The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1874-10-16

SH' SAAtAA% hA$SNAiiS DNb tA'SH h"No oCCL
furnished by several delegates, and others pres,
emit who were close observers. aud arc reliable
informants. The election for delegates was
holden in this ward on the 10Th September, in
accordance with the following call, posted M
throughout the wards, and signed by the Parish
Committees Of the White League and Democratic
parties, viz
WARD MEETING.
In pursuance Of n Resolution passed in Joint
session of the Democratic and White League
Parish Committee, and of their Joint Address
Ealing q Parish Convention for Saturday, Sep
tembor 26th, 1874, published in the Courier -
of the 5th, all the white voters of the OpelOuSas
Ward, embracing the Democratic Party, the
White League Party, tho Liberal Party, the Re-
form Party and all others opposed to the KEEL
logg usurpation, are hereby respectfully re-
quested to hold a Ward Meeting or Collection at
the Court House on Saturday, September 10th,
1874, for the purpose OF electing Seventeen Dele
gates to said Parish Convention.
All voters embraced within the terms of this
call are urged to participate in tho Ward Meet
ingS, so that the nominations to be made by the
Convention shall be q fair and full expression Of
F. Robin, CiIairnan,J. l.. Estorge, Chairman,
M. D. kavanagh, John F. Smith,
Paul Lambert, d. Durio,
, .D. Tarlton, 4: Molitor,
+. 7. Lewis, II. Hayes,
Lew. D. Prescott, Democratic Parish
White League Parish Committee.
Committee.
In Opelollstls polls were opened at the Court
Holse, and three commissioners appointed to
preside over the election and receive the votes
cast. These commissioners were Col. s. D. Ashe
and Laurent Dupr6, White Leaguers, and Thos.
H. Lewis, Democrat, with strong White League
proclivities. The polls were kept open from 10
o'clock A. NJ, to 4 O'Clock 7. III
During the day no objection was made to any
Of the voters who presentedthemselres and cast
east their votes. None could be made, because,
as will be seen under the terms of the call, all
"tle white voters of the ward, embracing the
Democratic party, the White League party,
the Liberal party, the Reform party, md .aH
others opposed to the Kellogg eSurpati0n," had
been urged to participate in the election Of
delegates. White Republicans, when Offering
TO vote, were interrogated and allowed TO vote,
because their answers were found satisfactory
to the commissioners. No separate list of their
names were even kept, nor memorandum made
to refer'to the convention when it assembled
ON the 26th. Everything went of quietly,
peaeeably and orderly; but, 10 and behold, when
the votes were counted at the close of the day,
no doubt, to the surprise Of the White Leaquers,
who had put forth q ticket Of thirteen White
4FGdS h4A ANhA NNLhiDA NO LuO u
tation with the Democrats, it was found their
entire ticket had been defeated, and the whole
Democratic ticket had boen ~triumphantly elect
cd. When this was ascertained, notwithstand-
ing the fact that the White Leaguers had pro-
vOked the contest with the Democrats; nOtwith.
standing the election had been fairly conducted
under the supervision of two White Leaguers
and one Democratic commissioner; notwith-
u4ar1t,.r a-yarr- rroFa pnIla1 fprino thu dow ha1
been received without protest; and notwith-
standing the White Leaguers a managed
everything to suit themselves, the announce
ment Of theiresult raised, at once, ON their part,
a perfect howl Of indignation, and led to the pre-.
paratiop of the following protest, to which were
obtained ~thirty-nine signatures, seventeen Of
whom had been voted for aud defeated at the
election ON the 18th.
PROTEST FROM FIRST WARD.
OPELoUsAs, Sept. 21st 1874.
To the President and Members of the Con-
Gentlemen-We the undersigned voters of the |
Opelousas ward respectfully represent: That
heartily and fully endorsing the platform of the
Baton Rouge convention and the Joint action of
the Democratic and White League committees
In the call for a parish convention, and also be-
lteving that the call OF the two committees was
dictated by the same. spirit of generous cOnces- |
sion and mutual good will as that which char
acterized the different elements composing the
Baton Rouge convention, we. attended and par
ticipated IN the ward meeting at OpelOusas.
We represent that the leading idea In this
campaign, Incorporating opposition to Radi-
calism, TO tho. Kellogg isurnation and to its sur
portefs, and that the joint call OF our two par
ish committees was intended to harmonic and
unity the Democratic and White League organi-
cations which together represent the opposition
to the Kellogg government This sptritOf unity
inspired the members of both parties Ia tho
different ward elections throughout the parish
as far az our information extends. III this spirit
we came 70 the polls on the 18th INST, at Ope.
lousas fully determined to vote for good and
true men of both parties not suspecting that any
parties designed running q ticket exclusively
in the interest of any one party organization.
our surprise and modification We discovered
a combination Lad been formed previously, for
thespeci1c purpose of defeating any representa-
ton of the White League in the convention from
this ward. The said combination consisted of
the following elements: First, officials holding
commissions from Kellogg whose tenure Ofofice
of the Republican party OF rhe Parish Of st.
Landry: Thirdly, persons claiming to he Demo
Gratis who AFRO actively opposed to the Baton
platform and the joint action OF the two
parish committees in calling this convention.
That through the votes of these your political
enemies a majority of the citizens of this ward
who are the real enemies OF the Kellogg usHr-
patton are denied representation in your body.
We further represent that the said comhina-
was successful through the fundamentally
aud cooperation Of persons not in sympathy
With the present attitude Of the white people of
this State, and by n concentration OF such votes
upon q ticket previously and secretly prepared.
We respectfully represent that nm inspection
Of the tally list kept and the ballots cast, viii
tear us ont in this statement.
We further represent that at least twenty-five
i not more Of the Votes cast at said ward meet
arc of the Objectionable character herein,
mentioned. and that If said votes had
not been cast, the White League of this ward
gould have had q representation in your body,
and the resalt different from what 1t has been.
Therefore we respectfully protest against all
he delegates claiming 10 have been elected at
he ward meeting at Opelougas on the 18th inst.
nasmnel rs we have good reason to believe that
.he said Twenty-Five votes were east fer these l
and we further ask that the White !
League and Democratic parties of this ward be :
q fair representation In your body, and
Int before referring this memorial TO your COM :
ilittee on credentials, wcbe heardin the premises c
IN the floor af the convention. 4
Respectfully submitted. :
T EVIL q r. Harmon !
H Violet John p Mudd 4