The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1916-03-18
RECORD CROWD HEARS PARKER.
Nearly 1000 Ardent Admirers Greet
Independent Leader.

The largest audience that has ever
attended a political meeting IN Dom
jacksonville. or Ascension parish, as
sembled last Sunday afternoon to
greet John M. Parker, candidate for
governor, and to hear the issues of
the pending campaign discussed from
the viewpoint of the Progressive-In-
dependent Democratic organization.
The crowd was large and it was
demonstrative, and there could be no
doubt that the Parker sentiment in
Donaldsonville and surrounding coun-
try is of considerable proportions.
It was originally intended to hold
the meeting in the courthouse, but the
district courtroom, seating between
500 and 600 persons, was too small to
accommodate the crowd, hence the
speeches were delivered from the
band-stand in City Park. Estimates
as to the number of people present
range from 1900 to 1000, with the
preponderance of opinion indicating
the latter figure, and the assemblage
was not only of record-breaking size,
but of a most representative and in
telligent character as well. st. James,
Assumption, Lafourche, Terrebonne,
Berville and East and West Baton
Rouge contributed to the big gather
ing, as many as one hundred automo-
biles being parked at one time in the
streets bordering City Park, in addi-
ton to large number of buggies and
other vehicles.
Although most of the audience We're
standing, seats being available only
for the ladies, it was observed that
very few people left the meeting be-
fore the speechmaking had been con-
Guided, a fact which indicated the
forcefulness of the various addresses
and gave ndisputable proof that the
big crowd was thoroughly in sympathy
with the cause advocated by the speak
ers.
The meeting was called to order by
Dr.. Paul 7. Thibodaux, one Of the
original Parker men of Ascension,
who introduced Hon. E. N. Pugh as
chairman. Addresses were delivered
by Harry w. Fitzpatrick, of New Or
leans; Hon. Edwin S. Broussard, can
didate for lieutenant governor on the
Parker ticket; Mr.. Parker, and Har-
old Noise, of New Orleans, who spoke
in the order named. While all of the
speeches were good ones and elected
enthusiastic applause, those of Messrs.
Fitzpatrick and Noise were especially
well received. Mr.. Fitzpatrick's adj
dress in particular was a most polish
ed and well-considered utterance, re-
,,lo o1n nj,
clever comments, and he had the big
crowd with him." as the saying goes,
from start to finish of his spirited
speech.
Mr.. Parker gave one of his effective,
common-sense talks, outlining what
he proposed to do for the benefit of
the people and the state in the event |
of his election, and his remarks seem
ed to make a most favorable impress
sion upon his hearers.
Seated on the speakers stand be-
sides Messrs. Parker, Broussard,
and Noise, were Messrs.
Clarence Barton, Solomon Klotz, SEN
ator Emil Sundbery, John Marks,
Alex Jumonville, Robert Prejean, and
Gus j. Labarre, all of Assumption;
Louis LeBourgeois, Jules J. Jacob
and Dennis Himel, of st. James; L.
NJ. Soniat, of Iberville, and DR.. Paul
I. Thibodaux, Hon. E. N. Pugh,
Mayor Walter Lemann, DIR. John S.
Thibaut, Robert E. Noel, Terrier P.
Blanchard, Gordon Gisclard, Lanny
Montero and A. E. Truxillo, of Ascen-
sion. The latter is president of the
Donaldsonville Parker Club, Mr.. Gis-
,lard being the secretary and Messrs.
Blanchard and Montero, vice presi-
tents.
Mr.. Pugh stated after the meeting
hat he had been in politics for more
han forty years and had seen and adj
dressed many large political gather
ngs in Ascension, but Sundays out
pouring was the biggest he had ever
observed in the parish and undoubted-
y eclipsed all such assemblages that 4
lave come under his observation To-
ally, both as regards attendance and
legree of enthusiasm manifested.
i