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STHE ST LANDRIY CLARI ON. WSPAPER UEST TE CENSUS, 1910, 10,000 "Here Shall The Press The People's Rights Maintain, Unawed by influence and Unbribed by Cain." VOL. XVIII.---NO. 13. OPELOUSAS, LA., SATURDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1907. $1 PER YEAR 7 __ ... ii-.I------I-~----_ __~_ CHRISTMAS IN OLD CITY OF OPELOUSAS A Qulet Day, With Cheerfulness and Sunshine the Ruling Spirits. ELKS' CHRISTMAS TREE A Pronounced Success, As Well As the Bounty Of Same Order to Prisoners-Christmas Trading Was Good, Say Merchants, The sun smiled brightly on Christ mas day, and everything wore a cheery, happy, rosy garb. It was an ideal Christmas, the bad weather of the week previous fading with the advent of Christmas morn. Christmas day was extremely un eventful-even dull. The preceding evening-Christmas Eve-was bust ling and stirring, the Christmas shop pers invading the streets and con verting them into busy, crowded avenues of activity. The merchants and sellers of Christmas goods say that the Christmas trade was excep tionally good, better than last year. Only three arrests were made by the city police Christmas Eve night, for infraction of the city ordinances, and when the Elks went to serve Christmas dinner to the prisoners at the city jail, they found one solitary inmate. Services were held at all the churches in the morning, and a large portion of the population took in the Elk Christmas Tree raised by that order at Elk Home in the evening. This affair was a success from every standpoint, and gladdened many a little heart. It was the first effort of the Elks in that line, and this fact lends additional credit to the success of the occasion. The tree was tasti ly trimmed and decorated, and pre sented a beautiful sight to the be holders. It was laden with presents, and its base was strewn with those crowded from the limbs. Notwith standing that the hall was crowded almost to its capacity, there were many presents left on the trees, after all tickets had been "cashed," and the surplus was distributed among those present. Mr. Phil L. Asher was Santa Claus for the occasion, and the entertainment lasted well into the evening. Much credit is due for the success of this feature, as well as for the dinner served to the prisoners, to Misses Virginia Budd, Nita Veltin and Celena Chachere, who rendered invaluable aid in the matter. The Elks wish to thank them. The dinner served by the Elks to tne parisn ana city prisoners was, needless to say, highly appreciated by the recipients. Sixteen prisoners were served in the parish jail, and one in the city lockup. Joe Du charme prepared the meal, which consisted of the usual Christmas din ner, including turkey. Indeed, our people never passed a more happy Christmas. ......... -- -H ID.,,. - - .. . SMALL POX AT CHATAIliNIER. Ten Cases Among La. East & West Railroad Grew In St. LaDilry Village. Superintendent Mason, of the Avoyelles Division of the Texas & Pacific Railroad, was called to Chatai gnier last week to investigate a com plaint from the people there regard ing the disposition of a construction gang among which small pox was raging. The cars used by the gang were left on a siding at Chataignier, a sta tion on 'the Bunkie & (ulf Extension (La. East & West), and the people there requested their removal. Su perintend ent Mason told them removal was out of the question, but promised to see that the negroes kept to their cars, and that the Company would establish a guard until one could be p)laced by the St. Landry Board of Health. This was satisfactory to the 'hataignier people. Ten cases of the disease were found among the negroes, the last new one being on Dec. 7. The whole crew was vaccinated by Dr. Matthews, the Comipay's local physician. I'hle Morning World. New Orleans' new daily mrorning paper, The Morniug W orld. is a cred it to the craft and a bright star in the diadem of Southern journalism. Joe Leveque, the founder of Harle quin, is the editor, and the paper is distinctly Leveque in forceful Eng lish and epigrammatic style. Its edi torials are ringing and unambiguous, and the news department is handled by experienced and competent men. We wish the venture success that is, we wish the World success, because the management announces that it is not a venture, that it is an assured success from the start. NIiWS FROM ALL OVER THE STATE. Murder Of A Cadet By Negro--$50,000 School House for Minden--Tramps and Lawlessness At New lberia==Other News. Alexandria wants 50,000 inhabi tants by 1912. R. H. Aby was confirmed as post master at Natchitoches. The Presbyterians of Lake Charles will build a home to cost $20,000. A man must be married to get a job on the Shreveport police force. The breweries of New Orleans are getting up black lists of objection able saloons. Torrential rains throughout the Sugar Belt last Suntay further delay ad the cane harvest. The corner stone of Shreveport's new city hall, which is to cost $75 000, was laid last Monday. The rains of last week greatly in jured the rice crop of Acadia-that portion remaining in the fields. Minden by practically a unanimous vote, voted a five-mill fifteen-year tax for a $50,000 school building. Wm. Jennings Bryan will lecture in Lake Charles on January 2, under the auspices of the local Chautauqua. A half-interest in the Ben Hur Plantation, seven miles from Baton Rouge, last week was sold for $45,000. The postoffice at Avery's Island was entered and robbed of some two hundred dollars, including all the stamps. A dam built in connection with drainage work near New Iberia was dynamited by plantation interest that objected to its maintenance. Sunday Law was strictly enforced in New Orleans last Sunday, the In spector of Police making a personal tour of the city. Many arrests were made. Application will be made to Con gress to improve Bayou Que De Tor tue, in Vermilion-Acadia parishes, MUST USE DISCRETION IN CUTTINGi TREES City Has No Right To Arbitrarily Use the Power to Regulate Streets and Sidewalks. PERRAULT VS. OPELOUSAS District Court Decides Gase Adversely to De fendant, Awarding Plaintiff $250 for Dam ages Done In Cutting Trees. The District Court of this District, sitting at Opelousas, with Judge E. T. Lewis the organ of the Court, de cided a case last week that is of di rect interest to municipalities and their citizens. The suit was brought by Judge W. C. Perrault, of Opelousas, just a year ago, and the gravamen of the com plaint is that last May the employees of the city electric plant entered his yard and disfigured his trees by cut ting the limbs thereof for the pur pose of running a line of electric lights to the Hercier & Lewis addi tion to the city. Damages in the amount of $150() were asked of the city by Judge Perrault. "The Court is satisfied that the city of Opelousas has the right to regulate its streets and sidewalks," says the decision, "but t;hat it can not do so arbitrarily. After con sidering the evidence in the case, the Court is fully of the opinion that the branches and limbs that overhung the sidewalks from within the property of the plaintiffr and upon the street was not a nuisance. nor had ever been declared such. The (Cournt is further of the opinion that whilst the city can regulate sidewalks and trim branches and overhanging limbs, the necessity existing therefor, yet it can not enter the premises of the abut ting proprietor and cut down the limbs and branches in the arbitraryv manner in which it was done in this case. In the light of the evidence before it, the Court is satisfied that the branches and limbs could have been carefully trimmed without in jury to the trees. As it was, they were unnecessarily trimmed and dis figured, to the great prejudice of the trees and the distress of the plain tiff. As in the case of Tisset vs. Great Southern Telephone & Tele graph Co., 39 Annual, (which is au thority upon which the decision of the Court is predicated), the Court is fo the opinion that the injury to the trees will in time be mended, and for in order to give better facilities to the Rice Belt. Carrie Nation, of hatchet fame, spent several days in New Orleans last week, but left without doing any sensational "stunts." She collected about $250 during her four days' stay in the Crescent City. Henry Routs, a negro, entered the front yard of Mr. Bradley, at Coving ton, Christmas, inviting the latter to settle a money matter by "coming out to shoot it out." Bradley opened fire, killing the negro after the black had secured the coveted drop. A. K. Weydert, a cadet returning from the Louisiana State University to his home in East Feliciana parish to spend the holidays, was shot and killed by a drunken negro, who under took to "shoot up" the train. The negro was arrested, and narrowly averted being lynched. The New Iberia Iberian announces that that city is in the grip of tramps and lawlessness, and the police are un able to cope with the situation. An instance is related where a tramp upon being refused food at a house in the city forcibly entered and helped himself to the meal on the table. The Governor last Monday issued pardons to the following convicts serving time in the Acadia parish jail for misdemeanors: David Doga, Hubert Leger, Jack Melancon, Feroil Cormier, Andrew Lejeune, Azarie Moore, and Edgar Quebedeaux. The pardons were recommended by the officials of Acadia parish. Mrs. Mary Nelson, 45 years of age, one of the most respected women in Tangipahoa parish, was murdered by a negro last week. Her body was found in the public road, riddled with buckshots. A negro, with whom she had had a quarrel over a dog, was arrested, and brought to the state penitentiary for safe-keeping. +1; -- .,n,,, ;4- - , - .,.:., ...... . 6nis reason it is not aisposea to in flict as much damages upon the city as is prayed for in the suit. It is of the opinion that two hundred and fifty dollars will be sufficient com pensation for all damages claimed herein." The Court awards damages in the sum of $250, with 5 per cent inter est from January 31, 1907, until paid, and all costs of suit. The testimony develops the fact that the disfigurement of Judge Per rault's trees was the Work of the negro linemen-Dick Coagy directed the work and Gloster cut the trees. MRS. DOLEN-DOW WILL ERECT OFFICE BUILDING. Texas Lady Who Visited Opelousas Two Weeks Ago filves Out the Information While On Her Way Home. Two weeks ago Mrs. Bettie Dolen Dow, of Dolen, Texas, spent a few days in Opelousas. A personal re quest was made to the Clarion not to give out any information as to the object of her visit to our city, she wishing to avoid notoriety. We were assured, however, that she meant to invest heavily in our country, and particulariy in the city of Opelousas, where she interded erecting an eight story office building in the center of the city, probably on the lot belong ing to young Pitre and the one owned by Dr. Haas, the former at the corner of Court and Bellevue nid the latter adjoining it. Mrs. Dolen-Dow actually negotiated for these properties, and we under stand the matter is now under con sideration between her representa tive here and the owners. We were told, however, that "mum was the word" until the affair was consum mated. Mrs. Dolen-Dow took a drive by buggy to Oakdale, the route to be travelled by the proposed Oakdale Ville Platte-Opelousas road, and it is understood that she has a finger in that pie. The Clarion kept the matter quiet, as requested, but it seems that a reporter of the Lafayette Advertiser was not so obliging, as we find the following in last Tuesday's issue of that newspaper: "Mrs. Bettie Dolen-Dow, of Dolen, Texas, was a visitor to Lafayette Sundar. She has recently made some investments in Opelousas and expects in the near future to erect a hand some office building in that city. Mrs. Dow expressed herself as quite charmed with this part of Louisiana and said that possibly she would come here to live." TEXAS FARMER WILL BE TEXAS SPINNER Scheme to Make Him Producer, Manufacturer and Consumer Launched In Lone Star State OTHER STATES MAY FOLLOW Farmer Learning Hard Lesson that He is King and Should Not Be MadeServile Drawer Of Water to Speculators. A Fort Worth, Texas, dispatch an nounces that as the last decisive step in its fight to establish the supremecy of the farmer, a culmination of its plans for the equilibrium and stability of prices of products agricultural and a grand fell stroke at ruinous trusts of the land, the Texas Farmers' Union has determined to build and operate its own cotton factories. With the accomplishment of this purpose, the unusual spectacle of the farmer acting in the treble role of producer, manufacturer and consumer may be witnessed in Texas. The dealer will be put entirely out of the game. The decision to launch into the cot ton factory business was reached by the Executive Committee of the Texas Farmers' Union in session at the headquarters in Fort Worth. The plan has assumed no tangible form yet. The central body of the big or ganization only knows that a large part of the membership wants to go into the new venture, and that their intention is to bring about the de sired result. To this end J. E. Been, of Burleson, and R. A. Turner, of Grapevine, were named as an auxiliary commitee with the Executive Com mittee in the formulation of some definite plans. The entire commit tee will meet at Fort Worth again on January 10th, and after a conference with the Fort Worth Factory Club, will make known to the membership their plans in the cotton factory plan. Thera is nov da y thba-st k 4ac t-hat the farmer is learning the hard les son that he has no good to expect from the speculator and foreign spin ner, and that he must make his own foundation so strong that he can stand upon it independent of these people. He is learning that he must be the boss of his ware before he can accomplish the result desired and deserved. It is highly probable that the Texas scheme will be watched with interest by farmers' unions throughout the land, and that if successfull the cot ton farmer will soon become the cot ton spinner and control the market for his own product. r."nl[ r an! U OrMA!IE LI IULITHi UI ITILIWULLI, Several Sections Of St. Landry In the firip Of The Dlsease.-.One Fatality. Information reaches the Clarion to the effect that measles is prevalent in many sections of the parish, and several cases exist in Opelousas. In Opelousas only children have so far been attacked, but in the Ville Platte section many grown persons have been the victims. In the Ma= mou sections the disease is raging, and the physicians are kept busy at tending patients. One fatality near Ville - Platte oc curred last Saturday, when Mrs. A. R. Fontenot, a highly esteemed lady of that section, succumbed. Mr. Gus. E. Fontenot, clerk of court of Acadia parish, a brother-in-law of the de ceased, attended the funeral, which took place at Ville Platte Sunday. NEW ENTERPRISE OPENED. Opelousas Lumber and Timber Co. Will Do Business With Opelousas As Headgqarters. The Opelousas Lumber & Timber Co. is the name of a new concern which was organized and opened of fices in Opelousas last week. Its business is general dealers in lumber and timber lands, which will be con ducted on an extensive scale. The company has for its officers two experienced gentlemen in that line--Mr. A. B. Pickett as President and Mr. W. R. Futch as Vice-Presi dent and General Manager. Temporary offices have been open ed in Opelousas, at the office of Mr. Pickett. The Clarion wishes the new enter prise success. Beautiful Residence. Mrs. A. Ventre and family on last Thursday moved into the beautiful residence - recently completed for them, situated on Court street, on the site of the old Ventre store. STINGING REBUKE OF CHARACTER ASSASSINS Press Of New Orleans Join Fair-Minded People In Repudiating Base Methods In Politics As Practiced In Present Campaign. There can be no question of the effect of the great Sanders meeting held in New Orleans on December 17th, when that city welcomed Lieu tenant-Governor Sanders with a de monstration unparalelled in its politi cal history. The Sanders people know what it means. The Wilkinson people know what it means. Supporters of both candidates know that it is the vancourier of the triumphal vindication of a brave and valorous son of Louisiana at the polls on January 28th-that it means the people of the great State of Louisiana are just waiting for elec tion day to place the- stamp of con demnation on one of the most con temptible, vindictive, vile campaigns ever thrust on the State by a set of men hungry for office; a disreputable coalition of the enemies of the Demo cratic party, with the coworking of selfish party men, to accomplish the defeat of one of the Democratic party's lifelong and valiant sons by means as unfair as they are. repren sible-of not only accomplishing his defeat, but assassinating his good name and character. The Clarion is loath to make use of invectives, but the blood boils and the temper rises to a point uncon trolable when the ears are open and must hear the villainous aspersions of character and the eyes must read the foul calumnies of this campaign. Temperate English language loses its virtue; the pen writes red. But we want to be understood as not mean-' ing the conscientious. Wilkinson sup porter, who is supporting that candi date because he believes he will make the best Governor; for these we have the highest esteem and regard. It is the peddlers of the infamous stzine w ich- ihave beern r v cas nounced and shown bare of truth that we refer to; the character as-i sassin, the stealthy murderer of al fair name.` In this characterization of the in famous methods of the opposition- or rather of those of the opposition included in the foul work-we are supported by the great press of New Orleans, one (the Picayune) .the re presentative of conservatism, and the other (the Daily States) the represen tative and great champion of regular Democracy in the State of Louisiana. These two papers, after the meeting in New Orleans, printed the following editorials: Says the Daily States: NEW ORLEANS' ANSWER. "With a cold, drizzling rain falling, threatening clouds overhead and slush underfoot, thousands and thou sands of the citizens of New Orleans gathered from every walk of life for the purpose of attesting their loyalty to the candidacy of Jared Y. Sanders and the principles which he is trium phantly advocating. The great hall of the Washington Artillery was packed and the streets leading there, to were crowded with enthusiastic Sanders supporters anxious to catch a glimpse of the face of their leader and to listen to his fiery eloquence. Unable to find entrance into the hall several speakers addressed the cheer ing multitudes in the streets from the balconies of adjacent buildings, while the great throng that crowded the hall shouted themselves hoarse in ap proval of the impassioned addresses of the speakers. "The address delivered last night by Governor Sanders was undoubtedly thejmasterpiece of his campaign. He reviewed every important question of the campaign, met squarely every issue presented and then, in the lang nage of the street he added "some more." The tremendous outpouring of the people and their tumultuous reception -of Mr. Sanders last night was New Orleans' answer to the false and malicious attacks that have been made upon him from the opening of the campaign to the present time. His address was a mastefly vindica tion of the rectitude of his public course and a persuasive and effective appeal to the people for their sup port not because of the demerits of his opponent, but upon the grounds of his own merits. ''It was the most notable political meeting that has assembled in New Orleans in several years, and the number and character of the people in attendance furnished a crushing rebuke to Mr. Sims' ill-natured snarl printed in the papers a few days since. From the moment that Mr. Henry Schreiber introduced that gal lant and eloquent Confederate soldier and recent supporter of General Jas tremski, General A. B. Booth, down to the time when the .last word was spoken the enthusiasm of the great audience ,was unbounded. All the speakers, Messrs. Ponder, of Sabine; Burke, of Iberia, and Villere, of this city, were liberally applauded, but a great demonstration was made when the Lieutenant Governor arose to begin his address. "And that address was clear, manly and convincing, showing a breadth of statesmanship and a loftiness of out look that invite comparison with the selfish, narrow and peevish tone that pervades the addresses made by his competitor. So many important sub jects were dealt with in that notable address that it would be impossible even to touch briefly upon each point presented, hence we invite a perusal of the address as it is printed else where in this paper today. "Two new points, the attempts made by Mr. Wilkinson to secure the support of certain ward bosses, and Mr. Sanders' brief statement of his attitude towards the lease of the State's property on Baronne street by the Administrators of the Tulane Fund, will attract general public at tention. The great demonstration of this monster meeting gathered to do honor to Mr. Sanders will have a two fold effect in New Orleans and throughout the State: It is an em phatic answer to the absurd claim put forward by the Wilkinson manage ment that the Plaquemines candidate will carry New Orleans, and it is an overwhelming repudiation of the cowardly methods resorted to in the attempt to defeat Mr. Sanders by men like Don Caffery and others throughout the course of this cam paign." Says the Picayune: "THE CITY'S OVATION TO GOVERNOR SANDERS. "Despite the inclement and un favorable character of the weather .-t. ght, there was ~a~a por ing ohrw oreans O welcome Hon. Jared Sanders in his first appearance before them to pre sent his candidacy for the Chief Magistracy of the great State of Louisiana. "The Picayune nrinti elsewhere the speech of Lieutenant Governor San ders, with a report of the other ad dresses and incidents of the immense popular assemblage, but these mat ters are mentioned here, not for any purpose of dwelling on them, or even of calling any attention to them whatever, but because they are intro ductory to another subject which the Picayune regards as of importance. It is as to the violent but covert at tacks that have been made upon Mr. Sanders as a man of honorable prin ciples and high character. "The Picayune has taken no part in the gubernatorial campaign that has been waged so actively in the State for some months past, beyond print ing full and fair accounts of the various public meetings held in the interest of each of the candidates and to record their progress. "The Picayune entertained very high regard for the three gentlemen who first started out in the race, holding them personally and as citi zens aspiring to the greatest honors which can be gained at the hands of their fellow-citizens in great esteem. Whatever personal preferences the conductors of the Picayune may en tertain in the premises, it saw no reason why as honorable aspirants for a great public post of duty each of the three should not be treated with equal consideration and respect. "But in the meantime injurious im putations have been cast upon one of them, and if ,they have not been bruited about upon the public hust ings they have been most actively sown broadcast by evil-disposed per sons with the object of inflicting seri ous injury and stabbing a man's most valuable possession--his character and fair reputation. "If the Picayune could accept as true what it believes to be base sland ers, so far from placing these candi dates upon the same honorable foot ing, it would spurn the guilty and disgraced party. But, believing that the attempts at such defamation are false and malicious, it dismisses them without further notice, and it is glad to express its confidence that the other two candidates are far above taking part and stock in such secret attacks upon a fellow candidate, when if the detractions were based on fact they would have been bound to have spurned so unworthy a colleague. "One of these candidates has gone to his final reward full of years and honors, his memory treasured by all who knew him. The other two stand in the light of day before their fellow citizens for such judgment as may be rendered. The Picayune esteems them both and appraises their public worth at a high valuation, and it could not say this consciously without FREIHT ON FRISCO TO HOUSTON, TEXAS Big Line Will Inaugurate Freight Traffic From Opelousas to Texas City January 3. NORTH AND WEST MARKETS Will Probably Be Followed By Passenger Traf tic to Western Terminal In the Near Future -Anxious to Get to New Orleans. The Frisco Line will run through daily freight service from Opelousas to Houston beginning Saturday, January 3. This announcement was made of ficially this week. This opens up that line's service to Northern and Western markets. From Houston it runs to Fort Worth on the Trinity & Brazos Valley, where the Rock Island is connected with and the State of Oklahoma entered, where a perfect network of allied lines is encountered, going every direction of the compass. It is probable that the passenger service will also be extended to Hous ton in the near future. New stations are being opened, and it is plain that the road is anxious to connect with its other lines in passenger service even before New Orleans is entered on the other end. Its passenger business from here to Crowley has been highly satisfactory to the offi cials, and the trains have run on good schedule and excellent accomo dation. Of course the Frisco is bending energy and money to making its Baton Rouge connection with the Mississippi Valley for New Orleans. The tax voted it by the corpora tion of Opeleusas provides that -the road shall be in operation between deQuincy and a point on the Miss issippi opposite Baton Rouge by March Ist, and while there is some question as to whether or not the road would lose the tax money even day owing to the fact that the ac cidents to the Atchafalaya bridge was providential hindrance anld not preventable delay, the road is anxious to avoid any litigation in the matter, aside from its natual desire to get to working. The passenger schedule from Ope lousas to Crowley is slightly changed, now leaving here at 7:50 a. m., in ,fa,,11 of 7 -Qn n " ,, T#, ......... ... at,, original schedule-6:15 p,. m. FIVE AMIENDMENS. Constitutional Aaendments to Be Voted On At the General Election In April Next. Five constitutional amendments will be submitted to the voters at the coming state election. They were proposed by the recent session of the Legislature. They are as follows: 1. Consolidating the seven tax collectors in New Orleans into one, fixing his salary at $5,000, and mak ing all fees payable into the treasury of the state. 2. Authorizing the Legislature to initiate legislation for the benefit of the Railroad Commission. Under the existing article of the Constitution the Legislature is powerless to act except upon the recommendation of the qpmmission. :3. Subjecting. transportation lines to fit for disobeying an order of the Rail ad Commission; requiring them to enter the courts to suspend it; penalizing them at the rate of from $10 to $50 from date of the opera tion of the order if the judgment is against them; and giving the com mission jurisdiction over the service of the telegraph and telephone com panies. 4. Prohibiting federal, foreign and non-resident companies from doing business in Louisiana when they bring suits in the federal court, or transfer suits from the state to the federal court. 5. Fixing the salary of the secre tary of state at $5,000 a year, and prohibiting him from accepting fees or perquisites of any kind. Moved Into New Quarters. B. Henry Pavy, Esq., last Thursday moved his law office into the office formerly occupied by the late lament ed Kenneth Baillio, Esq., in the build ing of Dr. C. F. Boagni, on Belle vue street. remarking upon the subject referred to above. "The magnificent ovation accorded to Mr. Sanders last evening by a vast concourse of the good people of New Orleans shows in what esteem he is held by his fellow-citizens in this the great metropolis of his State and of the South."