The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1920-01-15

thought l saw that Democracy was
slipping. We did some things for
humlnity-we I'rogreSSives. The child
labor law. minimum wage. woman's
suffrage and other great reforms. ac-
compliSled and on the way. we claim
The ward bosses Of New Orleans have
so far defeated woman's suffrage in
Louisiana. | want to zee women Oh
every school board in Louisiana. DEM
ocracy has adopted my platform and l
am glad to be back in that party
where belong. The Progressive party
declared itself white mans party
When those pie-aaterS say l would
bring back negroes into politics they
tell an untruth. | refused very high
appointive office ut the hands of Theo-
dOre Roosevelt. l told him Of recon-
Struction days in the Southland of
negro rule in LOuiSiana-and then I
asked him not to appoint any negroes
to Office in the South during his term
Of office. and he never appointed
/ negro to office in the South after that
| time.
W Hell 1AOOSeNcIl WIS iJjOut 10 re-
tire from the presidency he again
asked HE what he could do for me. I
asked him to speak to Mr.. Taft as to
| the appointment of negroes to Office in
the South and Mr.. Taft later told me
to 90 home and he ut ease as he never
intended to appoint negro officer in
the South. And he never did.
Those fellows who are fighting me
know that stand for white rule. They
also charge me with responsibility for
your taxes. They do not dare to pub
fish the truth. The New Orleans
bosses voted the Board of State Affairs
amendment into the Constitution.
Five months ago l had no idea of
getting into the race. | had reached
an age when l felt like taking Il rest
My life has been Il turbulent one. But
one Of the finest bodies Of men that
ever assembled in Louisiana met in
New Orleans and put this matter Of
running for Governor up to me on 4
basis Of duty. All l Own-;ll l AMI
owe to the people Of Louisiana. said
would run but that l did not want
the votes of the ward bosses Of New
Orleans. l have made my fight against
the boss system. When they can pledge
$4,000 votes to Monroe. think it too
much like boss rule. Our ancestors
came to America to escape boss rule.
We are in America to elect our own
officers and not to have them selected
for us. .-
II have registered all my life as Il
DemOcrat-a Progressive and Demo-
crat. l was offered the Republican
nomination for Vicepresident with Mr..
Hughes during 1916. never even
asked that committee to sit down. l
told them l never had been Republi-
can. and that l was going forth next
morning to advocate the election of
Woodrow Wilson as President of the
United States.
After the 1916 election got a fine
reception in New Orleans from these
same people who are now fighting he.
They urged HE for cabinet position
and for United States Senator They
We're willing for me to have anything
that would get lie out Of the way.
Now they denounce NE as the most
dangerous man in the state-and am
because l am the enemy of the Ring
that seeks to dictate in Louisiana.
regard it as Il distinct honor that the
rings Of New Orleans. of Shreveport
of Alexandria. Lake Charles, etc. are
all fighting me. But. free and un
hossed people of Bossier. 1t only makes
he stronger and bitterer against such
dictatiOn in the politics Of the state
This election does not merely mean the
election of John Nj. Parker. That il
3 secondary. l verify thought and still
think that it is Il campaign of issues
: | stand for Il new constitution in the
place Of the crazy-Iuilt we now have
an early and unlimited constitutional
convention new constitution not
made by the bosses.
" stand for good schools. and III
politics in school boards: good pay fol
:, teachers. and women Oh every schOO
board in the state.
" | am for good roadS-and l an
stronger for them now than ever be
fore. for have been trying to get Owe
some of those we now have to use.
am for coordination Of the federal
state and parish authorities in TIL
building of these good roads.
- am for better state institutions
for they are for the poor. Rich mel
. can afford private institutions. but til
: many insane people i'll the jails Of Lou
! isiana should I've better served. IN
:. away with the useless. offices and us
the money to build better state insti
;, tutiOns. (cheers).
: Il stand for a business administer,
i ton. No state in the Union Is gettin
= rid of it's natural resources AS fast a
4 Louisiana. sulphur. salt, gas. oil an
!, timber are being feverishly dissaratet