The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1888-08-24
Norlhern setalers, Convenalon

| Al Salt4hS buV NAdfSAbAoA " ShNANA
Col. Norman said,
Ladies and Gentlemen and Mem
bers Of the Conyention--Having been
| placed at the head Of the State I'M
migration Association Of Louisiana
through the parhality of my fellow
citizens, and as this convention 10 to
be held under its auspices, it devolyes
upon me to call this meeting to order,
In the performance Of this pleasant
duty 1t is my purpose to state, IN the
fewest words possible, the objects for
which you are called together and to
explain to you the arrangements made
for your comforts and entertainment,
and place one Of your members in
charge as temporary chairman. Af-
ter which propose to retire, and we
will leave the convention in your
hands for you to elect your own Off
GERS and manage and control 1t through
your own members, without any in
reference or suggestion on the part
of the State Immigration Association.
The preiminarios aud programme
were simply arranged by us, as you
were so widely scattered it was inn
possible on your part TO DO it, and We
have merely done this as you would
not have had time to bring order out
of chaos after your arrival hero.
From experience we have found
that our greatest difficulty in induc-
ing immigration here is to combat the
erroneous Impressions existIng regard
ing the health and climate Of Louis
lana
We believe that the resolutions
passed by you, and the speeches of
your orators, in fact your very pres
enGe here to-day, will successfully and
effeotually settle this matter, and will
speak more eloquently and potently
than anything else we could do.
These are the real and only reasons
for assembling you here to-day,
The idea originated entirely with
us, and is meant for no other purpose
than to offer you an opportunity to
meet together and give your personal
experience regarding the health and
climate of our state, to be put in
pamphlet form and sent back TO your
friends In the north and west as mes
sages from you. At the same time
we have thought it proper to make
this convention serve the purpose of
an introduction and welcome. 1t
will be revelation 10 our own people
in Louisiana 10 know that there are
so many of you here. We want you
here and We want you to know it,
and we think it is duo to you gentle.
men who have left the grand column
which has heretofore been moving
majastically across the continent, fol-
lowing the star of empire in its west.
ward course, that you have abandoned
this trail leading in the direction of
the setting sun, not as deserters, nor
as stragglers, but under full authority
from that great army, and that you
have selected under the sign Of the
southern cross, IN the Pelican State, a
new encampment for this mighty host,
that you should be received with all
the dignity and honor which your
preference for Louisiana merits.
For this reason we have arranged
for you q series of welcomes. Know
ing your predilection for law and order
and justice, and your zeal in the mat
ter Of education and religion, our
great chief justice, Edward Bermu-
dee, learned in the law and stainless
in his private life, will welcome you
on behalf Of the Judiciary; our state
superintendent of education, Colonel
Joseph A, Breaux, an eminent citizen
and devoted 10 the interest of his
charge, will welcome You on the part
of the educational interest of the
state; and the Rev. DIR. Palmer, one
Of our most distinguished diyines,
known and loved all over this broad
land, will welcome you on the part Of
churches and religion; our honored
mayor, Jos A. Shakespeare, has left
his official duties and business cares
ta welcome you on the part Of this
city. ID. N s.. 5.3a.
There are two others who have
prepared welcomes for yon who have
never failed Louisiana in any emerg-
ency, whether in annahine orin storm;
men sometimes prove recreant to the
call Of patriotism and duty, they have
never failed; men sometimes make
mistakes, they never do; one Of them
sings Lonislana's welcome, with mel
ody as pleasing as the sound of lutes,
and ln as sweet and thrilling tones as
the lovely songsters which hide and
nestle in the floweremboWered forests
Of her native state; tho other has
touched the harp Of poesy, and its
chords responsive to her call have
given back music which Il in perfect
harmony with the purposes Of this
convention, and will float gFandlY on
down through time, forever entEined
with the history Of our state. Need
call the names Of "Pearl RiyersN and
Mary Ashley Townsend 7
Also address Of welcome On acconnt
of data and statistics Of health will be
made BIZ Dr, G. P, Wilkinson, our
able president Of the board Of health,
and AZ account Of oRr climate BY
Captain r, i. Kirkham, The efficient
and experienced United States sigma
corps director after which yonr own
speakers VIII tell their personal expo
Fiepce since soiopFning in this land of
the SUP.
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