30 PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOLL WEEVIL CONVENTION. 



with the open market of Cuba, which threatens the destruction of that 

 great industry of ours. I have stood for the great levee system which 

 protects the alluvial lands of Louisiana, that produce rice and sugar from 

 the Arkansas line to the mouth of the Mississippi river. We have stood 

 in the minority when these fights were going on, and have fought until 

 we have grown gray. 



All of that, however, my friends, may sink into absolute insignificance 

 to-day, when we are considering a problem on whose solution depends not 

 only the prosperity of the South, but the importance of the commercial 

 supremacy of the United States. But my time is so limited that I must 

 forbear to go further into this question. 



But I want to tell you this, as a plain, old time, up and down Louisianian, 

 we are fighting for Louisiana's interest wherever they may be; and I 

 pledge you, my friends, that no question of a strict interpretation of the 

 Constitution shall ever come between my vote, and the interests of the 

 cotton growers of Louisiana, of the cotton industry of the United States, 

 and of the welfare of this great country. 



1 never occupied any other position except that of the best interests of 

 my State; and I pledge you now, that in whatever can be done, I shall 

 always be with you, God bless you, I hope you will be able to succeed. 

 [ (Applause.) 



The President. The next thing on the program is : "Legislation re- 

 quired to meet our Emergency," by Judge John C. Jugh, of Shreveport, 

 La. 



Judge Ptigh read the following: 



THE LEGALITY AND REQUIRED LEGISLATION TO MEET 

 OUR EMERGENCIES. 



Mr, President and Gentlemen of the Convention: 



The subject which I propose to discuss in some respects is to be 

 covered by my friend Judge Guion. I see from the published program 

 that he is to consider the constitutionality of legislation proposed in the 

 fight against the boll weevil. 



Without entrenching on the subject assigned him, I have thought best to 

 submit some observations on the legality of the legislation required in 

 the fight against the boll weevil. 



The police power of the State, in its broadest acceptation, means the 

 general power of the government to preserve and promote the public wel- 

 fare by prohibiting all things hurtful to the comfort, safety, and welfare 

 of society, and to establish, promulgate and enforce such rules and regula- 

 tions for the conduct of all persons, and the use and management of all 

 property as may be conductive to the public good. 



The authority to exercise this power is inherent in the several States 



