St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1894-08-11

BYLAWS of the parish organization. w
/ furthermore promise and obligate ourselve
to vote and use our influence, eollectlvel
and individually, to establish and maintain
White Supremacy in all our elections, II
through the instrumentality of White Prl
marieS.
4 The amendment was read in full and
on motion of Hon. John n. Ogden, adop
ted as read.
4 The amendments as adopted We're dis
cussed at length by Hon. Thos. Fl. Lewis
i and Judge e. North Cullom.
i Hon. Gilbert l.. Dupre rose and stated
that there We're some persons presen
who did not understand English, and
by request, read the proceedings il
French.
Mr.. Thos. II. Lewis offered the follow
ing resolution:
| ResolUed, That the representatives
| present in this meeting be requested tc
| begin the organization at once of Aux
Hilary Leagues and report progress tC
the Chairman of this meeting, III order
| that he may call meeting of the mem
| bers of the Governing Committee as
soon as possible to complete it's organi-
Zation.
/ The resolution was read in full and, Oh
motion of Mr.. Robert Lafleur, adopted
as read.
Hon. John n. Ogden next addressed
| the meeting.
On motion of DR.. Childs,
| ResoIUed, That copies of the proceed
| lngs of this meeting be furnished to the
/ local fnr In iao hat
| the chairman and secretaries be appoin-
| ted a committee to solicit subscriptions
| to pay the cost of printing these proceed
| ings in pamphlet form for general dis
tribution in the parish.
Mr.. Thomas Fl. Lewis offered the fol-
| lowing as resolution:
| WHEREAS, Reports have been indus
triously circulated throughout the par
| ish by the enemies of this organization,
characterizing its members as "White
| Caps and Regulators -
Be 1t resolUed, That we denounce all
such statements as false and totally un-
founded, and we declare that we do not
intend to attempt to set aside or over
| ride the law, nor in any way to interfere
with the colored population in the
peaceable pursuit of their legitimate
aYoeations. And we furthermore de-
clare that the influence and authority of
this organization will be executed to
protect them in their individual pur-
suits and to prevent lawless persons
from disturbing them in their homes as
publicly charged.
Be 1T further reSotGed, That the peace,
welfare and safety of society rest in the
hands of the white people who have the
chief interest in maintaining and pre-
serving law and order, and therefore
these great public interests can have
~ ~
composed as it is, exclusively of the
white men of the parish.
BE at further resotged, That the chief
danger to society in this parish and the
greatest cause of disturbance to it's peace
and well-being heretofore, and the chief
obstacle in the way of the suppression
of laWlessness and the orderly enforce
ment of the law in this parish, has been,
and is now, the fact that the balance of
political power is in the hands of the
negro voters organized and controlled
by few men intent only upon securing
office; and the only way to place the
enforcement of the law upon firm and
permanent basis is to do away with
their controlling influence of this ig-
norant, corrupt and irresponsible force
in our politics, and SO manage as to make
every otfice-holder in the district, parish
and wards responsible directly to a
white constituency for the election, and
consequently for their official acts. AS
long as the negroes can be so massed
and voted as to hold the balance of pow
er in our elections, there will be danger
to the peace of society, because the con-
tinued resort to this negro vote and its
use to oyerslaugh the white vote will
inevitably provoke violence and law
lessness in the parish, because the white
people of this parish are resolved that,
come what may, we must have such
change in our politics, so that they shall
be exclusively controlled by white yo-
ters of the parish.
Be 1T further res0tUed, That this Lea
que proposes to secure White Supremacy
in our elections by acting as an auxif-
liary to white primaries, and it will
exercise all its power and influence to
bring about the nomination of all candi-
dates for office by and through white
primaries, and after they are so nomina-
ted to exert its utmost power and in
tluence to solidify the white vote in
their support.
Be at further resolOed, That this or
ganization will discourage and discoun-
tenance independent candidates for
office, and will support only such candi-
dates as will submit their claims to
white primaries and will faithfully
abide by the result.
Be 1T further reS0iUed, That this Lea
que is formed in the interest of no can
didate or set of candidates, nor in aid or
sympathy of any faction, but the chief
end and aim is to do away with factions
and factional feelings among us by
uniting the white votes in onr common
organization solely for the good of So
ciety, and in which every member shall
be entitled to, and shall receive, equal
consideration and voice regardless of
past differences and contests.
The resolution was read in full and,
on motion, adopted as read.
Judge Z. II. Lewis and NIL. Swords
then addressed the meeting.
The following was received:
WILLIE PLATTE, La, Aug. 5, 1894.
To the President and Members of the
White League of st. Landry:
My father being i'll and unable to at
tend to our business, and as we have no
clerk, it is impossible for me to attend
your meeting; but believe me, my SYM
pathy, my soul, mind and body are in
concert with your movements, and /
trust you will be crowned with success.
Very Respectfully,
Il. E. yfDRINE.
Hon. G. L. Dupre offered resolution
thanking the chairman and secretaries
for the efficient services rendered.
On motion of Mr.. Robt. Lafieur, the
meeting adjourned subject to the call of
the chairman. y.K. IRIoN,
CHAs. S. ELMs, Chairman.
H. III. BURLEIGH,
Secretaries.