St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1910-01-08
THE lid IS tight in
TOWN OF RAYNE
Representative BFansr writes the CIarIoa,
and Tells Il 81 Gesdnsss 81 Pssple There
CROWLEY IS The BAD PLACE
Aeeofding to Mr.. Bruner. Although Rayns
Eoiad "Est' and Crowley "Bry."
People More Prosperous.

The Clarion takes pleasure to Civ
space to the following communication
from the Clarion Editors esteeme,
friend, Representative E. O. Bruner
Rayne, La, January /, 1910
Mr. Raymond Breaux,
Editor st. Landry Clarion,
0pelousas, La.
Dear Raymond see in you
paper Of even-date where you repro
duce an article written in The Crowley
Signal on what Prohibition Did fol-
Acadia Parish" Had you said, ''The
Way Prohibition Works in Crowley
/ should have taken no notice Of it
but as Rayne is a part of Acadia par.
ish feel it my duty as a citizen Of
Rsyne to tell you how prohibition has
worked in Rayne, knowing, too, you
will fully appreciate a clean, clear
cut statement Of facts, especially as
this IS your old home.
Since the commencement of the
holidays there has not been o single
fight or disturbance Of any character
peace, quiet, happiness and good will
prevails. During the whole twelve
months Of prohibition the writer saw
but two drunk men on the streets.
Not q single blind Tiger is here,
nor has been during the whole year.
The new council passed an anti-gam-
bling ordinance and it has been en-
forced to the letter, our marshall and
mayor viii not stand for violations. The
marshall says you shall not violate
the laws" and the Mayor says IF
you do I'll give you the limit and
the result is We have no Blind Tigers
and no gambling dens. Our people
are happy and prosperous, the farm
ers Notwithstanding the boil weevils
are il better shape than they have
been in for years, the merchants sold
more goods for cash and collected
better, the banks are furnishing and
business generally is good. / am a
farmer and a merchant and | keep
close tab on those things and ought
to know whereof | speak. Never in
my life have / witnessed such fine
gardens and truck patches among the
farmers. Instead Of them as Of old
spending their time in saloons drink
ing and gambling they remained at
home and worked their gardens, when
through with their other crops, and
instead Of them spending their money
gambling and drinking and
having their groceries and other
n~ecessaries of life charged to them,
paying two prices for each article,
they bought for cash, and when their
crops were gathered it was theirs and
not chs merchants. You could take your
wife or daughters on the streets any
day or night, even during the holidays,
and not see a drunk nj nor hear a
word Of profanity something un-
heard Of before, especially Christmas
time. No man need be ashame that
he Il 4 citizen Of Rayne today, we
have a clear, law abiding town and
you can with pride tell anybody that
you are from Rayne.
We all admit q few jugs and bot
TIES Of whiskey are shipped in here
but what does it amount to when
compared to the barrels that were
shipped b days Of the saloon. And
who gets this jug of whiskey-a few
oId topers, not our boys who were
being made drunkards and gamblers
out Of ii the saloons.
As YOU know Rayne was . Of the !
strongest anti-poll in the parish and
one would naturally think that il
rsuld be the hardest place il the
parish to force prohibition, but it is
lot the case. The law Is strictly en-
and ID my humble opinion
phen 1t ii hot, if you will turn on the
jesrch light you will find something .
ia Denmark.
I close BY wishing you and The :
Jlarion . happy and prosperous New !
FEAR. I
b. o. Bruner
e-@-s