The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1903-11-14

rage. Naturally, Captain Jastremsk
aligned himself with his people, and he was
| in every effort to resist Radical and negro
| rule Throughout, the long period Of Recon
| struction and to redeem the State from alien
misrule and oppression.
In the Baton Rouge riot, which occurred
at the November election in 1870, as fore
man of Independence Fire Company No. 2.
with his gallant men, and those of Wash
-. ington Fire Company No. !, under Fore
man McCabe, he responded to the call OF
Mayor Elam to turn out to preserve the
peace and at their request took command Of
the assembled citizens, by whom order was
restored. In 1875, he organized the Baton
Rouge Zouaves, an independent company,
which gave no inconsiderable support to the
movement for redemption. In April, 1876
he was triumphantly elected Mayor OF
Baton Rouge, about the same time of the
election of Mayor Endom, at Monroe.
These were the two first Democratic Mayors
elected in the State, the forerunners of
the liberation which eliminated in Novem-
Der with the election of Tilden for President
and Nichols for Governor. Mayor Jastrem-
ski was surrounded with grave difficulties.
The State and parish governments were in
Republican hands. The laws were pr.ct-
cally suspended and the situation was
chaotic. General John X. Brooke, since
Governor General of Cuba, with 4 battalion
special military district, with headquarters
at the Baton Rouge barracks. He
open Republican partisan, and sent out fire.
quently squads of mounted troops to over
awe the people and give heart to the Re-
ko:-
At this same time, brother, MIR.
John Jastremski, was Chairman of the
Democratic Parish Executive Committee, and
with the .co-operation of the mass of the
white people of the parish, was assisting the
mt for redemption. In consequence
of this union of forces, the effect of the
presence of the troops and of the United
States Marshals, sent up from New Orleans,
was overcome and East Baton Rouge went
Democratic and for Tilden and Nichols, by
seven hundred majority. Mayor Jastrem
ski was reelected in 1873, and 1850, and IN
1873, as Mayor and director of the
Howard Association, assisted in keeping
down panic and in the care of the sick
and distressed during the yellow fever epid
emic of that year. With Hons. Andrew S.
Heron and Robt. T. Young, he was sent as
a delegate to represent the parish in the
Convention of 1879. By the
JOINT efforts of this delegation the restora-
ton of the State Capital to Baton Rouge
was decreed. For the part he had taken in
the matter, Mayor Jastremski pre-
sented with handsome gold watch by his
fellow citizens. In 1881, he was welded to
Mrs. Sailie l.. Ashton, of Shreveport, a
daughter of former Associate Justice Thos.
T. Land, of the State Supreme Court. The
same year Governor Wilt appointed him
Brigadier General in the State National
Guard, also Vice-President of the Louisiana
State University and A. and NJ. College.
lie was reaPpointed to these positions by
Governor S. ID. McEnery. He became
State Printer in 1882, and in 1884 was
unan,m ously elected Chairman of the Dem
ocratic State Central Committee, conduct
ing successfully amid difficulties the Cleve-
land campaign of that year in the State.
He is journalist by profession and
served for ten years President of the
Louisiana Pres, Association. From 1898 to
1897, he was United States Consul at Cal
lao, Peru, and conversng about him with
Senator Cafery, President Cleveland ro-
marked that he was the best United States
Consul in South America. In 1899, by ap.
Pointment of Governor Foster, he served as
Commissioner of Agriculture and Immigra-
ton, and in 1900, he was chosen by Gov
ernor Heard as his Private Secretary
At various times he has been honored
with positions of high trust, and he is a
Past Grand Chancellor of the Knights of
Pythias of Louisiana. In 1901, his COM
rades elected him unanimously Major
General of the Louisiana Division, U. c.
", and in that capacity he commanded the
Division at the Dallas Reunion. These,
briefly stated, are the testimonials upon
which he solicits the support of:hs fellow
Democrats in his candidacy for the guber-
material nomination.