Political Debates in Union Parish Louisiana Leading up to the 1898 Election Submitted for the Union Parish Louisiana USGenWeb Archives by T. D. Hudson, 11/2006 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ ================================================================================== ================================================================================== Political Debates in Union Parish Louisiana Leading up to the 1898 Election to select delegates to the Louisiana Constitutional Convention ================================================================================== ================================================================================== ================================================================================== ================================================================================== From the Farmerville "Gazette"; issue of Wednesday, 5 January 1898, page 3, column 2 ================================================================================== ================================================================================== Monday's Political Speaking. --------- A fairly good crowd of Democrats and Populists were at the courthouse Monday afternoon to listen to the political discussion, participated in by Messrs. R. B. Dawkins and E. T. Sellers in behalf of the Democracy, and Mr. J. H. Anderson in behalf of the Populism. It was our intention to give a brief synopsis of the arguments and points each speaker made, but having been called away early in the action we cannot do so. Mr. Anderson rehearsed the threadbare arguments so generally indulged in by the third-rate Populist orators. From his remarks it was quite impossible to determine whether he was advocating Populist doctrines or endorsing Republican acts; but then those two political parties have combined so often and worked so closely together, that it is impossible to distinguish the difference between a Populist and a Republican; so upon this plea the speaker might be excused for his defense of the corrupt Republican leaders of Louisiana. But we fail to imagine how he can justify himself for his arraignment of the legal profession. Being a professed lawyer himself, it seems that he would try to defend that honorable and high-toned class of citizens, instead of crying them down. But then doubtless the speaker's uncalled for arraignment of the profession was based upon the assumption that he himself was not much lawyer to hurt anyway; and if that be his plea we will not endeavor to keep the public from entering a verdict of not guilty. Messrs. Dawkins and Sellers responded to Mr. Anderson, and they literally tore his argument to pieces; in fact, they did the Populist representative up in such a sweeping style that Mr. Rockett, the Populist nominee against Mr. Sellers, concluded that "silence was golden" and declined to come to the bat when he was called upon for a speech. He doubtless felt that the Democratic speakers would, so to speak, wipe the floor up with him, and so he preferred to remain a "high private in the rear ranks" for the time being. Messrs. Dawkins and Sellers called attention to some of the most glaring defects in our present organic law, and insisted that a constitutional convention was necessary to cure those defects. They argued that the franchise question and our judiciary system alone would justify the holding of a constitutional convention to enact laws that are more in keeping with the times in those particulars. The Populist orator candidly admitted that his party was the first to raise the cry for a constitutional convention, but now after they have a chance to get it they have decided that they don't want it. They think the call for a constitutional convention is a "Democratic trick," and the Pops. are as "skeered" of those things as the devil is of water. With a few more joint political discussions such as was given Monday, we believe all thinking Populists will be ready to forsake the sinking ship of Populism under the control of designing Republicans, and forthwith return under the bright banner of true Democracy. ================================================================================== ================================================================================== From the Farmerville "Gazette"; issue of Wednesday, 5 January 1898, page 3, column 2 ================================================================================== ================================================================================== Candidate Rockett, the Populist nominee for delegate to the constitutional convention, was called upon for a talk at the political speaking Monday afternoon, but he refused to respond. If Mr. Rockett feels a timidity in discussing the political issues of the day before a gathering of his fellow citizens at home, where would he be in a State convention? ================================================================================== ================================================================================== From the Farmerville "Gazette"; issue of Wednesday, 5 January 1898, page 3, column 3 ================================================================================== ================================================================================== The election which will take place in Louisiana next Tuesday is the most important one that has been held in this state for many years; yet but few people seem to realize that fact. Time and again THE GAZETTE has urged upon the eligible voters of Union parish the necessity of registering; and now if you are denied the right to vote on the 11th inst., on account of your failure to register, you will have no one to blame but yourself. The registration books will close Friday, and if you have not already registered, do so at once. ###############################################################################