The star-progress. (Opelousas, La.) 1917-1921, 1920-11-17

dent-elect, has declared that he con-
siders Theodore Roosevelt to have
been the ablest leader the nation has
ever had, and if he takes him as
model, the southern people will have
nothing to fear. At any rate, the
people of Louisiana will soon have a
constitutional convention held under
the uspices of the white people OF
the site, and if we have not elected
too many bolsheviks as delegates
thereto, we can make our state safe
for generations to come. What can
and what will the constitutional con-
vention do? The suffrage question
is the all-important issue, as the grand
father clause has become imperative
by time. and the educational and prop
erty qualifications are only effective
to a limited degree, but the provisions
Of the national constitution, that pro-
hibits discrimination, on account Of
race, can be eyaded by an understand
ing suffrage clause" that is every per
son applying for registration will fill
out an application. in which the voter
will be required to show that he or
she understands the constitution Of
the state. and this qualification will
be passed upon by competent author
ity, and it will be an easy matter to
keep the electorate in the hands Of
the white people of Louisiana. This
practice, with a clause making all per
sons who were duly registered during
the past four years, permanent cleo
tors, would solve the matter, as the un
derstanding clause would apply only
to those who registered thereafter.
This, or som esimilar plan, can make
our suffrage law practical, if not eX-
actly fair, and it will in no way con-
flict with the provisions Of our ma
tional constitution.
Then our judicial system can be
remodeied so. as to reduce the cost by
half, and increase its efficiency by
one hundred per cent. For instance
our state supreme court could be in
creased to nine members and su-
preme justice, and sit in three sec
lions of three men each, the findings
Of each section to be approved by the
chief justice. This would enable liti-
giants to obtain decision Of the
highest court within four months, in
stead Of in four years as is now the
case, and the cost to the Iitigants
would be reduced to not more than
/ one-third of the present cost.
Then our school system should be
remodeled so as to give every child
in the state a common school educa-
ton, say to the tenth grade Our
| present system is an excellent one,
but it is top-heavy, and costs more
than our people can pay, and the pri
mary grades should be provided for
first. and then We can 90 higher if
we are able to do so. We believe our
schools could be made twice as effec,
tive as they are now, on the same
money.
Then our district court system
should be remodelad so that the
judges in certain divisions Of the
state should hold court in the diff
ferent parishes in rotation, and the
jurors should be drawn from one par
fah to serve in anothre parish. This
would double theefficiency, and re-
duce the cost Tor there would be no
delays because of the refusing Of
judges, loss of time in trials because
the jurors were familiar with the
facts in criminal cases, and thouands
Of dollars Of good tax money would
be left in the pockets of the people
Then all justices of the peace should
be done away with, and prish judge
should try all minor civil and crimi-
nal cases, which would enable the
state to do away with half the dis
trict judges, and give a system that
would be satisfactory and cheaper by
half, than the present system Of hav-
ing two or three dozen justices of the
peace in each parish.
Then the tax collectors office
might be separated from the sheriffs
office. and the recorders office from
that of the clerk, with the result that
there would be greater economy and
perhaps more efficiency. The idea
being that no office would be so large
and pay such profit and employ so
many men as to enable the holders
to combine and form political
ring" with the view Of commercial
izfng the official patronage Of the
state. In fact. the purpose is that
the officials should be the servants
and not the bosses" of the people, as
has been the case in New Orleans for
many years. In other words the con
stitutionaI convention should give US
a government based on common sense,
that the people may be safe, happy,
prosperous and contended.
We do not pretent to say that the
above line Of policy will be carried
out, for there are too many bolhe-
wigs among the members, but some
thing could be done on that line, that
would make Louisiana one of the
nrnatort .tatas In the American nm