The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1897-01-20
Takes Action.
Meeting Held to Assist Drouth
Sufferers.

Pursuant to call, about twenty-five citi-
lens met at the courthouse, on Sunday,
Jan. II, 1897, at3 o'clock, for the purpose
OF taking steps to assist the drouth sui
ferers OF North Louisiana.
Hon. Julius F. ariail called the meeting
to order, aud moved that Hon. It. w.
Bolton be elected Chairman. The motion
was unanimously adopted, and Mr.. Bolton
took the chair.
Ga motion, Mr.. E. II. Mccormick, edi-
tor of the Town TALK. was elected Secre-
tsry.
The Chairman then outlined the pur-
pose for which the meeting WAS called,
and urged that the people OF Alexandria
and Rapides parish, who had made boun-
tiiul crops, and wers In a prosperous con-
dtuion, should do what they could to re-
lieve the wants of the people north OF
Red river. He said that when women
and children, almost in our midst, were
starving, it was no time to be idle, but all
should lend a helping hand and relieve
these people who never before found it
necessary to ask for charity. They are .
proud people, said Mr.. Bolton, and moth
ing but the rulings Of Providence, over
which they had no control, would fad
them asking for help from tholr neigh
bors.
The Chairman then introduced Mr.. G.
L. Moore, of Jackson parish, who stated
In a clear and concise manner the dastt-
tuition Of the people of his parish. Among
other statements he made was that there
are 1.O40 families In Jackson parish In q
destitute condition, and many Of them on
the verge of starvation. The merchants
of the parish are unable to give further
credit. Mr.. Moore stated that he had
visited the people on Red river, this
parish, and organized q relief club at the
Lewis school house, and that section
would donate a large lot OF cotton seed
for planting this years crop. He thanked
the people of Rapidss for the kindness
shown him as the representative OF his
people.
The Chairman next introduced Mr..
Tannehill, d VIM parish, who pictured
the distress and suffering OF the people In
his parish He said that no one could
conceive the distress Of the drouth-
stricken people until they saw their con-
dition. He had read of the drouths In
, the Western States, but had no idea what
! they were until his parish had been Wis
tied with a like afnlction. They had no
. rain to do any good from April to Sep
TENDER last year, and there was nothing
for stock or hogs to eat and the dead AMI
mails were lying In heaps In every d'rec-
ton. Mr.. TnnnehiIl said he asked for
nothing for himself, but plead with the
! people OF South Louisiana to relieve his
9 starving neighbors, who could not borrow
a dollar even when they owned their own
homes, because there was no money IN
= the country, and the stores had pia,ed
over their doors, "positively no credit"
/. Sheriff Crawford, Of VIM parish, Q
member of the State Relief Committee
made a strong appeal for all the drou:t
sufferers. and gave a word picture OF ths
distress hs had seen in the northern par
n ishes while acting on the Relief Com,
mittee.
L Gen. Geo. O. Watts moved that th'
Chairman of the meeting appoint q com
e mittse Of i've to solicit subscriptions o
money and provisions for the drouth sui
ferers OF VIM and jackson parishes.
{ Hon. J.. F. Ariail stated thet as n o
Is the Representatives of Rapides parish, b
Il felt it incumbent on him to appeal In be
/, half of the few drouth distressed peopl
of the hill section as indicated by letter
Il received from MI. B. F. Petty OF Fiat
|. wood, aud MI. j. NJ. Shackeltord Of Co
tile ward. He therefore offered to amen
the motion Of Gen. Watts, by p~rovidin
that Rapides parish be included, and tbs
1. after satisfying the necessities OF thi
(Rapides) parish, the Relief Commits
then to donate the surplus to the sufsrer
l. Of Jackson and Vim.
IN Gen. Watts and Mr.. Jonas Rossnth'
" opposed the amendment of Mr.. Atrial
but were In favor OF otherwise relievin
the people Of Rapides. They thought til
,u donations made to the committee az
ts pointed by this meeting should go to tt
- sufferers OF VIM and Jackson.
Hon. John G. Ryan was in favor
l committees being appointed in each wa
to solicit subscriptions.
20 Mi. Ariail, with the understanding tn
the few drouth sufferers of Rapides pa
III ish would be taken care OF hereafte
III withdrew his amendment.
The original motion of Gen. Watts VI
:. then put and carried unanimously.
The Chair appointed the following gel
Gu tismen on the committee to solicit su'
Ill sc~riptions: Gen. Geo. o. Watts, B. =
Bringhurst, T. N. Miles, Jonas Rosel
thai and Z. F. Crockett.
H. On motion OF Gen. Watts, the Chat
'ra man, Hon. G. W. Bolton, and also He
i'll j. G. White, were added to the committt
and Mr.. Bolton to be the chairman OF t
y committee. The motion prevailed
unanimous vote,
he Mr.. White asked the representatives
20 the parishes what the people needed mo
and was told that meat and corn mt
would be the most acceptable. Mr.. Tia
he nehill stated the best points to ship 50
rs. plies to VIM parish, and Mr.. Moo
stated that all supplies intended for JAG
uS son parish should be shipped to w.
Carroll, Ruston, La. The postofice q
ver dress OF Mr.. Carroll is Vernon, Jacks
parish, La.
There being no further business, t
81 meeting adjourned SIM die.
or. G. W. BOLTON, President