The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1880-05-15

parish convention," was composed Of
about sixteen persons-chronic malcon-
tents, nearly all Of them-scraped to-
gether from various parts Of the parish
by the exertions Of the local managers OF
the affair, Messrs. Gloster Hill, Jerry
Sullivan and Albert Dominique, who
may be classed as wirepullers in the sec
ond degree, carrying out the plans Of the
main wirepuller and leading spirit of the
movement, Mr.. Morris Marks.
The pretense that this was conven-
ton composed Of delegates elected by
the people is a glaring misrepresentation.
A few posters had been displayed at dit
ferent points for several days calling for
an election Of delegates to a convention
to be held at Washington school-house,
on the left bank Of the river, on the 18th
of May-and the fact that the gathering
took place at Donaldsonville on the 9Th
of May is of itself Il sufficient indication
that the manipulators Of the affair moved
in the dark, with Il secret understanding,
because they dared not face the people.
Persistent inquiry fails to discover either
the time or place Of any meetings held IN
the second, third, fourth, fifth, seventh
or eighth wards to choose delegates. Mr..
Dominique attempted to get up meet
ing at Adlard Landry school-house, i'll
the first ward, and failed; but taking
advantage of a congregation of people at
all entertainment given at Dominiqne's
Hall shortly after, he endeavored to at
tract the attention Of the assembly by
reading some whereases ana resolutions,
reciting the failure Of the meeting "on
account of the weather." and declaring
himself aud two others elected delegates.
For the purpose of the Marks manenvre,
the modest orator assumed that the reso-
lutions were enthusiastically adopted,
otwithstanding-as we are assured by
several persons who were present-tllat
not more than three men paid any atten-
ton to the illumination OF pretended to
vote on the resolutions.
| Owen White, one of the second ward
delegates, informed us, while the conven-
ton was in progress, that he knew moth
Of any meeting having been held in his
ward and had only learned that morning
| that his name was on the list Of delegates.
| 4 number of reliable persons from the
i third ward deny emphatically that any
meeting was called or held ill that ward
to select delegates. A member OF the
bogus delegation sent us word the day
after the convention that lie was only
aiming to make little personal point,
and had no real sympathy with the
movement. Another member our OBJ
streperous friend Paul Landry-is known
as such Il consistent and persistent bolter,
| that it would have bee, almost surpris
inc for him not to have been on hand.
His guiding principle is to kick every
time and all tic time. We can not re-
call campaign that he has weathered
il full harmony with his party. The
| same is true Of Davy White of the second
ward.
| any meeting was held i'll this ward
| the fourth--,it was u very quiet and un-
derhanded affair, for no one we have
qestione,l has been able to give us any
information concerning it. No doubt
Jerry could enlighten us-if he would.
Gostcr, Hill called a meeting at Mar
chand school-house, in his ward-the
ifth-for Sunday evening, the 2nd inst,
which was attended by-Gloster Hill.
In other words it was complete failure,
and Hills effort to gather the people
Of the vicinity by personal solicitation
met with no response. II a meeting of
any kind was subsequently held, it must
have been Il quiet confab OF few choice
spirits at or near Hills nous i'll the up
per part of the ward, six miles away from
the ADVERTISED place. The names Of Jno.
d. Cantey and Aaron Hill were on the
list Of delegates concocted for THIS ward,
but neither attended the convention.
In the sixth ward, Ned Hill, Gloster's
courier and man-of-all- work, got up
little meeting on the Mount Houmas
plantation, and elected himself and three
others as delegates. Only few persons
attended, and there was no representa-
ton from any other part OF the ward.
Even Ned virtually confessed to AS that
there wasn't much interest exhibited.
No meetings were held in either the
seventh or eighth wards and the pre-
sumption is that Mr.. Hill named the del
esates himself, selecting his uncle from
one ward and a close friend from the
| other
In this way, then, was constituted the
little gathering from which Collector
Marks and his boiling associates received
their credentials as representatives, of
| tie Republicans Of Ascension. The econ
vention was Il ridlcnlous farce, and its
proceedings were in harmony with the
manner of It's formation.
After secret confab under the stage
at Blue Bucket Hall, the assembly was
called to order by Hill, who was chosen
temporary chairman on Sullivan's mo-
| ton. The same member moycd that A.
P. Dominique be elected temporary sec
rotary and that a committee Of FIVE Oh
credentials be appointed. Adopted.
The chairman suggested that while