The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1920-08-12
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE
New Orleans, Aug. ), 1925

]
New Orleans, Aug. 5, 1920.
Editor Herald,
| presume your columns are open /:
to an expression from any one on
| any side in this campaign. II so.
| kindly publish enclosed copy.
We have come to another political !
! OIympiad. the end of the fourth in
the reign of Martin the First. The
political athletes with muscles train
| ed and limbs oiled are all stretching
for the laurel crown. This Oiympiad,
unlike the one at Antwerp, will be Il
decided on the already demonstrated i
and recognized merits and records of
the contenders; and not on present
performances. Furthermore, this !
will be a spectators decision, the ,
Judges will be each and every indi-
vidual citizen voter of New Orleans. !
If the public will apply itself honest !
" an conscientiously to the task, no |
one doubts what will be the nature |
of the decision. 1t will be clean, !
clear and decisive.
The same human elements are en-
gagged in the contest and the same
principles of public service are at
stake as struggled for supremacy in
the January Primary. 1t is the same
world-old battle between arrogant,
, vicious, jealous hypocrites and medi-
OGRE power entrenched; and the con-
science and will of the free-thinking
foot loose and independent citizens
OF the world, under every form Of
government. One of these is, L'etat
c'est nooi' of Louis XIV. The other
= is I'VE the People" of all free, an
. cient and modern states. 1t matters
not whether. in our case, the battle
: is on a small scale and against puny
h intellectual and moral characters. 1t
is. none the less, right at our doors,
a affecting our daily intimate interests
. and relationships.
The people of the State of Louisi-
ana, as a whole, spoke with positive
n ness, authority and conviction last
n January. The question now before
It the people of New Orleans, specific
a ally is Shall the old costly apathy,
lethargy, sef-complacency and fos-
2 silization OF political interest paralyze
=, wise action; or will an enlightened,
a honest and conscientious public opin-
# ion express itself boldly and unequiv-
ocally through that one great safe
guard of a republican form of govern
ment-the ballot box.
The issues in this campaign are
clearly drawn. There will be on
the one hand. an appeal to wise COM
munity pride and interest, sane pub
lie policy and clean public sentiment.
On the other there will be tricks, SUBJ
terfuges, lying, deceit and sleight-of-
hand performances of cIiques of
mediocre talent strong when holding
hands In a close corporation.
The offensive and defensive mea-
sures and tactics of the campaign
have not all been disclosed. At this
has INDUCED in a light, an indeed
very light artillery action, in the
studiedly cautious and humbly boast
full speech, read by the head of the
ticket at the Young Mems Business
Club luncheon. Unfortunately fol
the ticket that it championed the
speech had far more humor and pa
thos in 1t, than strength and convic
ton.
Two familiar smart sayings sug
gested themselves to the writer or
reading it. One was I'll fait rant
pour avoir du foin," that is, "H'
plays the part of donkey in order t.
be fed with hay" This speech wa
an illustration of method habituall.
employed by the shrewd, sly. Gun
ming of the professional politician o
small talent, seeking to evade a pub
lie question through generalities.
Another smart saying suggested
was when the devil was sick tn
devil a saint would be, when the devi
was we'll the devil of saint was he.
There is in such campaign speeche
the same Satanic craftiness and by
pocrisy that dictated the honeye
words to the people of Belgium whe
the kaiser's army of the Meuse woul
pass unopposed the gap at Liege.
To those who know the real sent
ment of certain types OF politicians
who know the willingness to pers'
cute, the determination to crush
the proneness to hate and curse thos
that differ with the gang; how empt.
how void, how half-amusing and ha
ludricous are certain professions an
certain claims on the part of certai
men.
F.. P Cuevmard
P. S.-Next subject is 81 Stand Q