The Opelousas courier., 1896-02-08
The Harmonizing Committee.

| me subcommittee of the State EX
ecutlve Committee, appointed to en-
deayOr to bring about harmony among
the Democrats Of this district, consisted
OF Col. j. NJ. Foster, OF Caddo, and
Messrs. John Fitzpatrick and j. NJ
Gleason, Of Orleans: Messrs. Foster
and Gleason reached here on Saturday
and had frequent interviews with Dem.
ocrats Of all shades Of opinion, but were
unable to bring about an agreement
and on Sunday afternoon Mayor Fitz-
patrick arrived. That night public
session OF the committee was held at the
Court House, which was opened by the
| reading of the resolution adopted 10y
the State Convention, yesting plenary
powers for the conduct of the campaign
in the State Central Committee the
resolution or that body creating the Ex-
Ocutlve Committee and transmitting
to 1t the same plenary powers, and the
resolution creating this subcommittee
OF three and vesting it with full power
to act in the premises. Having thus
established beyond cavii or dispute their
right and authority to deal with the
matters in hand, the committee an-
'n0unced that half an hour would be al
lowed each side to lay before them the
facts concerning the dissensions iii the
district, and that like regulations would
apply to their hearing OF the st. Lam
dry and Acadia cases.
hlr. T.. 3. DubuissOn then arose and in
the presence of Il large audience briefly
rehearsed the disgraceful facts with
which our readers are already familiar.
He first submitted the resolutions
adopted at Durio's lake last July pledg-
ing the Thompson faction to tho hold
ing of white primaries for the selection
OF Democratic candidates for Office J;
uext, the resolutions Of the Parish Com
mittee of Dec. 1st, repudiatiug those
pledges and calling mass meetings for
the selection Of delegates and Parish
Convention for the nomination Of par
crfct Committee for primaries to select
candidates for district officers next,
the unauthorized call for q District Con-
veDtion for the same purpose, signed
by the chairmen OF the parish commit
tees Of st. Landry and Acadia ; next,
the resolutions adopted by that con
ventiUn by which it was attempted to
disband the party in the face of the
enemy; next, newspaper clippings
charging members of the Parish Com
mittee with dickering with the Popu
lists and assisting in the formation of IL
district and parish ticket in opposition
to the Democracy. He also atverted to
the fact that the Parish Committee had
not even met within the time it itself
had fixed for the purpose of arranging
preIimiDaries for holding the conven
ton it had called, and for the election
of delegates to which it had ordered
primaries to be held on March 3d. The
chain Of evidence showing the treach
cry to the party of some OF its trusted
leaders was complete, conclusive,
crushing and Overwhelming. 1t is
pity that every Democrat in the dis
trict was not IA spectator and Il witness
to these proceedings.
Not one count in that awful indict-
ment was denied. Although repeated
ly called upon by the subcommittee, no
one vsBtnred to speak for the Parish
Committee.
MIR. Geo. X. Bradford then submitted
the Barousse side of the Acadia case.
No one appeared for the other side. A
letter was submitted. however, from
Dr.. Webb, chairman Of one of the dual
pr rish Committees, in which it was sub
stanti..ljy held that the supreme au-
thorities Of the party had no right to
investigate or uass upon the matters at
issue. Z.
A letter OF similar import, signed by
Mr.. Estorge, chairman of our Parish
Committee, had been handed in earlier
in the proceedings. These, barring a
few interruptions. were the only cyl
dences given of the existence OF the Es-
torge- Webb faction, although . num-
Der of its principal adherents were in
the room.
The subcommittee then invited any
one present who was in possession OF
any facts bearing upon the questions at
issue to submit them fol- tLeir en-
ligI,tentnent, when Mr. T. Ii. Lewis
made a few pertinent remarks, but the
silent side remained silent as before.
They evidently realized that theirs was
a bad case-~a very bad case-and that
the least they said about it the better
off they would be. -,
The proceedings were conducted with
nerfect order aud decotum, and al
though the Court House was pretty well
tilled.a respectful silence was preserved
tl,roughouttthe proceedings ! 10 view
Of the showing made, there can be no
doubt as to the nature Of the decision
that will be reached by the subcom nit
tee. They left for their respective
honesOn Monday.