The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1905-05-06
last NIGHTS Meeting.

:
and enthusiastic audience. assembled
| In response to the call for mass
meeting in the interest Of the bond
issue to be voted on today by the
qualified property holders OF Donald
sonvilIe. All classes Of the people
were represented Ia the gathering, and
there were many ladies in attendance.
Shortly after 5 O'Clock the curtain
went up and the meeting was called TO
order by E. N. Pugh, president OF the
parish school board, who invited Chas.
A. Maurin, candidate for mayor, to
act as chairman. Mr.. Maurin was
greeted with hearty applause and made
| a neat little introductory speech, ex-
| planning in plain and cogent manner
the provisions of the bond ordinance
| and the great benefits to be derived by
| the town from its adoption. He laid
particular stress upon the extension
| of the WaterWorks system into portions
of the corporation now without water
supply or fire protection, the conse-
auent reduction of fire insurance rates,
and the work Of street Improvement
which was to be carried on simultane-
ously with the building of new
schoolhouse.
JanYier Hebert sang a sentimental
ballad, aAcross the Bridge Of Gold, ("
with fine effect, and was warmly APP
plauded. He was accompanied on the
piano by Miss Domathilde Comeaux.
Hon. Walter Lemann was introduced
and held the undivided attention of
the assembly with an address that
added new laurels to his already we'll
earned reputation as an eloquent and
impressive public speaker. He depicted
the great advantages of public educa-
ton, and dwelt upon the obligation OF
the people to provide their children
with a school building which not only
afforded the necessary facilities for
effective instruction, but adequate pro-
lection Of health and life. With apt
quotations and effective originality
Mr.. Lemann presented the issue in all
its phases and urged his hearers to
support the bond ordinance.
After music by the st. Joseph Band.
the chairman introduced E. n. Pugh
as the next speaker. and it goes with
out saying that Mr.. Pugh was given a
most hearty reception. Always popu-
lar with the people of this community,
the fact OF his recent marriage and the
presence OF his bride in the audience
impaired additional zest to the APP
plause that greeted his appearance
last night. With the earnest feeling,
pathos and logic characteristic Of all
his public addresses, he reviewed the
questions involved in today's election
and appealed to the people of DON
aldsonville-th ladies as well as the
men-to work for the adoption of the
proposition for the issuance of bonds
TO raise funds for building a modern
schooihouse and providing other
needed municipal improvements.
The band was heard from again and
Pierre Blanchard sang 'sYiolets"
with admirable expression and in e1-
cellent voice, giving ''The Girl You
Love, as an encore. Miss Leda
Landry accompanied the singer on
the piano.
Chairman Maurin then introduced
L. E. Bentley as one with whom he
had served on the town council for
several terms, a fellow-supporter of
the proposed bond issue that was de-
feated a few years ago, and ''the sill
yer tongued orator of Ascension. - Mr..
Bentley is ever a favorite speaker with
Donaldsonville audiences and he had
ample reason to feel proud of the greet
ing given him last night. Opening with
some faeetious references to the change
Of base on the part of prominent cifi-
zens who are as active in the advocacy
of the present bond issue as they were
in opposition to the one previously
submitted, the speaker recounted the
advantages that would accrue from the
investment of $4,000 in the manner
contemplated by the pending ordinance.
He called attention to Donaldsonyille's
lack of progression in comparison
with OTHER towns Of Louisiana, show
ing that she has dropped from fourth
TO ninth place, and attributed the
greater growth and Improvement of
her sisters largely to the voting of
special taxes and the issuing Of bonds
to accomplish just such works of munic-
lpal improvement as are now contem-
plated here. The attacks upon the
bond ordinance through the medium
OF anonymous circulars teeming with
miscalculations and misrepresenta-
tions were ridiculed by the speaker,
who asked why the tax payers should
hesitate to assume an interest obliga
ton OF five per cent, when individual
borrowers were glad to pay the local
banks six, seven and eight per cent
for funds? Mr.. Bentley commended tn at
the proposed municipal investment
promised profitable returns from every
point Of view, and dwelt upon the fact
that the people are assured of the alb
solutely honest handling and expendi-
ture of every dollar of the money to he
raised by the sale of bonds and the
imposition Of special tax. In con
elusion, the speaker suggested that, in
the event of the defeat of the bond is
sue, it would be appropriate for the
new council to change the device on.
the town seal from locomotive to d
crawfsh.
The meeting adjourned when Mr..
Bentley had finished, and many ex-
pressions of satisfaction with the ar