St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1916-02-19

dress Dy thanking The voters VI
OpeIousas for having given him
such a fattering support on the
25th of January and assured those
who had opposed him that he
would bear no malice against them,
whether he was elected or not.
He thanked the several ladies, Wne,
had not feared the cold weather to
attend the meeting, and then pro-
eeeded to make his appeal for the
support of the majority Of the
voters of this parish.
He briefly reviewed the ciaali.n-
stances prior to the announcement
of his candidacy. He told his aa-
dience that it was not until sever
al months after Mr.. Fontenot, the
present assessor, had announced
for sheriff, that he decided to
launch his candidacy for assessor
before the Democratic electors Of
st. Landry. At the beginning of
the sheriff's campaign, when Mr..
Fontenot asked his support, Mr.
Andrus stated that he told Mr..
Fontenot that he was bound to
support Mr.. Swords and would do
so vigorously, as he had done in
the past. When he decided to run
for assessor he went to the sheriff
and frankly applied for advice, tell
ing Mr.. Swords that If his race for
assessor wou1d injure Mr.. Swords
candidacy that he would not enter
the political arena. Mr.. Swords
told him to go and male his fight
before the people, but to Nfait IN
| til July, when he would get his.
quietus from the state, and the pee-
ole generally, would over ,oo1 the
fact that two from the sasle Office
were aspiring for public favor lie
promised Mr.. Andrsls - renlaln
perfectly neutral and advised Mr.
| Andrus to make a neutfsl light.
| also.
After consulting Sheriff Swords,
/ Mr.. Andrus stated to his aite'ienfe,
/ that he went to Mr.. Fonteiit,f, the
other candidate for sheriff, and M
/ formed that gentleman Of his IN
] tenGion to make neutaal fistt-
Mr.. Fontenot was perfectly salts
! fed with Mr.. Andrus' attituda and
assured him that he Wo1lil not
harm him in any mannef whatever.
! After. making these arraa 5elnents
Mr.. Andrus set out into the eGul-
try to make a house to NOISE cam
i yass: from the returns Of the first
primary Mr.. Andrus is ey.dentally
1 the favorite of the country people,
as he arrived III Opelousas on lac
night OF the election with over two
hundred votes ahead Of his nsaress
opponent, Charles Thibadaaux.
Mr.. Andrus told of Henry La
/ strapes, Jr., urging him to make
| the race for assessor, stating that
Mr.. Lastrapes had assured Inn
! that he would support him, above
all other candidates and that any
one ennesing Mr.. Andrsls would
Z not get his support.
4 The speaker appealed to the IN
! preiudiced voters not to allow theII
/; faetionaI feelings lead them to casl
3 their votes against him at the COM
Il ing election. He made it plain tfla1
& he had not taken part for either
faction and he saw no reason WHY
4 Sheriff Swords should fight him
!, after he had done so much for TN
: sheriff. both in politics and other,
j wise.
Il Mr.. Andrus has not and will no
8 viIlify his opponent; ne Will no
! allow his political enemies 20 dfal
Il him into any yillifying campalel
) and hence he would not undertake
s ia deny any charges brought forti
) by his enemies as to his posltlol
! in the recent sheriff fight, as 2
r had made it plain that ne i1a'
E taken no part in that fight.
Mr.. Andrus concluded his addfes
i with an eloquent appeal for al
: election. the crowd dispersed VII
e cheers for the. next assessor. Iiler
/. was no doubt III the minds OF IN
d large majority Of those who near
e Mr.. Andr,ls that he had made th
: besf sneeeh heard in the eanpaie
lof 1af5-it5. he made an IndellDi
o impression on the minds Of the llI
d nreaieliced and unbiased voter
Is and it il said that he has pave
VI tba way for an Andrus najofil
= here on the a9th.
$ To show their appreciation OF q
mans worth, the Carencfo DaI
: members. former fellow citizens
e Mr.. .sndras. volunteered. as soon
,-I they heard that the one time Ga
of encra citizen was to make a spec
If at 0palnusas in the interest Of =
+ candidacy for assessor, to cor
here and furnish the music for 7
m occasion free of charge. The Ga
f. encre band rendered exceIle
he mucsic, which was vastly enjoy
Id by the hundreds present.