The Opelousas courier., 1896-02-22
THE sURCOMIEITTEE'S REPORT
A PIa Adopted Whereby Party Disci-
plime May Esc Enforced and Party
Usages Carried Out.
ORLEANS. Feb, 3. IL

NEW ORLEANS, Feb. 3, 1896.
Hon. G. Harrison Parker, Chairman Demo
cratic Sta.e Executive Committee, New Or
leans, La
Dear Sir-A thorough examination into the
political situation in the parishes of st. Landry
and Acadia develops the fact that no real diff
ferenccs exist between true Democrats in
either of said parishes or district embraced
therein.
Democratic Executive Committees Of both
parishes appear to be controlled by influences
inimical tie the best interests of the party, and
that these organizations have been used to
further individual interests to an extent that,
If successful. would tveHtGate in diSrupting
the party in these parishes.
Under the gulSe of Democrats and Demo-
cratic organizations they are trading" fAe pure
ly party Offices 10 the opposition, fH' local
offices for themselves and friends.
notwithstanding the fact that thfy have
practIcaGy surrendered their functions and re-
fCse6O give the Democrats of their respective
nnIshes an opportunity to express the Demo
cratic will. they still keep up the semblance of
representing the organization of the party,
thus enabling them to mislcad sincere Demo
Gratis, who have neither the time or Opportu-
nifty for Investigation.
THE evidence, documentary and otherwise,
mostly furnished through the committees or
their friends, which We file herewith and make
part hereof, and their failure to offer any de-
tense warrants these conclusions in fact, they
refused to come before your committee or aid
them i'll any way.
I'VE have, therefore, embodied our decision
in the following resolutions, Il copy of which
we request the secretary of the executive COM
mittee to forward to the district executive
committee of said district, embracing the par
ishes of st. Landry and Acadia, and the Demo
cratic newspapers OF said parishes:
Whereas, the Democratic Executive Commit
tee of the parish of st. Landry, in conjunction
with the Democratic Executive Committee o fthe
parish of Acadia, presided over by K. c.. Webb,
have practically surrendered the functions for
which said committees were elected, by failing
and refusing to provide for Democratic noml-
nations, in accordance with party usage, or
providing any means for perpetuating a Dem
Ocratic organization i'll either of said parishes,
and
whereas, the Democratic Executive Com
mittee of the parish of Acadia. presided over
by Senator BarOusse, has not as yet been for
mally recognized, leaving both of said parishes
without proper Democratic organization and
''Whereas, the judicial and senatorial dis
trict committee composed of seven members
from each of said parishes and the fifteenth
member selected by the aforesaid fourteen
ly Democratic authority in either of said par
ishes-an authority undisputcd in any form or
by any one; therefore
.'Resolved, That the said Democratic dis
trict committee fol the parishes of st. Landry
and Acadia be and they are hereby instructed
TO proceed at once and make the necessary
provisions for holding white Democratic pri-
maries, or in such other manner as seems
proper to them, for the proper nomination and
election of candidates for the Legislature, dis
trict and parochial offices and parochial and
ulsUf1cU executive committees Tor the ensuing
four years for the parishes of st. Landry and
Acadia aud the judicial and senatorial district
embraced therein.
Resolved further, That the parochial and
district committees, when elected as herein
provided, shall organize at once, taking full
charge of the campaign within their respective
limits, doing all things possible to unity the
Democrtic party and perpetuate its principles
in their respective parishes.
JAMES Nj. FOSTER, Chairman;
JOHN FITZPATRICK,
"JERE M. GLEASON,
subcommittee of the Democratic State Ex-
ecutive Committee.
81 hereby certify the foregoing to be a true
and correct copy of the original report and de-
cision of the above subcommittee filed with me
in my capacity as secretary OF the Democratic
State Executive Committee.
III. B. M'MURRAY,
Secretary Democratic State Executive Com
mittec."