with congressional support
Of the Chief Executive based on
knowledge and experience. 1t is i'll
controvertible, we think, that repre-
sentative who has an intimate knowl
edge of the vital problems which Con
gress and the President are together
trying to work out can serve the PEG
pie infinitely better than new ant
untried man. no matter how enthusi
astic and Jealous the latter may be
That is the Presidents view, and 1t i.
our own.
i As we said, this argument would no
lie If the proposed beneficiary Of i
were unworthy. But that is not til,
case in this instance. and we hope til,
sober Judgment Of the voters Of til,
Fourth Congressional District, recog
nizing both the ability and services o
Judge Watkins will manifest itsel
strongly in his favor on the day Of TIL