The Opelousas courier., 1902-10-25
Democratic Mass Meeting.

ed with men on last Monday after,
noon, the occasion being the rati.
fication meeting of the Democrats
of this parish, of the nomination
of Hon. Arsene p. Pujo as theil
candidate for Congress.
The meeting was called to order
| by Laurent Dupre, ESQ. who urged
the Democrats Of St. Landry to
stand together for the nominee OF
their party, and at the conclusion
of bis remarks he nominated
Judge E. I. Lewis as permanent
chairman, and he was unanimous
ly elected. William j. Sandoz,
Esq, was elected secretary. A
long list of viee-presidents was
then read.
Judge Lewis, in assuming the
chair, addressed the voters pres
ent, declaring that he would sup
port the nominee of the party,
and that it was the duty of every
Democrat to do the same. lie
paid a high compliment to Mr..
Pujo, and demonstrated how and
why he as q Democrat could serve
the people of this district better
than Republican in the halls of
Congress.
Hon. A. p. Pujo was then in
troduced and spoke for fully 80
minutes, holding the attention of
his hearers throughout. He took
occasion to thank the people of
this parish for their loyal support
at the second primary, land pledged
himself, if elected, to do his ut
most to serve them faithfully and
earnestly. The policy of the Re-
publican party on the three vital
questions of the tariff, trusts and
imperialism was explained and
then contrasted with the course
of the Democrats. His argument
was clear and concise statement
of the issues, and demonstrated
that the Democratic policy of a
tariff for revenue only (Which in
sured duty on rice and sugar
because this country did not pro-
duce enough of either for home
consumption, and the party had
always considered these products
legitimate revenue-producing art
icles), was not only the best for
the mass Of the American people,
but that the Republican theory of
sprotection'' was Il systematic
robbery Of everybody in the coun-
try except the favored manufae-
turers, who actually sold their
wares in foreign countries at an
average of 40 per cent. less than
they forced the home people to
pay for the same goods. He
showed how this policy was re-
sponsible for the trusts and COM
binations Of capital which of late
years had fastened their vice-like
grip upon the throat of commerce,
and affirmed that the present adj
ministration was not making and
had not previously made an earn
est effort to prevent the violation
of the antitrust laws now on the
statute books, or to pass other
laws that would meet the exigen-
eies of the times. He said that he
was in favor of granting liberty to
the Filipinos and leaving their
islands to be governed and con-
trolled by them, retaining only
sufficient territory there for the
naval and military requirements
of our country.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Pujo's S
speech a committee on resolutions
was appointed, and pending its
report, John w. Lewis, Esq, was
called upon and promptly respon-
ded. urging the Democrats of st.
Landry to come out on Tuesday,
Nov. 4th, and cast their ballots
for the nominee of their party.
The following resolutions were
reported by the committee, and
after being read by the secretary.
were adopted by unanimous vote
Resolved, That We reafllrm our devotion t,
Democratic principles and our allegiance tt
the Democratic party organization, national
state and district, and to the last Democratic
| platform adopted at Kansas City, which wa
| approved by the largest popular vote over cas-
for Democratic candidate for President. ans
every utterance oil which was inspired by tru
Democratic sentiment, including such portion
thereof as may have been superseded or modi
| fed by subsequently occurring conditions.
Resolved, further, That we congratulate Il,
Democrats of the State upon the presenthapp.
condition OF harinany and nuion existing Ii
the ranks OF the party. promising as If doc
i continued control of the State government II
all OF its branches as long as the party organ
4 ization shall secure to the people the c0ntinu
IaRee of the present wise and economical ad
rninisfration of the State government.
4 Resolved, further, That we congratulate the
Democrats oil Ht. Landry parish upon the res
tOration of their broken ranks and the retnrl
to the fold OF most of the Democrats that hal
heretofore ceased their allegiance to tho part,