The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1909-02-16

weather the court house was we'll filled
in response to the call for a mass
meeting on the part of the combina-
tion ticket to give their explanation
as to how and why the ticket known
as the combination ticket was formed.
The meeting was called to order by
Judge VIM. Campbell, who requested
Mr.. A. M. Martin to act as chairman.
Mr. Martin made few introductory
remarks in which he stated that he
was present at one of the meetings
held to consider forming combination
ticket and that at that meeting every
thing was done for the good of the
town. He then introduced Judge
Campbell in complimentary terms.
Judge Campbell began by saying
that two or three besides himself had
been called bosses by one of the town
papers. He did not know the papers
version of boss, but if his part in
trying to harmonic the factions of
the town was bossism. he was proud
to be boss. He had never been ap-
pointed to Office but had always been
elected, and If he was boss the peo-
pie had made him one The action he
took was for the good of the people,
good of the town, good of his family,
good of himself. The move to form a
combination ticket was an open secret
for three months. Every man could
have attended the meetings. 1t was a
difficult matter to bring the two fac
tions together. They finally agreed
to take four men from each side and
the eight choose the mayor. AT the first
meeting Judge Mouton, DR.. G. A.
Martin and himself was chosen COM
mittee from one faction to confer with
like committee chosen by the other
faction. Everything went on harmon
iously, but at the last meeting DR..
Martin was absent. The mission of the
meetings was to harmonic the Demo-
cratic family. They did not presume
to stifle the free American privilege of
others to run if they chose. Let other
tickets come out if they wished, but he
expected to do all he could to elect the
combination ticket.
The people concerned in forming
the ticket were property owners and
men who had the interest of the town
at heart. They exacted business
and &c onomic ADMINISTRATION, curtail-
ing all unnecessary expenses. He
denied emphatically that the ticket
had been formed by bosses and asked
who formed the other ticket. Was it
formed by bosses or would De bosses?
What they had done they had done in
spirit for the good of the town, they
had discussed the matter three months
had the wouldbe bosses done so?
He closed by saying that if any we're
not satisfied with the ticket. let them
put up another or as many as they
wished. but when the tickets we're
counted March 2, men who wanted the
city to forge to the front would cast
their vote for the combination ticket.
Judge Mouton spoke next. He de-
clared that he wanted the city to pros
per and grow. He wouldn't have been
at the meeting except on account of
ugly reports that they had formed a
ticket to ram down the throats of the
voters. He had nothing to conceal.
He was invited to a conference by
friends to assist in avoiding q fac
tional fight. They met at Mr.. Felix
Mouton's Office, not in secret session
but with some 20 or Is citizens present.
The meeting appointed him, DR.. G. A.
Martin and Judge Campbell to confer
with q like committee from the other
faction as to avoiding q factional
fight. The other side appointed P.
Krauss, E. G. Voorhies and A. Peck.
They determined to select eight coun-
cilmen, and they selected one from
their number for mayor. They re-
ported back to another meeting later.
DR.. Martin proposed that the compro-
mise be accepted if q reduction in sala-
ries of officers was made, which. was
agreed to. The other committee ac-
cepted and he thought the matter was
settled. They met at subsequent
time to select men and DIR. Martin and
A. E. Mouton were asked to serve but
refused. This was not the first COM
promise, there we're others; one COM
promise secured the industrial school