St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1909-03-27
THE COURTS.

DEbHING I11E IOC1gAR'
The vile Platte leaders Of the
division movement, it is said, under
the legal advice Of their 0pelousas
sympathizers are continuing to circu-
late around the Parish in a body
making speeches and ~canvassing and
urging the people to get together on
election day in contempt and defiance
Of the injunction and vote. OF course
an election under such circumstances
would be absolutely null and VOID.
While all the people are bound
by the injunction, yet the
writ does not prohibit the Vile
Platte people and their synpa-
thizers in the Parish from doing the
foolish and childish thing Of going
through the forms of an election.
All voters who allow themselves to
Be persuaded to take such an i'll
advised step, will have cause here
after to regret It. It is a serious
thing for a citizen to deliberately as
sumo an attitude of contempt and de-
fance of the authority Of the courts.
Nor can the divisionists derive any
possible advantage from going
through the form of an election. Ii
it has any effect at all upon the
court, it viii weaken their cause, for
any righteous law abiding Judge would
condemn them for such an act. Not
only this, but it is a needless step,
because, should the Supreme Court
uphold their contention that the en-
abIing act is constitutional, then in
that event they can apply to the next
Legislature for another enabling act
fix another day for the election;
Be sure that they are in The limits
of the constitution, and have the par
ISL division question finally settled
before 1912, the date at which the
division of the parish would have
effect under the present enabling act.
On the other hand should the Supreme
Court hold the enabling act to be UNI
constitutional, and that two-thirds of
the qualified electors Of the parish
must approve of the creation Of a
new parish to make it legal, then
they will not only have been saved
the inconvenience and modification
Of having the election and the en-
abling act annulled as illegal, but
they will still even ia that event have
time for the passage of another en-
abling act before 1912, and at the
same time be instructed by the Su-
prene Court how to proceed in the
premises.
In our judgment, however, a de-
cision BY that high tribunal in favor
Of the two-thirds rule would put al
efectual quietus On this parish divi-
sion move.
Meanwhile such able attorneys al
Messrs. E. B. Dubuisson, Thos. Fl
Lewis, Gilbert &. Dupre and w. ],
Sand0z are OF the opinion that any
election held in defiance of the writ
of injunction would be absolutely null
and void, and would be SO held BY
any court Of law
There are quite a number Of yery
reputable citizens who have in times
past been unsuccessful candidates fol
the Offices Of Sheriff, Clerk of Court
and Coroner of the parish, and WIKI
singular to say, Notwithstanding thai
they are residents Of the old parish
are almost without exception zealou;
advocates for division Of The parish
It IS just barely possible chat had
they succeeded ID obtaining positions
of honor and trust IN the temple.oi
the old commwealth, they would have
not been SO ready and willing to hell
the divisionists tear down that ven,
cradle edifce. It makes a great diff,
ference whose OK is gored in politics
as well as in the other department
Of life.