The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1911-09-23
MICHEL RALLY.
Five Thousand People Attend Demon
stration in Interest of New Or
leans Candidate-Absence of Mr..
Michel Causes Disappointment

Michel Causes Disappointment.
The political rally aand mass-neet-
| ing held here last Saturday in the
interest of Hon. John 7. Michel, can
didate for the Democratic guberna-
| toTial nomination, was the largest
demonstration of its kind on record
in this community, and the friends of
| the New Orleans candidate are en-
thusiastic over the showing made IN
his, behalf. st cannot BE- denied, how
ever, that sae attenda was not as
large as had been an&2pated or as
| the promoters of the ray estimated
in advance of the eyen@ but it is
claimed that the shortage was
brought about in large measure by
the circulation Of the report the day
would not be present and deliver an
address, as had been advertised. This
statement proved to be true, it being
announced at the morning meeting
that Mr. Michel, in view of the death
of his wife on the 9th inst, did not
deem it consistent with the pro-
prieties or with the respect due the
memory of his lie partner#to appear
before a public political gathering and
participate in the incidents of such
an occasion. The speech prepared
by Mr.. Michel was read by Hon.
Henry L. Fuqua Of Baton Rouge, and
was well received by the large audi
ence.
Whether or not Mr.. Miche1's ru-
mored absence had any effect in dim
inishing the size Of the crowd, it
is certain that the country people
failed to turn out for the rally II
anything gke large #nu1nIf rs. Conser-
va estiS1ates place IA attendance
at from 4Qfae to 5000. 5aad it is al
mitted than July 5000 ID these can.
up from New Orleans on the special
train and boat excursions operated
out of that city. Two special trains
were run over the I. and 2. and
two over the Mississippi Valley from
New Orleans, the passengers via the
latter route being conveyed from
Burnside by the ferryboat Ruth aud
steamer Virgie, The tug Independent
and steamer 8etle gbf the Bends
brought up small crowds of excursion
lists from the Crescent City, and spe-
cial trains over the T. and P. from
Hou1na and Port Allen carried small
contingents of country Michel SUP
porters. jefferson, st. Charles and
St. John parishes were represented
by quite a large delegation, but the
attendance from St, James, Assem-
sion, Assumption and Iberyille did not
measure up to expectations.
The weather was decidedly unfav
orable, intermittent showers falling
from period just before noon to a
late hour in the afternoon, but de-
spite this fact the program was car
ried out as originally planned.
The program opened at 1915 p.
NJ, when the meeting was called to-
order by Henry L.. We'll, president
pro tenn Of the police Jury, Who in
troduced Mayor Charles Maurin as.
the permanent chairman Of the
gathering. Mr.. Maurin welcomed the.
hosts to Donaldsonville in a happily
worded and Well-deliVered speech, af-
ter which Hon Henry T.. Fuqua OF
Baton Rouge was presented. Mr. Flu
Qua, after stating the reason for Mr..
Michel's absence from the rally, read
the address prepared by the candi-
date and made a few remarks Of his
own, which We're we'll received by the
large crowd. At the conclusion Of
Mr. Fuqua' remarks a recess was
taken for dinner.
The meeting reconvened at $40
O'clock p. NJ, Chairman AIaurin in
PRODUCING Hon. Phillip Werlein, ex-
president Of the New Orleans Pre-
gressive Union, as the first speaker.
Hon r. N. Sims, of Donald5onville,
followed Mr.. Werlein and delivered
a magnificent address, wherein he
pointed out his reasons for support
ing Mr. Michel and in a series Of logi-
cal and convincing arguments showed
why the New Orleans candidate was
in his opinion the best man IN che
gubernatorial race and should be
given the nomination. Mr.. Sims ad-
dress was easily one Of the finest an
most interesting Of the day, and
seemed to make a most favorable ia
preston upon all who heard It. ET-
tracts from the splendid effort will |
published in next weeks Chief.
Col John P. Sullivan, OF New Or
leans, grand exalted ruler Of the EIks
and a leading. lawyer Of the Crescent |
City, followed Mr.. Sims, and General
Albert Estopinal, of st. Bernard, who