The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1902-08-02
Letters from the People.
A CRYING NEED.

We read from time to time In the dai-
lies reports from Southwestern Louisi-
aua and Southeastern Texas which
speak not we'll for that part OF the rice
belt. We hear of wells being pumped
dry and of bayous 30 impregnated with
salt water that 1t cannot be used for
irrigation purposes. Such disasters will
naturally be followed BY a curtailed
acreage and q decreased yield. The
question as to why this should be an
swers itself-laws Of supply and de-
mand.
It has been said that wise men profit
Ivy the experience Of others. So let Us
Of the Teche district be wise and learn
we'll the lesson assigned US by our wes-
tern friends. Let US not invest big mo-
ney In an enterprise which will prove as
big financial failure as the Hunters
Irrigation Co. Let US not put another
pump along the Teche before We get wa
ter from the Red as we'll as from the
Atchafalaya. Let us leave no stone I'M
turned until the waters Of the COurta-
bleau are forced to the Gulf through
VermiIlion and the Teche.
The question Of how to have 1t done Is
a question Of how and for whom to vote.
Are we going to vote again for man
who has been representing us for four
terms and whose promise to get rs the
waters of the Courtableau has materia-
liked into nothing. or are we to leave
the nomination open to all and nomi-
nate the man who pledges himself to se-
cure the necessary appropriation Even
though the man should fail he certainly
would have dOue as much as the present
Congressman has done.
Congressman BroussardWent to Cuba
to investigate the condition In which
the Cuban planter was in. impaired to
Senate committee the results Of his own
Investigations, and made an impassioned
speech against Cuban reprOcity that
drew the indolent members back to
their desks and filled the galleries with
attentive listeners. We congratulate
Mr.. Brouseard on bis masterful effort.
The sugar industry was imperiled and
Mr.. BrOussard rushed to Its rescue with
all the vigor Of youth and all the wis
dom of the statesman. Mr.. Broussard
was evidently 90 imbued with ways and
means Of helping the sugar planters
that the Rivers and Harbors Bill passed
the House on Its way to the Senate with
out Mr.. Broussard's perception.
Mr.. Broussard's effort In behalf of the
sugar planters contrast we'll indeed with
the effort he male to fulfill his Courta.
blsau promises; the one was characteri-
zed by its sincerity and activity, the
other by Its incerity and inactivity. II
Is strange-passing strange-that Mr.
Broussard's effort to fulfill a promise
should be so conspicuous by its silence.
Many will think it ridiculous to SCI
one write about downing such q man as
Mr.. Broussard for having failed to &C.
complish such an Insignificant task. II
must be admitted that the task is tri-
vial one. It calls for only 100000
What is 100000 as compared to $685.
600. 10000 -65O?If the sum appropriated fol
rivers and harbors were DIVIDED equally
among the members of the House, each
member would get more than 100000
How Insignificant
| Think for an instant what the con
summation Of such q small project
would mean to the Valleys Of the Yer
million and the Teche. Contrary to thu
lave OF motion, the industrial wheel oil
progress 90 started would ever move
arc und the dial of time with an ever &C
CELEBRATED motion. Prosperity would
flow In all the channels of trade. Tn,
proud shield Of success would ever mask
the dark and dreaded face Of Imminent
ruin that now stares rs in the face. Il
would become land OF plenty smilins
unto happy, prosperous. and contentet
people.
Knowing full we'll that Mr.. Broussart
will be returned to Congress. we only
ask Of him to make as determined an eff
fort to help the rice industry ito say
nothing about all other Industries alons
those bayous which must face the peril,