The star-progress., December 27, 1919, Image 1

About The star-progress. (Opelousas, La.) 1917-1921

Image provided by: Louisiana State University; Baton Rouge, LA

                
TH
"V"*' -
STAR-PROGRESS
XI—NO. 10
OPELOUSAS, LA., SATURDAY, DECEMBER 27, 1919
SUBSCRIPTION —$2.00 PER YEAR, IN ADVANCE
PSpI
HAPPY
HEW YEAR
PARKER RECEIVES A
BIG OVATION AT
MANY POINTS HERE
Gubernatorial Party Royally
Welcomed In Several of Par
ish's Six Wards
BIG AUDIENCE HEARS
HIM IN COURT HOUSE
Candidate for Governor De
nounces Ring and Predicts
Election on January 20
The Parker forcis swept St. Lan
dry like a prairie fire, during the
week just closed. Overflow meet
ings were held in many precincts in
the old parish, and the sestiment now
indicates that Join M. Parker and
Hewitt Bouanchaui will receive tre
mendous majorities in tlis parish on
January 20.
The first meethg of the week in
this parish was bid at Leonville on
Sunday morning. Dr. F. 0. Pavy,
president of the police jury, intro
duced Mr. Parkerat this meeting and
predicted an ovewhelining majority
at that point fr the independent
candidates for gvemor and lieuten
ant governor.
At Amaudvill, where practically
the entire town und a large number
of voters from arious points in St.
Landry and St. Iartin parishes gath
ered to listen t<!John M. Parker and
Hewitt Bouanckud, Dr. A. C. Durio
introduced the peakers and here, to,
indications are;hat the independent
candidates willreceive a handsome
majority.
The Sunset eeting on Sunday af
ternoon was frgely attended, al
though weathe conditions were very
unfavorable. 7 . J. Boudreau, prom
inent merchau and planter of Sun
set, was chairon of the meeting and
expressed thehope that Grand Co
teau would buhe burner St. Landry
Parker poll, tarry Fitzpatrick, elo
quent speakerrf N«w Orleans,joined
the gubematdal party at this point
and delivereda magnificent address
in support « tip candidacies of
Messrs. Park« and Bouanchaud.
On Mondr nnraing the party
went to Mel'.lle, vhere the largest
political gatbringin the history of
the Atchafalya tivn was present to
greet the cariida^s of their choice.
Hon. Kemp r . Caiett, veteran mem
ber of the ;oliej jury, a life long
friend of Join MlParker, was chair
man of the neejig and took occa
sion to "rate thfri over the coals."
The Melville me jng was one of the
best ever hell int. Landry.
At Opelouias Monday night the
court house was immed to hear the
speakers. Hon. Lee Mills, presi
dent of the S Landry Farmers'
Union, and on« f the most promi
nent planters ii Bellevue section
of St. Landry vas introduced by
Hon. Dudley IGuilbeau as chair
man of the meng. Mr. Mills pre
dicted that nil y-five per cent of
the farmers of »is parish was sup
porting the Pa: r ticket.
Mr. Parker's ice had almost com
pletely gone b on him, and after
making his e: ses, first denied a
statement mad i a local newspaper
relative to his nd on the Board of
State Afairs a deliberate untruth.
He then went to his political rec
ord, showing at he had always
stood for whi supremacy, that his
father had foi ; and his family had
bled for the < «. He said that he
"was responsil that Roosevelt and
Taft had nev ppointed negroes to
office in the ith, and that he had
not joined th regressive party un
til it had ac ed a resolution ex
pressing itsel i a white man's par
He said t if he were elected
will
2,
R.
had
up
has
the
had
had
of
the
in
up
ly
the
on
to
is
L.
ty.
governor he
laws that wo
cted to have enacted
give this state a bet-
ter road sysi a more comprehen-
sive educati program, in order
!
1
j
■
ed
PORT BARRE
MILL TO START
Large Plant on Courtableau is
Preparing to Resume Ope
rations on January 2
The Port Barre Tie and Timber
Company's big sawmill at Port Barre
will resume operations on January
2, according to the announcement of
R. O. Marsh general manager, who
stated on last Saturday that the mill
had been thoroughly overhauled and
would be ready in a few days to start
up again. Three miles of railroad
has been constructed in the past few
months to connect the mill with some
sixty-five million feet of timber in
the woods.
Mr. Marsh stated that the company
had sufficient timber in sight and
contracted for to operate at least
fifteen years, and now that the mill
had been placed in splendid condi
tion, and the lumber market was so
favorable as to allow a good margin
of profit in the manufacturing of
lumber, he expected the mill to op
erate without any interruption for
several years to come.
The Port Barre mill was erected
about ten years ago and has changed
hands repeatedly. It is one of the
largest hardwood mills in the South
and when in operation employs a
large number of men. The citizens of
Port Barre are looking forward to
the resumption of operations at the
mill with much anxiety and pleasure
and believe that things will "hum"
in their village when the mill steams
up on Friday, January 2.
<y
EUNICE SECTION
WELCOMES ARIEL
Candidate for Sheriff Attends
Rousing Meeting Arranged
By His Supporters
On last Monday morning" „ Ariel
Fontenot, popular candidate for she
riff, received word to go immediate
ly to Eunice. Never questioning
the motive of his friends, he boarded
the first train out of Opelousas and
on arriving at Eunice was met by a
number of friends who escorted him
to the Tasso section of the Eunice
precinct where a rousing meeting had
been arranged.
At this meeting several hundred
voters assembled to lsiten to the can
didate lay his claims for the office,
which his friends can now safely pre
dict will be his. The meeting was
one of the greatest and most suc
cessful yet staged in that section of
St. Landry, and Mr. Fontenot was as
sured that he would receive a flatter
ing majority at the hands of the vot
era of the sixth ward on January 20.
..—John P. Desmarais, native of
Opelousas but now prominent in the
insurance circles of Houston, Texas,
is spending the holidays here with
friends and relatives.
—John E. Boagni, student at the
L. S. U., Baton Rouge, : s home for
the holidays.
that the best of schools could be in
the reach of the poorest of children.
He advocated the establishment of
the best agricultural ( college in the
United States, and promised the peo
ple of Louisiana that if elected he
! would not appoint a "ring man" to
1 any of the appointive offices.
He was given tremendous applause
throughout his discourse and it was
evident that the packed house was
j practically one hundred per cent for
■ Parker.
Hewitt Bouanchaud, candidate for
lieutenant governor, proved a dis
tinct favorite with the large audi
ence. He spoke of his love and de
votion for his opponent, and graph
ically 'exposed Judge Gilbert's re
publicanism.
The St. Landry tour was complet
ed with a rousing meeting held at
Grand Prairie on Tuesday morning.
DRAINAGE TAX WAS
CARRIED BY BIG
MAJORITY
Third Bond Issue in Mallet
Plaquemine District Once
Again Successful
NO
HITCH EXPECTED
ON MONDAY'S RESULT
Only Two Votes Recorded
Against Measure Which is
Drain Much Fine Land
For the third time in recent years
the taxpayers of the Bayou Mallet
and Plaquemine Drainage District,
which covers that territory west of
the city limits to the Evangeline par
ish line, voted , taxes on themselves
for the purpose of securing better
drainage.
The election was held on last Mon
day. The bond issue voted is for
$95,000, calculated to be sufficient
to scientifically drain the vast fer
tile area comprising the ditstrict,
within the next twelve months.
The result of the election was nev
er doubted by the promoters of good
drainage for the district. Only tow
votes and $5,280 valuation was cast
against the measure, while fifty-two
taxpayers, with a total assessment of
$161,420, voted favorably for the
bond issue and thus returned a hand
some majority for better drainage.
As soon as legal limitations ex
pire, the bonds will be sold and the
work of dredging the bayous and lat
erals of the district will begin with
out delay.
A few years ago a bond issue was
I
voted, but due to informalities, the
tax was called off, after being col
lected for two years. The taxpayers
were refunded their money and the
recent election for the $95,000 bond
issue called. J. Franklin Schell, who
will supervise the work of the drain-
age contractors and who will be the
chief representative of the board, is
given the major portion of,credit for
Monday's victory. He is the one man
responsible for the district to be
placed in a position where it could do
something for drainage, and as a con-
sequence he is receiving the commen-
dation of the vast maojrity of the
property owners in the Mallet and
Plaquemine district.
-o-
REVENUE OFFICE
ACCEPTS CHECKS
Deputy Collector Stagg An
nounces That Certified
Ones are O. K.
Deputy Collector of Internal Rev
enue A. L, Stagg sends the following
communication to the Star-Progress :
"As a matter of interest to the
general public, I desire to state that
in compliance with the ruling of the
internal revenue department, the of
fice in New Orleans will accept cer
tified checks, New Orleans exchange
and money orders in payment of the
following çlasses of taxes:
"Brokers, customhouse
pool tables, pawnbrokers,
automobiles, documentary
prietary stamps, shooting
boats and narcotics.
"I would appreciate it very much
if you would give this ruling as much
publicity as possible in order that it
will be brought to the attention of all
persons concerned."
■OB
brokers,
theatres,
and pro
galleries,
—Mr. Arthur Allen, former Ope
lousas boy but now of Houston, Tex
as, is the guest of his brother, Cliff
Allen, for the holidays.
—Miss Evan Dejean is spending
the holidays with her parents, Mr.
and Mrs. Armand Dejean.
ST. LANDRY WILL BE
REPRESENTED ON
WESTERN TRIP
Proposed to Send Eight Boys
From This Parish on Agri
cultural Special
SCHOOL AUTHORITIES
FAVOR MOVE ON FOOT
Tour of Iowa, Wisconsin, Illi
nois and Other Progressive
States is Planned
St. Landry will be represented on
the tour of agricultural states pro
posed by State Superintendent T. H.
Harris, for some time next August.
This is a settled fact, as Superin
tendent W. B. Prescott of this parish
has already pledged sufficient funds
to defray the expense of a portion of
the delegation, and has instructed A.
A. Mendoza, local federal demonstra
tion agent, to prepare plans for the
selection of the boys w'ho will repre
sent this parish on the trip.
Accarding to Mr. Mendoza, the po
lice jury and school board will be
asked to assist in defraying the ex
penses of one boy from each of the
six wards and two from the parish at
large. Individuals will probably be
asked to follow the example of J.
Franklin« Schell in volunteering to de
fray the expense of one young man.
on his trip, in which event St. Lan
dry may send one of the strongest
delegations from the state.
As proposed by Mr. Harris, the trip
will be made some time next August.
I At least one hundred country boys
will be assembled for the trip, and
a
the party will leave New Orleans on
a special train which will carry them
on a trip of two or three weeks
through the agricultural sections of
the states of Iowa, Wisconsin and Il
linois, with a view of studying ag
riculture in those prosperous sections
of the United States. The univer
sities of these states will be visited,
and in each institution the' boys Will
be assembled and one or more of the
professors will give lectures explain
ing what the universities are doing
to advance agriculture. A day or
two will be spent in the city of Chi
cago.
The trip wil cost each boy ap
proximately cne hundred and fifty
dollars. Each parish in the state is
requested to send at least two repre
sentatives. According to Mr. Men
doza, however, St. Landry will send
a much larger delegation than prob
ably any other parish in the state.
-o
SCHELL TO GIVE
ENTERTAINMENT
Candidate for Legislature to
Celebrate Twentieth An
niversary in Louisiana
Hon. J. Franklin Schell, candidate
for the legislature, will celebrate the
twentieth aniversary of his arrival in
the state he has learned to love so
dearly, when on the 12th of Janu
ary, he proposes to entertain his
friends at a string band dance at his
beautiful country home near Wash
ington.
Mr. Schell announces that every
body is invited to this dance. He will
not send any special form of invita
tion, but has asked the editor of the
Star-Pogress to cordially invite all
his friends through this newspaper.
He will make arrangements to take
care of a large crowd—and says
"there is always room for one more."
The popular candidate for the leg
islature and his charming wife will
be hosts to all of their friends. This
will be a celebration—not political,
but of appreciation of the good will
and friendship of the people of St.
*
AURELIS MOREAU
DIES SUDDENLY
Former Opelousean Expired at
His Residence in Swords
Station Last Saturday
Aurelis Moreau, for many years a
well known citizen of Opelousas,
a native of the sixth ward, died very
suddenly at his home in the Swords
Station section of St. Landry last
Saturday afternoon at 3:15 o'clock.
Mr. Moreau had not been in very
good health for some time, but it
had never been thought that he
would pass off as rapidly as he did.
The deceased was well known here,
having resided in- this city for nearly
fifteen years. He had but recently
moved to Swords Station, where he
expected to farm the coming year.
He is survived by his wife, two chil
dren, Miss Elia and Willie, and a
number of relatives and a host of
warm personal friends.
Funeral services were conducted
at his residence in Swords Station at
4 o'clock Sunday afternoon, and in
terment took place in the Catholic
cemetery at that place. A delegation
of Woodmen of the World, of which
Mr. Moreau was an esteemed mem
ber, attended the funeral and paid
homage to their deceased brother .
-o
THOSE DISCHARGED
IN 1918 MUST PAY
POLL TAX NOW
Attorney General Coco Says
Soldiers Discharged in 1919
Do Not Have to Pay
IMPORTANT RULING
IS HANDED DOWN
Many Service Men Laboring
Under False Impression
May Be Disqualified
Attorney General Coco wrote to
Clerk of Court Henry Lastrapes this
week, announcing that according to
law, soldiers discharged in 1918 must
pay their 1919 poll tax in order to
participate in the election next
month.
Recently newspaper articles stated
that discharged soldiers,who had par
ticipated in the world war, were ex
empt from the payment of poll taxes
for the years 1918 and 1919. Mr.
Coco's ruling, however, made public
this week, reveals the fact that such
was an erroneous impression and that
if service men, discharged prior to
January 1 of this year, do not pay
their 1919 poll tax, they will be dis
qualified.
According to Mr. Coco's decision,
service men are exempt from the
payment of poll taxes the year they
were in the service.
As a large number of St. Landry
soldiers received their discharge pa
pers the month following the signing
of the armistice, it is probable that
if publicity is not given to the attor
ney genexpl's decision, many voters
will be prevented from participating
in the January election. As there is
only a few days remaining in which
to pay ones' poll tax, friends and par
ents of soldiers who were discharged
in 1918 should not lose any time in
seeing that such poll tax is paid
promptly.
o
Landry, who have proven real friends
of the former Pennsylvania couple
who settled here twenty years age
All who can avail themselves of the
genial hospitality of Mr. and Mrs.
Schell should not fail to attend thiB
splendid entertainment, at which
dancing will be the feature.
o
v
P
—Prof. W. C. Perrault, superin
tendent of public education of St.
Mafim parish, came in Wednesday to
'-pend Christmas with home folks.
REGISTRATION GOES
TO 5,380 IN ST.
LANDRY PARISH
Opelousas Biggest Precinct,
With 911, While Barbrpck
« is Smallest, With 38
SIXTH WARD LARGEST
IN ENTIRE PARISH
Indications are Four Thousand
Votes Will be Cast on Jan
uary 20, Next '
The net total registration of St.
Landry parish on December 20, the
last day on which to qualify, amount
ed to 5,380. The original total was
5,555, but 175 names were stricken
off the roll for various reasons.
The sixth ward, composed of Eu
nice, Mallet, Plaquemine Point and
Foquetaique, is the banner ward of
St. Landry, when it comes to voters,
having a registered strength of 1,
320. Opelousas is the largest pre
cinct, with 911 registered voters,
while Barbreck, in the fifth ward,
with only 38 votes, is the 6malest.
According to well posted men, St.
Landry should cast at least 4,000
votes on January 20. Some figure
that this amount may be increased
by 200, if weather conditions are
favc.'•able. It is expected that the
largest vote cast since division of the
original parish, eight years ago, will
be recorded in the January primary.
The registration by precincts and
wards is as follows: 1
First Ward
Opelousas ........ 911
Bellevue ....... 87
Plaisance .............. 214
Total for ward............1212
Second Ward
Coulee Croche ...............382
Grand Coteau ...............335
Total for ward ............717
Third Ward
Leonville ............... — . 365
Amaudville .................280
Notleyville ................ 6
Total for ward ..... 707
Fourth Ward
Krotz Springs .'■» ..... 47
Bayou Current ....... 48
Morrow ............ 63
Melville ................ 175
Big Cane ............... 82
Port Barre .................. 191
Waxia ....... 48
Palmetto ..............91
Total for ward ........... 74.5
Fifth Ward
Washington .................364
Grand Prairie................313
Whiteville .................. 95
Barbreck .................. 38
Garland ........ 44
Total for ward ............. 844
Sixth Ward
Eunice ............ 757
Plaquemine........... 268
Malle« ........... .252
Faquetaique ...... 43
Total for ward............1320
Total ofr parish.............5555
Less stricken off. .............J75
Net total ................5380
Poll taxes paid to-date amount to
approximately 3600. There is but
few days left in which to pay the poll
tax. Indication are that the total
amount will be over 4,000 but unless
a rush is made within the next two
two or three days many voters may
be disfranchised.
-o
—Mrs. Freeman Burr and daugh
ter Hester of Houston, Texas, are
the guests of Mr. and Mrs. Willie
Burr in this city.
—Mr. and Mrs. John Tujaque of
Lafayette are spending the holidays
with relatives here.