The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1904-05-27
PARISH DIVISIONlSTS DEFEATED
Report Made on Carver
Bill by Vote Of 3 to 5.

The committee on parochlal analrS
at Baton Rouge after hearing
lengthy discussion both pro and con
on the division of Calcasieu parish,
the subdivision to be named Foster !
with Jennings as the parish seat,
reached a vote upon the proposition
late Wednesday afternoon, the vote
standing 8 to against any division.
This action of the committee virtually
kills the proposition, although it is
probable the minority will carry it to
the floor of the Legislature.
The first intimation received in
Welsh that the Carver bill, which
provides for the division, had been
reported unfavorable was conveyed
in a telegram from Mayor Robinson
to the Journal, which read: tCalca-
sieu remains undivided the largest
and richest parish in Louisiana. The
bill to create Foster parish has just
been reported unfavorable."
This bit of news was received short
ly after o'clock Wednesday evening
and upon being bulletined created
much enthusiasm.
| The hearing of the division propo-
sition before the committee was the
feature of the day at Baton Rouge.
Large delegations. were on hand.
/ Jennings was represented by nearly
100 people, several ladies, all wear
i ing red badges on which was printed
the word Foster and all fighting
| for division.
Other portions of the parish, Lake
Charles, Welsh, Roanoke, Fenton,
Lake Arthur and Oberlin, were on
hand with large delegations, all wear.
ing white badges bearing the words
Omitted Calcasieu." CO E. Wooter
assumed the leadership for the divis.
ionists, and Chas. p. Martin, OF
Welsh, was made leader of the oppo
sition.
Mr.. Wooten opened the case ant
presented forceful argument for di
vision, referring to the enormous sal
aries received by parish officials
Welsh's opposition to the division
he declared, was due to the fact tina
, Welsh wanted the parish seat.
After the conclusion of Mr.. Woot
en- IS talk Mr.. Martin, for the opposi
!, ton, introduced DR.. Cooper, and al
one correspondent put it, 'Proceede,
calmly to admit that Welsh was
small town, and as lac spoke he reelet
off about ten yards of rolled up pc
tition from Welsh and other towns i
his ditrict against division containin
about 600 names" The simplicit
: and effectiveness of the act brought
q burst of applause from the assemble
. "anti-division" delegates and net
trails. Mr.. Cooper spoke briefly, an
- confined himself to answering fe
points in Mr.. Wooten's address.
Mayor Robinson, of Welsh, spoil
- in opposition to division, basing h
= opposition upon business principle
He said that in the new parish the o
4 binary ten-mill tax would not suffi
! to erect the needed buildings and
ID same time carry on the business
ID government. He said the tax nece
sary would approximate fifty cen
- per acre. He pointed out that {
titles would have to be transferred
the new parish I. j. Mills, of Fe
ton, A. v. Miller, of Lake Arthu
70 and j. Nj. Booze, Of Roanoke, a
u, several from Lake CHARLES also spo
ne against division
ue Alba Haywood, the oil magnate
he Jennings, demonstrated his ability
RS an orator and humorist in his spec
ar favoring the division. He devot
p some time to answering argumel
Y against division, and squelched 81
ISL eral Interruptions. MIR. Reywoo
speech was roundly applauded, a