The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1916-04-15

Last Wednesday, April 18th,
with it's glorious events will al
ways be remem bered with pride
by the citizens OF Franklin and
st. Mary Parish. 1t witnessed
the largest, grandest and most
enthusiastic political ovation
which any candidate for Cover
nor has ever received from the
people of our Parish. II will be
remembered here as JOHN M.
PARKER'S day.
Though the meeting had been
advertised, and the people had
been informed that Mr.. Parker
and the manager of his State
campaign, st. Mary's honored
son, Wilson T. Petcrman, would
speak, still the most enthusiastic
did not anticipate the vast throng
that gathered here to listen to
them. The meeting had been adj
vertised to take place at the Opera |
House at $3.50 o'clock p. M, bu. |
hours before it became certain
that that building, which could ac-
commodate twelve hundred, could
not contain more than one-half of
the people that were here. 1t was
then provided that meeting
should also be held in the spaci-
Gus District Court room in the
court house. Though both of
these places were crowded. still
there were fully two hundred perl
sons who could not get into either :
building. Mr.. Parker aud the
other speakers addressed both {
meetings.
The most touching and impress 4
stve scene of the day happened at
the Southern Pacific depot on the +
arrival of Train No. 5. It was :
known that Hon. w. T. Peterman F
was on that train. His home
people were determined to give n
him fitting reception. Over one Q
hundred ladies of Franklin, in h
thirty automobiles, which were h
decorated with flags, rode out to h
the depot to meet him. There f,
also was assembled about two +,
hundred of his fellow. citizens o.
who had come on the same mis-
sion. When Mr.. Peterman, un- n
awares OF the reception prepared | s
for him. alighted from the train.
he was staggered by the joyous d
shout that rung suddenly in his n
ears, by the waving of flags in q,
fair hands. and by the glad, heart ii
felt welcome coming from his a,
home people. The soul-light, ri
that illumined his face. told more d,
han words how his heart respond ~
ed to this tribute of affection, ~ ~
And 1t was a beautiful and just +
tribute which worth alone can I,
from the hearts of his "a
people. He was then guided to ar
1is car where his wife and little =
ines awaited him, and escorted in
procession to his home. We were
lbout to say that this was indeed
Wilson Peterman's day, but every
lay is Wilson Peterman's day in
he hearts of his people.
Mr.. Parker, who had spoken in
It. Martin parish Tuesday night
Vas met by Mr.. James A. Peter
nan at New Iberia, who brought
i'm, Mr.. Edwin S. Broussard,
andidate for Lieutenant.Gover
or, and Mr.. Harry Fitzpatrick,
I New Orleans in his peter
aan'e( car to Franklin.
Messrs. Parker, Brouseard, and
fitzpatrick were entertained at
inner by Mr.. and Mrs. James
). Peterman.
Hon. Rene Himel was the chair
Ian OF the meeting held at the
pera house and Dr.. Beverly w.
NTH wac the chairman of the
leetiDg at the court house. They
erformed their duties as chair
en with signal ability and pro-
riety.
Mr.. Harry Fitzpatrick was the -
rst speaker at the opera louise her
Getting. This speaker is resi- An,
mt Of New Orleans, and the DOW
asterly manner in which he ex. mol
,sed the political evils and me- al a
ode of that boss.Iidden city was peo
revelation to his hearers. His the,
lilies of wit-his good humor- yea
9 scathing inv ective against the inte
Ing boss of bossdult, and his plae
ghts of eloquence caught the the
tentton Of the crowd and held 1t turf
the end of his most pleasing the
dress. At the conclusion of his the
eech Ave little girls went up on spec
. stage, and each Of them pre-. met,