St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1912-07-27
BOOSTERS CLUB HAVE
SPLENDID CONVENTION
"The Future Of Opelousas Lies in the Hands of Her
Own People. ."-Delegates from
Neighboring Towns

larlY in the Southwestern par
ishes, held an interesting meet
ing at the courthouse Saturday
night Of last week.
While more adjacent towns
sfouI have been represented al
the meeting, word received from
those absent assured co-opera.
ton, and the excuses are variec
as to the reason the OpeIousas
meeting was not attended by rep.
resentation from them.
Jennings and New iberia were
there in the persons Of Mr.. Buff
fngton, General Agent of the
New Iberia-Port Barre road, and
Dir. Adams, of Jennings. Both
gentlemen made short addresses
expressing the opinion that their
cities would go into the move.
Addresses were also made by
Messrs. Thos. Fl. Lewis, John w.
Lewis, Ell. G. Null, NJ. L. Swords,
Jno. NJ. Oge, r. HI. Thompson
and DR.. A. J. Bercier.
Several committees were ap-
pointed. to take charge of the
different lines of work connected
with the organization.
Mayor e. Z. Loeb called the
meeting to order, and presided.
He assured the Boosters that he
was in hearty sympathy with the
move, and that he would render
all the aid in his power, both in
dividually and in the capacity Of
Mayor, to make it, success. He
feIicitated the men of 0pelousas,
and those from other towns who
are taking an interest, and pre-
dicted successful boosting CAM
paign for the entire Southwest
Louisiana.
Hon. John w. Lewis was call
ed upon, and responded with a.
short address, full Of enthusiasm.
Mr.. Lewis is always to the front
when it comes to promoting any
thing that has for its object the
uplift and the good Of the coun-
try. He dWelt on the misconcep-
ton prevailing in States North.
East and West, as to the recent
flood The impression there is
that the entire State of Louisi-
ana was a sea of water during
the months of high water when
the fact is that a very infnites-
tirnal part of it was
under water" said
MIR. Lewis. This is shown byl
the fact that the people of the
State themselves rendered the
major part of the aid to those af-
fected by the flood. = Mr.. Lewis
had appeared before the Board
of Trade of Lake Charles in be-
half Of the Boosters Club, and
was well posted on its purposes,
and this fact made his talk very
interesting. He spoke of the
baseball feature of the proposed
trip. AT Lake Charles, at the
meeting there to cooperate with
this Boosters movement, a gem
tlen1an told of town in Texes
a little village, but with citi-
zenry pulsating with energy
where baseball club was organ
lied and started in the North
west, {" said Mr.. Lewis. Along
with this club went good takers,
men posted on the resources and
advantages of the little Texas
town and adjacent country. Lit
erature was distributed lavishly
along the route and every stop
ping place. The baseball club
not only paid back the money
advanced by the citizens Of the
town, but paid all expenses of
the trip and had some money in
the treasury on its return. And
this man told US that this trip
made city of the little Texas
town made a city of it in a few
years.
Mr.. Lewis spoke eloquently on
the resources and the beauty OF 5
this country.
He told of a talk he had had
with Governor Hall, and of the p
Governor S promise that he would
DO everything in his power to as
slst the movement. !
Mr., Null, the Frisco agent at
this place, gave an outline of the =
proposed Club. He said that the ;
boosters Club had been contem- :
plated some time ago, but that I
the advent Of the flood had de- !.
iayed it until now. And now !
lt Is more necessary than it was :
then, because of the recent high
water and the false impression Z
created in the minds of the peo- >
pie away from here" he said. !
Louisiana is the poorest adver- z
used State in the whole Union. a
and it is the State that is more in a
need of advertising. I have &
travelled in Northern and East q
ern e. States and held railroad pos v
ltlons IN many States there, and
tell you that they actually be-