St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1909-08-07
WEEK OF EXCITEMENT FOR old OPELOUSAS

this meeting behind them, are Cap
able Of executing every law on the
books
Robert Harry, Esq. was peppery
and vigorous. He said that this
was an occasion when all law-sbiding
citizens should hold level head and
look the situation square IL tbs faea
and meet conditions like men. He,
too, opposed the organization Of q
League some months ago, but now
he saw the necessity for one. Nov
is the time when every man IN the
parish ia called upon to show his
colors and do all IN his power to
suppress lawlessness." Outside of
the fact that a principle is involved,
outside Of the fact that every citizen
should obey the laws. are we gong
to stand by and see handful Of mid
night assassins and h0odlums sink
our parish into disrepute? No, No
yer. We are working to interest
outside capital to come here and in
vest their money. What de you
think will be the effect when this
news goes broadcast through the
newspapers. People don't want To
get into a lawless country, where the
lives Of their wives and children win
not be safe and laws are fiagrantly
violated. So il is up to rs to be do
ing and see that this black spot il
removed from the name Of our par
ish.
the time has not come, continu-
ed Mr.. Harry, and / hope viii never
come, when the good men 0f
this community will have to take the
bull By the horns. ! believe ! am
expressing the sentiment Of every
good citizen, however, when / say
that we don't propose TO have this
place run by few hoodIums. IL
need be, we shall fight FIRE with fire.
and see that the laws are enforced,
/ Alderman John w. Lewis was the
next speaker He said be did not
/ feel ike speaking on the subject at
hand that bis feelings Ii the matter
overwhelmed him, ii that be felt that
lone Of the official bodies to which he
belonged was partly responsible for
/ the existing state of affairs. He said
that he deeply deprecated recent
occurrences. and ais a member Of tie.
city council, pledged himself to do an
Fin his power to bring about b healthy
public condition. He was raising a
family here, and was interested III
seeing that Law and order perrneated
everything + shall DO nv hest so
see that the laws are enforced, ana
all we want to accomplish this is duty,
duty, duty, unfinching, fearless duty.
am member Of the Law and Order
League, and am ready at any time to
get out and assist Id putting down
laWlessness, and viii be found ready
and willing to serve Id any capacity
Tat any time
Mr. Leon S. Haas then made j
|short-aHd-to-the-point talk. He vas
9 member Of the League, believed IN
the enforcement Of the Law, and vas
ready at any time to give his assist
ance IN that direction.
Sheriff Swords made the last speech
Of the evening. His talk was mainly
in Vindicatien Of The discharge 81 TIE
duties Of bis Office. He was not, ha
said, supposed to intermeddle with
the officers Of corporations. He said
that there were four town officers
here, the Chief and two assistant
and city marshall. But neswits
standing this fact, Notwithstanding
that his sworn duty did not compel
him to perform the duties of cigy o.
Ifcers, he was willing 1T all times eo
assist in the suppression Of crime and
the enforcement Of the Law, whether
that be within Or without Tie cog
porate limits. But however. willing
he might have been to assist and pro-
tecf the alleged detectives gotten
here 10 ferret out liquor violations.
be was powerless to do so, for The.
reason that he did not know Of the.
presence of detectives Id car midst
--he had not been advised of their.
presence, he had not been asked to.
cooperate with them, although b. n
the chief executive Of the parish
Who are these men that were sens.
here, or brought here? don't know
My only acquaintance with them was
when, some days ago, / was called &c
the Holland Iouse to investigate the
robbery 0f 3 boarder there, who had
been fitched out of over hundred
dollars s-the money stolen ont Of bis
room. | went there with the CHIEF
Of police Of this city, and ii did not
take me long To make up nv mind
that one of these detectives, then
going under the assumed name Of
Griffin, was the sFsief. ! told the
chief that Grifn had stolen that
money; believed It then, believe It
now. ! was not asEed TO protect
these men; they worked Independents
lof my Office, unknown 10 ny Office
YoH have shown distrust in yonr of-
| fcers You have shown distEust ii