The Donaldsonville chief., 1917-09-22
DEFENSE COUNCIL LAUNCHED
Organization Perfected at Mass
Meeting Held at the Courthouse
Last oaturday-Every Ward In
the Parish Represented

Meeting Held at the Courthouse
Last oaturday-Eyery Ward In
the Parish Represented.
A large and representative gather.
ing of people, including many ladies
assembled at the courthouse last Sat.
urday afternoon for the purpose of or.
! ganizing parish committee Of the
State Council Of Defense. Justice OF
the Supreme Court Paul Leche acted
as temporary chairman Of the meet
ing, and upon assuming the chair
stated that the meeting had been call
/ ed IN the performance of a patriotic
! duty and that it behooved each and
every man and woman in the parish
Of Ascension to do all in his or her
power to assist the military authori-
ties OF the country to bring the pres
ent' war to successful end. He then
explained the objects and purposes
for which the local committees are
being organized and the duties to be
performed by them after which he
suggested going into permanent or
ganization.
Walter Lemann, former mayor of
Donaldsonville, was elected chairman.
In accepting the honor Mr.. Lemann
delivered a patriotic address in which
he laid stress upon the duty Of every
man, woman and child in the parish
to do all in their power to assist in
increasing the production of food
stuffs and to preach and practice the
conservation of foodstuffs:
State Senator Il. NJ. Stafford, of
New Orleans, was then introduced as
representing the State Council of De-
Tense. Mr.. Stafford prefaced his re-
marks by informing the audience that
in 1898 he had the pleasure of enlist
ing for service in the Spanish-Ameri
can war as a member of the Donald
sonville Cannoneers, commanded by
the late Capt. R. McCulloh and
Lieutenant E. NJ Pugh, both of Dom
aldsonville. Mr.. Stafford then ex-
planned in detail the objects and pur
poses Of the State Council of Defense
and the duties devolving upon this
body, calling attention to the fact
that it was composed Of thirty-one
members, selected by the governor,
irrespective Of politics, and thapHon.
John NJ. Parker, opponent of the pres
ent governor at the last election, was
prominent nember Of the body.
preparedness, said the Senator,
sis the keynote of success in the pres
ent war and our slogan should be
fight, farm or finance" He dwelt up
on the necessity of conservation and
production of foodstuffs and warned
the people of the south that they had
already been given notice by the peu-
pie of the north, east and west that
they must produce their own food
stuffs since these sections had under
taken not only to provide for their
own, but also assist in providing for
the allies. He spoke at length OF the
benefits within the reach of every
farmer now being held out by the
farm loan banks and stressed the
necessity of cooperation in produc-
ing and preserving foodstuffs in order
to aid in bringing the present war to
successful end.
Organization Of the Parish Council
of Defense was then perfected by the
election Of Walter Lemann, chairman;
IaTiSu 1CItOilGL1dCO1 "" 49, T~os~s -
secretary, and the appointment OF the
following committees: R. E. Noel,
first ward; Adam Bergeron, second
ward; Walter Lemann. third ward;
Sidney Harp, fourth ward; DR.. ]. /.
Bringier, fifth ward; Louis Gelsmar,
sixth ward; Sam Barman, seventh
ward; Leon Picard, eighth ward.
Members at large: Walter Lemann,
J. C. Klos, Ernest Barton, James
Black, H. P. Broussard, parish su-
perintendent of education; J.. ..
Montegut, Leon Newman, president
Of the police jury, and Miss Mar
guerita Arbour, woman demonstra-
tion agent.
The meeting closed with the read
ing of the governors proclamation by
Chairman Lemann, fixing Wednesday,
October II, as registration day for
the women of Louisiana, who in
few words urged the ladies of the. par
ish to register on that day in obe-
dience to the said proclamation.