The Bienville Democrat. [volume] (Arcadia, Bienville Parish, La.) 1912-1980, 1920-09-02
SYNOPSIS OF CONGRESSMAN
WATKINS OFFICIAL RECORD

On September II, 1918 In conformit,
with the returns reported to the Demo
cratic Congressional Committee of thu
Fourth Congressional District Of Louis
lana by the Secretary of State it was
declared that the vote at the Primary
Election held on September 10th was
as follows:
, }. Il. Watkins A 1904
J. \. Sandlin.. .4,2l8
the majority of J. II. Watkins being
5SG.
Having been declared the nominee,
and afterwards, duly elected | entered
upon the discharge of my duties as a
member OF the Sixty-sixth Congress
with that same determination which
had heretofore formed to bend every
ENERGY to faithfully represent the pc ;
pie of the Fourth Congressional, Dis
trict who had so signally honored me-
Many moment0us questions growing
IOut of the war were presented for con-
ISideration and all of them were most
carefully considered and action taken
after due deliberati0n.
Billions of dollars had to be raised
to meet the Indebtedness growing out
of the war, Having assisted in pro-
curing enactment of the Income Tax
Law, which assessed those wealthy per.
SONS who had amasSed fortunes out of
war contracts | favored the continue
ton of the collection Of this Income
Tax as one of the sources Of prOduc-
| ing revenue and it was largely through
this inStrumentality that the United
States Government was enabled to de-
! fray the expenses incident to the war,
After the Germans had surrendered
it became necessary to inaugurate a sys-
TEN of re- Mobilization. advocated the
laws providing for the soldiers in every
respect, for their insurance, allotment,
allowance, compensation, bonus, voca-
tional education, increase In their pay
and all other measures conclusive to
their welfare, considering that no sac
ritice which could be made for them
was 10 great as a recognition of the
noble and heroic service which they
had performed in saving this country
from calamity and the world from the
greatest catastrophe in its history.
| opposed the Universal Compulsory
Military Training Bill and the bill pro-
viding for the return Of the railroads
by the Government with bonus of
three hundred million dollars to the
owners and five and one-half per cent
dividend guarantee in addition to ap-
one billion dollars which
had been expended by the Government
in the interest of the railroads during
Government control.
favored the law against profteering
and l have exerted my utmost en-
beavers to protect the cotton industry,
to procure Government appropriations
for good roads, for the establishment
Of Rural Free Delivery routes, Parcels
post, the Reserve Banking Law, the
Postal Savings Banks, for national pro-
the election Of United States
Senators by direct vote Of the people,
10 prevent combinations In restraint of
trade and assisted In procuring the
passage of the Clayton Antitrust Law
and the amendment thereto providing
tOr farmers unions and labor unions
% be eliminated from the provisions Of
hat Law; for the establishment Of
Government nitrate plants to manufac-
ure cheap fertilizer, the Farm Loan
Jaw, Safety Railway Appliance Law,
ind providing compensation for Gov.
employees who are injured
While In the performance of their du-
les. ] favored a liberal increase In
he compensation Of postal employees
nd have uniformly favored bills pro-
'iding for eight hours employment In
he Government service and on rail-
Dads. | favored increases In the wag-
8 Of Government employees; but op.
osed the increase In the salaries Of
ighly paid Government officials, In
luding the members Of Congress and
heir secretaries.
1t is upon this record that I sub
ut my claim for reelection. Assuring
be good people Of this Congressional
district that the confidence which they
ave reposed in me has not been mis-
laced and that their welfare Is al
'ays uppermost in my mind in every
lficial act which is presented to me for
onsideration, I respectfully request
heir support at the Primary Election
hich Is to be held throughout the
ourth Congressional District on Sep.
,mber 18th.
tAdy.) ]. 7. WATKINS.
--~-------O--
PARTITION SALE