The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1905-08-10
TROOPS AND
KILOGRAMS
ADD INTEREST TO THE GULF
COAST SITUATION.
WHY'S AND WHEREFORES
Many kilograms Being Sent Out,
Which is the Exent of Conflict,
Though Two Mississippi Crews
Were Captured and Made Prisoners

Baton Rouge, La.-Gov. Blanchard
In telegram to New York pape,
gave out the following statement, de.
fining Louisiana S position in the pres
ent trouble between the quarantine
fleet of Mississippi.
1.-The position taken by Louisians
IN the Mississippi quarantine matter
Is that the authorities of Mississippi
have an undoubted and inalienable
right to prevent Louisiana boats from
landing on Mississippi shores in car
rylng out the State e policy of quaran-
tine against louisiana. But Miseissip-
pl. may not employ force to prevent
Louisiana fishermen and boatmen
from plying Louisiana waterways or
navlgable waterways of the United
States. Yet this is just what Missis-
slppi has done, with the assistance
| may say connivance- the United
States revenue cutter Winona.
Armed qarantine boats Of the
State of Mississippi invaded Lake
Borgne, which is entirely within the
State OF Louisiana, and part of the
nigh sea only for purposes Of naviga-
tlon, and seized Louisiana boats,
which they turned over to the cutter
Wlnona, which towed them to Ship
Island, off the coast of Mississippi.
The Black Flag Suggested.
ITO properly comprehend the ex-
tnent Of Mississippi's unwarranted in
truslon it must be understood that all
this was done in Louisiana waters,
by armed men of Mississippi, in a
time Of peace. The quarantine guards
OF Mississippi did not ask permission
OF the Governor of louisiana to enter
Louisiana territory under arms, as is
required by law. They invaded the
State, both by land and water, and
not only prevented fishermen and oys-
termen from carrying on their daily
avocatlons, but actually seized and
detained Louisiana boats. Others were
chased by the patrol boats. To have
treated the invaders as pirates would
almost have been justified under the
circumstances.
When the matter was first brought
to my attention, | was inclined to dis
credit the reports Of unwarranted ag-
gresslon on the part Of the armed quar-
anime guards of Mississippi. Some
armed soldiers, employed in enforcing
the Mississippi quarantine, had cross
ed into Louisiana territory at Pearl
river. This was wholly without war
rant In law, but it had no,evil conse-
quences, and it was sufficient to pro-
test against the encroachment.
But deliberate invasion of Louisi-
ana waters, interference with Leuisi-
ana fishermen and oystermen, and un-
warranted seizure of Louisiana ships,
was another thing. I felt that it was
my duty, as Governor Of louisiana,
not only to take proper steps to pro-
vide against recurrence of these out
RACES, but to seek to arrest and punish
those armed trespassers of Mississippi
who were still in Louisiana waters,
and consequently within the jurisdic-
ton of the Louisiana criminal courts.
wired protest to Gov. Varda-
man OF Mississippi, and received in re-
ply the assurance that violations Of
Louisiana rights would be prohibited.
As, however, found upon investiga-
ton that armed patrol boats Of Mis-
sissippi were still committing depreda-
lions in Louisiana waters, and showed
no signs of desisting, I ordered Com
mander Bostick Of the Louisiana Ma
val Brigade, to repair, with sufficient
feet and force, to Lake Borgne, Chef
Menteur, the Rigolets and Pearl river
and adopt measures to protect the in
terests of Louisiana.
Stern Steps Outlined.
In order to facilitate the work Of
the fleet, as we'll as to encompass
the punishment of the Mississippi
trespassers in competent Louisiana
courts of justice, l instructed the dis
trict attorneys Of the parishes Of Or
leans and St. Bernard, as we'll as the
criminal sheriffs of those two parishes
to accompany the expedition and to
seize every armed vessel found to be
unlawfully In Louisiana waters, and
to arrest their crews and hold them
for the grand jury of the respective
parish in which the trespass occurs.
81 have formally protested to the
Secretary of the Treasury and to Sur
geon General Wyman against the cut
Strike Order Obeyed.
Helena, Mont. Dispatches from