Woman's enterprise., 1922-08-01

o1ie az al proved now
oeepiy ne was interested in the mat.
ter.
Mr. Podsen was not scholar: it is
doubtful if he could have read a chap
ter through in his old Bible even
though 1t was coarse print, without
stopping to spell out great many
words, but that did not keep him from
reading the Bible, nor did his litter
acy keep him from reading the parish
paper published at little inland town
twenty miles distant. He read the
New Times as did everybody else
In the Four Fork settlement, and this
journal shaped the politics and voiced
the sentiments unanimously of this
pine hill country.
Mr.. Podsen was not a politician, in
fact he had heard but one political
speech in the course of his life, and
that had been a week previous, and
was the source Of inspiration Of the
letter he wrote that brought him into
local prominence. He had been very
much impressed by the speech made
by a candidate for judicial honors.
He, in simple minded faith, gazed
upon him as an inspired prophet. The
speaker employed most of the time
denouncing the other faction. He
represented that all the virtues lay
in his branch Of the Democratic party.
He called his opponents renegades,
traitors, and heaped epithets upon
them that made old Mr.. Podsen say
afterwards that he 'was powerful
sorry fur them other fellers gltten
sech a tongue lashin' and not there
to take it up
The speaker had said amidst MS
wild gyrations: "And they are urged
m in their wild career Of dlsloyaity
hv the press of the State! What are
the newspapers Of Louisiana dong az
this moment? l say what are they
doing at this critical moment wheh
the ranks of the great Democra''e
party is rent in twain? Are they
urging harmony? Are they adVoca'-
inc measures, not men? Are they up.
lifting the banner of Democracy
Where are YOUR editors, on the fence!
ON THE FENCE" The candidate
was red in the face from excess OF
emotion and eloquence. "They win
wait until the great issue is decided
hen with braying trumphets VIII
ioin the ranks Of victory," pointing
his finger almost in the upturned face
Of old man Podsen, he asked tragic
ally, "What is your parish paper DO
ing ?, Mr.. Podsen murmured ANXIOUS
". It amt doin' nothin' as l knows
Of"
"Doine nothin'," the speaker went
on, inspired by the unexpected answer; n; wei;
"What are you doing? Notmng'
What IS the trouble? You free white
voters. YOU who enjoy the heritage OF
American citizenship, let a few men
,yho call themselves 'moulders OF pub
lie opinion shape your politics. name
YOUR candidates for you, or else 1ney
sit On the fence and let you struggle
wildlv wi without proper guidance N to
cast YOUR vote intelligently'" Then
with a few more denunciatory re. :,
m.rls' about the "Time serving press
he cat down amidst that impressive
silence that greets spread-eagle ora ora
torv in a pine woods settlement ne
is sure hard hitter" said long,
,sn,, MAN as he cut a chew Oft
quarter pound plug Of tobacco
"He's talkin' hisself plum inter Of
e.. e Four Forks votes counts fur
ennything," said another Mr.: rou, '
con- said nothing, but wended his way
home. full of thought, and trifie IN
dignant because of the attack made on
his parish paper, for it ranked heA'
to the Bible in his appreciation Irue'
It was only little four page weekly
with w q patent outside and often made
I'D Of plate matter inside, but ", ne a;' nau
.p,sr ap ~ heard it found fault with until
te todsv It did not occur to him that
u contained nothing political OF late'
~ vas taking no stand in the present
campaign. His political opinions nau a
hapn moulded by the "New I'mes
IN wears past, but he scarcely rec 'N"s"
nos IN sthit that there was any political cam,
naign on hand and had only . 'earneo n4, y
the t"sS state Of affairs by attending !, tine IN
sns,S;n, sns an barbecue dinner In re-
sisto settlements in North LOUISIANA
"'V,a sarhecue dinner" In remote SET
t,oments in North louisiana a par
ssa,,s s,s ;s an important factor in poll
tics. .oa o,so with
"a, a>1 r;mesr and the Candidates