The St. Mary banner., 1919-09-20
Ring Rule Must
Be Destroyed

We attended the mammoth mass
meeting held in New Orleans last
Thureday night in the interest OF
John NJ. Parker's candidacy for
Governor Of Louisiana. We fear
no contradiction when we say, i;
was the largest, the most en.hu9-
iastic and most determined pub
lie meeting Of democrats held in
our State within the past twenty
five years. Surely there has never
bren before meeting Of the peo-
Pile inspired by purer sentiment
and q loftier vision and q more
profound unity of purpose. The
voices of the many thousand
democrats who attended 10 the
Athenaeum on Thursday night
spoke as one, and spoke 6rmly
and emphatically for John M.
Parker and the reforms he advo-
Gates. That meeting was truly
representative Of the feeling and
will OF vast ma joriiy of the peo.
pie Of Louisiana, for they sent
there from nearly every town and
hamlet and from every parish in
the State accredited delegates
numbering in the aggregate many
thousands, to give unmiatakable
assurance Of their will and firm
determination. The Athenaeum,
large as il is, was too small to
accomm odate the immense crowd
Overflow meetings were held 10
the streets so great were the mum.
Der Of those who could no, get
sitting and standing room 10 the
building
The meeting was called to order
by Hon. Horace Wilkinson of
West Baton Rouge. Hon. Johb
Il. Overton Of Rapides parish, was
selected as permanent chairman
Great applause greeted this gifted
Louisiana orator Hon. Walter
j. Burke, Hon Hewitt Bouan.
chaud and Governor Pleasant de-
ltverfd eloquent addresses
When John NJ. Parker arose the
applause was deafening For
fully ten minutes it was unman-
ageable. The proceeding. jlst
had to wal. until It. expressed it
self from exhaustion Then Mr.
Parker, 10 a plain, clear ard con-
mon sense way, made dec.ar,.
tion Of the principles which guild |,
ed him and of what he proposes
to do should he become Governo,
OF Louisiana. SO plainly were
they expressed. tnnt no nan or
woman in the audience was left
in doubt as to his meaning We
append to this article synopsis
Of Mr.. Parker's speech showing
his declaration of principles:
PROPOSES:
I. To destroy" the system Of Ring
Rule.
g. To put the New Orleans police and I
fire departments under genuine Civil +
Service
}. To give labor and capital alike a
square deal
4. To help get natural gas as cheap
fuel and light for New Orleans
householders
5. To heip build Louisiana State Uui-
versity into great institution for
agricultural education
8. To protect the independent oil ia
terests OF the State against great
corporations.
Z, TO be the candidate and the Cover
nor OF no set Of men or any fac
tion,
DECLARES:
!. The Ring Is d menace even greater
than that which confronted the peo
pie during the lottery campaign
?. We will have it, and must s"e b. it.
that no one nun in Louisiana Shall
have power u th~art the publlc
viii,
3, We should have oifi:ehOlders who
are servants of the people, uot die
lators Of every Ciiice.
!. do NOT propose TO be controlled
by either capital or labor.
), The time has come to put human
welfare la the first place
) The General Assembly should de-
vote more time and much larger
eppropci atious to our educational
institutions,
They riag tzue aud strong for
Louisiana. They are Parker's
platform. The people wit. see to
Il THAT they will lead aim on to
victory.