Evening star., 1923-09-02
KLAN ISSUE ENTERS
LOUISIANA FIGHT.
Parker Backing Catholic
Lieutenant Governor for
His Own Seat.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW ORLEANS, La, September l.
With the republicans threatening
to put a full state and congressional
ticket In the Louisiana field. for the
first time in more than a decade, and
with the democrats flirting with ma
tional honors for their governor, John
NJ. Parker, who recently won national
fame for his fight against the Ku
klux Khan. Louisiana promises to get
on the political map as she has not
done since oldtimers can remember.
The state campaign for governor
and all state officers and members of
the state Legislature. together with
many parish and district offices. is
just opening. The primary for nom
nations Will take place January Is.
The opening gun in the gubernatorial
John parish, last Sunday afternoon,
when Lieut.. Gov. Eewitt Bouanchaud,
one of the four Candidates for COVER
nor, opened his campaign with an
announcement of his platform and
declaration of principles and the de-
livery Of his first campaign speech.
He Is supported by Gov. John NJ.
Parker, who will retire from office
next May.
stand of Parker.
Gov Parker appeared on the same
platform at La Place. He did not ask
for the nomination of Bouanchaud,
his first assistant, but he praised him
most highly; said he had been faith
full and loyal to his administration.
and he openly secuted the idea that
a Catholic should not be elected gov
ernor of Louisiana at this time. He
issued def to those who are damn
Ing my administration" and declared
that II they continued their attacks
upon him and his administration in
an effort to make him (Parker) the
issue in this state campaign. that he
would meet them on the hustings.
that he would get into this state
campaign and In the city of New
There is but one issue in this cam
paign," said Gov. Parker. ut Is not
Parker or anti-Parker. but 1t Is Klan
and anti-Klan. You must be one thing
or the other"
Mr.. Bouanchaud came behind him
and declared, II am unalterably OPP
posed to the invisible empire Of the
Ku Klux Khan" He charged that
friends had urged him to desert the
Parker ship; that his loyalty to his
democratic primary. but he had an
swered that when he boarded the
Parker ship he had taken no life pre-
servers and whether fair weather or
foul he would stand by his skipper.
and, IL need be, sink with him.
These mutually laudatory statements
of Gov. Parker and Lieut.. Gov. Bou-
anchaud left no doubt in the minds
of politicians, that Gov. Parker would
go down the line in his support of
Bouanchaud for governor.
Aid for Parker
Yet it Is not believed that Gov.
Parker will go the limit to which Gov.
his battle to elect Parker, when he
fired old appointees and removed
boards and members in order to get
hold Of the patronage ana help the
Parker campaign.
1t is not believed Gov. Parker will
exercise the executive power in this
way to aid his lieutenant.
There are four candidate for COVER
nor now In the race; Mr.. Bouanchaud
Of New Roads. Dudley l.. Guflbeau of
at the cotton carnival at Opelousas to-
day; Henry L. Fukua, manager of the
state penal system of Baton Rouge,
who rendered his resignation to Gov.
Parker the day he announced, and
man Of the public service commits
sion, which regulates railroads and
public utilities of the state. Mr.. Long
carried on desperate battle against
the Cumberland Telephone Company
for reduced rates and won a compro-
mise victory. He has no political or
CARNATIONS behind him. He is de-
pending upon the people themselves
and Is making his appeal direct to
them.
Mr.. Long opened his campaign for
governor on the courthouse green in
Shreveport today. He will begin q
tour of the state Immediately, speak
ing on an average of six times day.
A. w. NEWLIN.