St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1909-02-06
ANTI-DIVISIONIsTS PUT
ON THEIR WAR PAINT
organization to Combat Mutilation of Old Empire
FaFisn--Speec1es by Swords, Dubuisson,
Dupre and Lewis--Some Facts.

Dir. Thos. H. Lewis reviewed the
tight for the enabling act at Bator
Rouge; how he had first opposed The
line coming within twelve miles Of
Opelousas, and how an alleged Com.
promise" had been effected which
brought the line still nearer the can
ital Of st. Landry-within seven
miles! He showed how iniQuitous
was the division Of territory as pro
posed by the enabling act, leaving
the old parish with less cultivable
area than the new parish, the area
left to the old parish being largely
burdensome on account of mainte-
nance of bridges and other public
utilities.
Hon. E. B. Dubuisson was next
called upon. Il will state at the
outset" said Mr. Dubuisson. .tbat
the matter Of lines cuts very little
figure with my position on the pro-
posed division. / am opposed, unal-
terably opposed to the division of ST.
Landry on any lines. There is no
question Of lines; it is question Of
mutilating the Empire parish OF the
State, without cause or reason, and
this am against
Mr.. Dubuisson reviewed the history
OF Texas, the largest State in area in
the Union. Speak to a Texan about
dividing his State, and you will have
an indignant Texan to pacify. The
Texans speak with pride Of their
great State; of its power in the ma
tion, of its prestige among sister
States; and under no conditions would
they consent to carve it"
Mr.. Dubuisson compared feelingly
the present great parish of St. Lam
dry, and the Weakling parish of st.
Landry as it would be when divided. |
Imagine, fellow parishioners, old ST. |
Landry reduced in size and impor-
tance to st. Charles, and Jefferson,
and St. James, and Winn, no more
Empire st. Landry, but the little
parish of st. Landry. The thought
IS enough to put every son of st.
Landry on his mettle. The idea is
revolving to me. I can't see how any
son of st. Landry can endorse the
dea."
Mr.. Dubuisson reminded his hear
srs Of the fact that st. Landry par
sh was the storm center Of the last
campaign. Why? Because st. Lam
Try was large, and had the vote. It
,alls for something now it will not
all for anything if reduced to half
is present size.
Mr. Dubuisson said that in this
tate the smaller parishes were not
he best governed. He called atten-
ion to Catcasieu, the largest parish
n area in the State, which to-day
TODD head and shoulders above any
ther parish in point Of educational
dvantages and general prosperity;
nd which was now being run on a
mall millage Of FIVE mills on the dol
ar. st. Landry parish cut off one
1ill this year, reducing the millage
rom 10 to 8 mills.
Mr.. Dubuisson perforated with a
eautiful tribute to the people Of the
Western portion Of The parish.
Some of my best friends-many of
" relatives live in that sectien of
he parish, and if / thought they
eeded division, if / thought it would
ontribute to their welfare, | would !
erhaps not be so determined in my
pposition TO the creation of the new
arish. But it is plain as the sun !
nat the division Of st. Landry will be !
etrimental TO the entire population |
ow constituting the parish"
On motion of Sheriff Swords, the !
1air was authorized to appoint a
ommittee of three for the purpose 8
preparing statistics, the idea being
show the people with figures that z
lere can be no avoidance Of extra
ixation to both parishes in case of Z
le division. y