St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1919-07-26
FOLLOWING FOOD ADMiNIsTRA-
TIoN SERVICE, FEELS he HAS
EARNED A REST
LETTER TO COMMITTEE
CITES NEEDED REFORM
New Constitution Urged and Practical
Man for Chief Executive
This is No Age for oratoy
But Practical Man

John NJ Parker has been asked by
a large committe representating vir
tual1y every section of the state to
become candidate for the Democratic
nomination for governor of Louisiana
with as positive assurance of election
as the members of the committee
could give.
This became known Wednesday
when Mr.. Parker made public a letter
to the committee declining to make
the race.
4 The committee which interview Mr..
Parker was headed by Captain C. H.
Teal, of Colfax, as chairman, and N.
c. Bridges, of Norwood, vice chair
man. It's entire membership was
made up from outside of the city of
New Orleans.
The committee interviewed Mr..
Parker Tuesday, finding a way to get
him from his office to a room in the
Grunewald Hotel, where the surprise
was sprung on him. The committee
spokesman told of conditions in the
4 state and said there is a general de-
sire that Mr. Parker come to the front
as service and duty; but Mr.. Par
/ ker declined
The incident was the elimination
of six months or more of urging by
committee and individuals, both in
and out of the city After the death
OF Senator Broussard last year he was
similarly besought to stand for the
vacancy, declining then because he
was Food Administrator for Louisiana
and would not abandon his volunteer
war service. He also declared that he
was not in politics and that the sub
Ject was barred from his office. New
ertheless the insistence was renewed
as soon as the food office closed, the
governorship being substituted as the
prize. Mr. Parker's invariable reply
was that he had earned a rest and that
he should now be allowed TO give some
attention to his extensive business af-
fairs, which he neglected entirely dur
ing the incumbency of his patriotic
post. The tender on Tuesday came
in such a formal way that Mr.. Par
ker thought that it was entitled to
more comprehensive answer than that
delivered upon the spur of the mo-
ment, so Wednesday afternoon he for
warded letter which he was induced
to make public. 1t reads as follows:
Il most deeply appreciate the hon
OF and the personal presence of such
representative committee, requesting
me to become candidate for COVER
nor of Louisiana, and can only affirm
my previous statements, both in pub
lie and in private. that | am not and
shall not be a candidate for that high
office, and at the same time feel it is
not amiss for me to express my per
sonal views in refard to existing con-
ditions
We Of Louisiana like every 9TH |
er state, are confronted with problems
almost equal TO those incurred during
the days of reconstruction.
we are not great manufacturing
state, and our prosperity depends
largely on our agriculture, live stock
raising, commerce and natural re-
sources. With the greatest respect
for gentlemen who occupy high posi-
tions in their profession my belief is 7
tn day has come wnen Louisiana 1
should select ner chief executive
not for oratorical or professional
ability, but practical common sense
man who is thoroughly familiar with
the problems of our agricultural in
terests, stock raisers and business +
man of absolute integrity. courage and
backbone. Such a candidate should
be called for by the people-not en-
gage in the hurly-ourly of a political
contest, but to leave that to his
friends, and 60 into office untrammel-
led, unpledged and determined to do
all he possibly can to bring about
steady employment at fair wages,
good crops, prosperity and peace and
happiness to our people
This is no time for the theoretical
nan to experiment, and as early as
possible the incoming governor should
AXE steps to assure an unlimited con-
5titutional convention to which the
ablest and best men in the state
should gladly offer their services, as
he new Constitution would probably
,e the last that many of us would
sver see. Personal or political dis
ikes should be absolutely eliminated
Ind as real and patriotic people we
hould endeavor not only to have
representatives in this convention of