St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1894-08-11
General Meeting Of the White
Supremacy League.
orELousAs, La, Aug. 4th, 1894

OPELoUsAs, La, Aug. 4th, 1894.
The officers, members and sympathi
zcrs of the White Supremacy League
met at the Opera House at O'Clock p. m
Hon. Gilbert L. Dupre, by request
called the meeting to order.
DIR. Y. X. Irion was made Chairman
with the following-named gentlemen as
Vice-Presidents: Drs. VIM. Childs and
w. +. Clopton, Messrs. Honore Fusilier
j. Il. S. Manuel, Jr., Erteluce Lafieur
j. A. Smith, U. L. Blackshear, Felix
Miller and c. w. Ward.
On motion of Hon. G. l.. Dupre, Messrs
Chas. $. Elms and III. I'll. Burleigh were
chosen as Secretaries.
The committee on organization sub
mitted the following report, which was
unanimously adopted:
OPELoUsAs, La, July IL, 1894.
The undersigned white voters of this
g,4rish have this day organized the
White Supremacy League of the Parish
of ST. Landry. The object. of the organi-
zation is to do away with the dominat-
ing influence of the negro vote and to
secure thesupremacy of the white voters
in all elections, and especially of parish
with the negro as voter since the cleo
tive franchise was conferred upon him
demonstrates that he is corrupt and
corrnpting influence in our elections,
and the fact thar; 'nerically, the negro
vote equals the white vope in this parish,
and this immense power Is easily ham
died by few designing white men,
makes his influence i'll elections con-
slant menacing danger. The election
just held and the facility with which
the negro vote was organized and sotidly
1nassed at the polls by the limited use
OF money and the unlimited use of
whiskey in the hands of few white
men for their own selfish ends and
against the best interest of society, shows
that the negro voter instead of using his
freedom and the opportunities given
him for education to cast his ballot in
telligently and honestly, is, if possible,
becoming more corrupt and eorruptible.
We have elections of supreme impor-
tance to our parish and state coming in
the near future; elections that will
deeply &c lcern our permanent as we'll
as our temporary welfare. Those cleo
fions in this parish will certainly be
controlled by the negro vote, holding
the balance ofpoWer, and be directed by
a few INSCRIPTIONS white men, unless
determined and concerted action be at
once taken by the white voters through
out the parish.
While the negro voters are willing
tools, still they could not and would not
organize themselves and vote solidly
against the interest of the white people
We're it not for the aid and leadership of
few white men in this parish and they
could accomplish nothing with the ne
gro vote unless there be some division
among the white voters. Unfortunate
Iy, there has been much factional spirit
and always enough division among the
xyIh fn to Ia IA q
trolling factor in our elections. The
measure, then, of supreme Importance,
is to unite and solidify the white people
of our parish. TO do this we must put
away all factional spirit and, forgetting
our past differences, come together in
perfect accord. With these purposes in
view, and at the same time with no feel
ing of opposition or unfriendliness to the
colored voter who has heretofore cast
his ballot unbought and uninfiuenced
by money or by whiskey or by bad men,
we pledge this organization to the work
of harmonizing and unifying the white
people of our parish, and we consecrate
ii to that sole purpose and object. TO
that end we establish and ordaln the
following:
Ist. The object of this organization is
TO secure the supremacy of the white
voters of the parish in all elections.
Ind. There shall be an auxiliary lea
que formed at every precinct.
3rd. All white men of the parish who
favor establishing white supremacy in
orr elections and who will pledge them
selves to aid this organization in the
accomplishment of that end, and who
will sign their names to these regula-
tions, may become members OF this or
ganiZation, and are cordially and earn
estly invited to do SO without regard to
past factional divisions.
4th. The central authority shall be
lodged in n Governing Committee with
headquarters at Opelousas, and to con-
sist of four members from each police jul
nv ward and nine from the parish atlarge,
Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary
and Treasurer, to be selected by the
first general parish meeting at which
the organization is to be effected.
9TH. The Governing Committee and
the officers of the same shall remain in
office until the next general election is
held and the result known and estab-
lished; provided, however, that two
thirds of the committee may at any time
make any change in the officers deemed
necessary by them.
9th. The Governing Committee may
make such bylaws and rules for the gov
ernment of the organization as they may
deem necessary, a majority of whom
shall constitute quorum for the tran
saction of any business.
9TH. In case any member may be una
BILE to attend meeting of the commit
tee, he shall give his proxy to his col
league, and in case both are unable to
attend, they may give their proxies to
any other member of the committee.
Signed:
GILBERT Il. DUPRE, w. /. HARGRoDER,
II. G.. LYONS, J. Il. BULLER,
B. GUILBEAu, ADELMA GuIDRY,
G. MoRNHINvEG, JULES QUEBEDEAU,
w. +. CLoPToN, w. S. FRAZEE,
+. A. SMITH, DAVID MEcHE,
J, j. BARRY, w. G. SCoTT,
JOHN n. OGaEN, J. Il. DALEY,
R. LAFLEUR, Il, NORTH CULLoM,
M. l.. SWORDS, v. X. IRON,
THos. IL. LEWIS, p. d. WILLIAMS,
H. FUsILIER, @. d. FoNTENoT,
III. DOSSMANN, s. F0NTENoT,
s. GAUsEY, OLIN VIDRINE,
A. L.. FoSTENoT, Il. S. RICHARD,
w. EVANS, JOSEPH BoRDELoN,
ALEX STAGG.
Mr.. 7. r. Carroll offered the following
amendment to Section 4
The members of the Governing Com
mittee. from the respective Police Jury |
wards, shall be selected at some future
time hy the Auxilliary Leagues from
said wards when organized; and as soon
as q sufficient number of members of
the Governing Board shall have been
selected from the several Police Jury
wards fsay not less than l5l, they, to-
uether with the nine members at large, |
Shall assemble at the call of the Chair
man of this meeting for the purpose of
the organization of the Governing Conn