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to the democratic way of electing its officials by mqjority vote and that no small group of politicians ever again will have an opportunity to control the entire state."
Gremillion, who becomes Democratic nominee for attorney general, assured election by the decision, hailed the ruling and said he looks forward to serving Louisiana. "I will always try to serve. in a manner that will reflect credit, honor, dignity and pride upon the high office of attorney general and upon the name of this great state,"the said.
'Proved False'
He said he felt the charges that the committee action was un-American, high-handed and unconstitutional are now "proved false as the state's highest court has sanctioned the action."
As absentee ballots and ballots for voting machines went into the mails from Baton Rouge following the supreme court decision, Secretary of State Martin said they would be delivered to all 64 Louisiana parishes in time to.begin absentee balloting Saturdays as scheduled.
Runoff Ballots
Mailed; Court
Rules Out
Ballots for the Feb. 21 second Democratic primary were in the mail to Louisiana clerks of court today following' a state supreme court decision ruling out a runoff tor the posts of•attorney general and commissioner of agriculture.
The high court yesterday, after hearing arguments in New Orleans, confirmed a decision by the Democratic state central committee Mat no runoff is necessary for the two positions.
The committee contended Mat because Gov.-nominee Earl K. Long received a majority of votes in the gubernatorial race, no runoffs were necessary in other contests for state office.
Win Nomination
This means that Long candidates Jack Gremillioii for attorney geheral•and Sidney J. McCrory for agricultural commissioner win the Democratic nomination, which is the same as election in this state.
in the ,Jan. 17 first Democratic primary, Gremillion led the field of candidates for attorney general, but without receiving a major-
Primary-
ity of the votes cast. Incumbent Fred S. LeBlanc ran second. McCrory led the field for agricultural commissioner, but did not receive a majority either. and incumbent Dave L. Pearce ran second.
Consider Rehearing
LeBlanc said after the decision yesterday he would confer with attorneys today to consider asking for a rehearing.
Secretary of State Wade 0. Martin Jr. had dual sets of ballots prepared pending the court ruling. The set not including the names of any candidates for the two offices in question were mailed out within five minutes after the decision.
In their action. supreme court justices dismissed suits by LeBlanc and Pearce asking that the
central committee be compelled to schedule a runoff.
Sustains Exceptions
The court sustained exceptions filed by chairman Rufus D. Hayes of the state committee, Secretary of State Martin, Gremillion, McCrory and Jesse L. Webb Sr., committee secretary, which said there was no cause for action.
Justice E. Howard McCaleb concurred in the decision of the court, making the ruling unanimous. However, Justice McCaleb maintained his position that the issue was improperly before the court.
Reasons for their ruling were not listed by the supreme court members. They said they would assign a written opinion today or tomorrow.
Orders Set Aside
Set aside by the high court ruling yesterday were temporary restraining, orders issued by Baton Rouge district Judge G. Caldwell Hergets stopping the state committee and state officials. from any action which would interfere with the runoff for the two positions in question.
At the supreme court session yesterday A. Leon Hebert and Ashton L. Stewart of Baton Rouge argued for the LeBlanc-Pearce faction and Gravel made all arguments for the committee. Other representatives of the committee present were Grove Stafford Sr. of Alexander and Judge Edmund Reggie of Crowley.
LeBlanc blasted the high court decision as a "defeat of the right of the people of Louisiana to select their officials by a .majority vote."
'Exerted Every Effort'
The attorney general stated the supreme court in a previous decision said that in the absence of a positive and specific prohibition against the holding of a second primary, a second primary niust be held.
"Mi. Pearce and I exerted every effort primarily in the interest of the people of the state by entering a runoff and after the Democratic state comtnittee ruled against us we filed suits, in the district court to preserve the right of the people to elect their officials by a majority vote," LeBlanc said.
"Our first interest was the right
of the people and our second in-
terest was our own 'rights. The
Legislature in 1944 by Act 60 intended to prevent the very thing
that has occurred in this election. Apparently their efforts went for naught. They intended to prevent just such a.. situation."
'Denied Chance'
Pearce said from Eaton Rouge the people of Louisiana were denied the chance to vote in the
second printery, and have no
further avenues 'for redress.
"We must hold our fire until we can takeaway from the committee the right V deny a million voters 'The- Iightf to select their own public Officials." he said.
"Obviously a- law which •allows
one hundred men -to usurp the rights of more than one million voters is unjust,. un-democratic, and un-American.
'Guns and Bloodshed'
"In other. countries this would have been done only with guns and bloodshed. I hope the Legislature will give the highest possible priority. to amending the
law so that our state can go back • 1
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