St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1910-01-29
DOSSNANN SAYS Fight
WILL CONTINUE
Expects the Slate Legislature 10 Create The
Parish Of Evaagsllne.
SENTIMENT NOT ON Low EBB.
President Of Louisiana oyster Commission,
and Staunch Friend Of Division,
Is Hopeful.

Hon. L. ]. Dossmann, President Of
the Louisiana Oyster Commission. and
9 staunch friend Of the division Of
St. Landry parish for many years
past, gave the New Orleans Daily
States the following interview on
last Tuesday. When asked By the
Clarion for an expression on the sub
Ject Of EVangeline, upon his coming
home Wednesday, Mr.. Dossmann said
Just copy the States interview with
met is correct"
Here is what Mr.. Doasmann says
in the States:
Mr.. s. j. Dossmann, president Of
the Oyster Commission, is a resident
Of Opelousas, ST. Landry parish, and
has kept in close touch with condi-
tions in his home locality BY frequent
visits and correspondence. He has
been especially interested ii the
fight over ths creation Of Evangeline
parish out a part Of st. Landry, and
has full information on the cues
tion. When seen Tuesday morning
by a representative Of The States,
ne was strong in his denial of the
recently circulated reports that di-
vision sentiment in his parish is on
the ebb. He made statements which
cannot be denied because they are
backed by actual figures and statis-
tics. He spoke as follows:
Talk about division being dead!I
The antis viii find it the livest corpse
they ever tackled, when the next
legislature meets. The very ones
who are writing to the city papers
and giving interviews to the effect
that the people of st. Landry don't
want division, were in Baton Rouge
during the last session Of the legis-
Iature telling the members that the
people of st. Landry didn't want any
division, that il was only agitated by
d few Would-be politicians.
The result ef the election shows
how incorrect they were in their
statements. Although the division
sts had the disadvantage Of having
nearly the whole of the local politi-
sal machine opposed to them, and an
Injunction restraining the holding Of
5he election which was dissolved by
5he supreme court only forty-eight
hours before the day Of the election;
md when the people had been led to
believe by the anti-divisionists that
hey would be held in contempt of
court if they participated in the
election; out Of a total qualified reg
stration of about $500, there we're
,olled 2,070 votes, 1907 for division
md 1853 against. The divisionists
,arried seven out Of eight police jury
wards.
The antis are always referring to
he west being the only section want
ng division, whereas it is not only
he west thai is in favor Of division,
ut the east, south and north also.
)ut Of the l8 precincts within the
neets and bounds of the old parish,
My ) went against division, namely, ,
Cpelousas, Bellevue and Notleyville. !
he divisionists polled 78 votes in
he city Of Opelousas. :
I am not prepared to discuss the {
sgal phase of the question, as | am /
OF lawyer; but this cry of division |
eminent losing out in st. Landry IS j
My calculated to create a false i'm t
ression in the minds Of the people s
the State. I am as well Ii
cquainted with the sentiment Of the 4
eople Of st. Landry as any one. u
In answer to the charges made t
sfore the legislature, at the time 8
hen we were seeking an act submit q
ng to the people the question of e
eating Eyangeline, that the people v
d not want division, told the mem 4
srs of the legislature to give US the D
ght to vote and we would soon con Il
nee them as to who were in the /,
ajority. The fact that the people a
ant division having been demon a
rated by an overwhelming vote, | /;
Ell assured that the legislature will !
We them what they won at the bal Il
box" K
Vi