St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1918-04-27
.COLORED PATRIOTS
HELD GRAND RALLY
LAST SUNDAY NOON
Parade Preceding Actual Meeting
Was One Of Best Ever Seen in
opeIousas
PROMINENT SPEAKERS MAKE
STIRRING ADDRESSES
Pledge Race TO Lend Full Assistance
20 Government in Winning War.
Preach Gospel Of Work and
Save to that End
PROMINENT SPEAKERS MAKE
STIRRING ADDRESSES

~NPN
The patriotic rally of the coloret
people Of st. Landry, advertised fol
last Sunday at / o'clock, was pulled
off according to schedule. It was al
imposing affair and thoroughly vel
staged. Coming UP Landry street
the number of automobiles and auto
trucks all loaded to the guards witt
colored people and decorated with
flags, Liberty Loan literature anG
every known and conceivable descrip
ton of patriotic display, attracted
much attention and elected a great
deal of favorable comment from the
onlookers. Hundreds of colored PEG
pie were In the parade and when they
assembled on the court house square
they got down t o business in a hurry.
This meeting signalized the colored
mans drive for subscriptions to the
third Liberty Loan and was arranged
by the colored branch of the parish
council of defense, comprised of
some of the leading negroes of st.
Landry and Opelousas. The drive
was led by DR.. ]. s. Clark, president
of the Southern University, and chair
man of the colored council of defense
OF the state. In the party Of visitors,
besides DR.. Clark, were B. v. Ba-
rance of New Orleans and H. C.
Ross Of Crowley.
The following resume OF the meet
ing was gotten up by a prominent
colored citizen and submitted to
The Clarion 70 republication:
Long before the hour appointed
for the meeting more than three thou
sand people had gathered on the
and at the Frisco depot In
automobiles, auto trucks, buggies
and on horseback, each having his
appropriately decorated in
The national and allied co1ors. The
speakers. who arrived on the 1:17
train, were met and given an oya-
ion. a line of march was formed
nearly one-half nile long, headed by
he Marte1 famous band which rem
iered patriotic airs during the whole
program.
The line of march proceeded along
he principal streets of the city, re-
loud applause from onlookers.
Reaching the court house square,
he school children were formed into
column leading to the band stand
md the speakers, led by the local
committee passed to the stand where
he speaking was held.
After divine invocation by Rev! L.
Simon, a member of the local
committee, Hon. e. N. Boagni, chair
nan Of the Parish Council of Defense,
white welcomed the speakers on the
art of the white council. j.. M.
burr then introduced B. v. Baranco,
Who held the crowd spellbound with
is eloquence as he pleaded for the
Inited support of the negro in the
"This is not a white mans war, it
not a black mans war, but it is a
Tar of the American people against
1t Is a war OF right
gainst wrong and we must subdue
he enemy" said he in opening his
emarks.
At the close of the first speakers
ddress, the school children, led by
rof. J. H. Augustus, principal of the
'pelousas colored school, sang other
atriotic airs while the band played
America" Then Rev. l.. G. Simon
a fitting way introduced DIR. j.. S.
lark, Fully ten minutes were used
/ applause when he arose to speak.
MY friends, we are one people in
Is country. We are united to fight
ne common enemy. We live along
the side of our white brother in
eace and we are going to die by
Is side in this struggle and if need
we are going to chase the enemy
Ito the very jaws Of hell" said DIR.
lark in his opening remarks.
J.. NJ. Burr then made a touching
Dpeal for subscriptions to the Lib
'ty Bonds while the steering COM
ittee, J. H. Deshote1. A. J. Fisher /
NJ. Mack, A, V. Giron, Rev. v. B.
ryant and N. w. Davis, ushered the
,owd to the table to purchase
At the close of the meeting
lere had been subscribed S3300.00 i
orth of bonds.
J. M. Burr, as chairman OF the To- j
i branch, is very greatful to the
and all those who con-
to the success Of the meet !.
g in any way and states that be- {
re the week end the negroes of the ]
irish win have subscribed to $685. !
600 worth of bonds, as the com
Ittee is still at work.
After luncheon, which had been /
by the committee. the party 3
It for Bunkie, La. where a meet b
9 was held at $3.50 p. m. Returning 5
0pelousas that night. the party i
t over the Frisco for Vile Platte s
lere a meeting was held at 5
lock, from Vile Platte to Eunice, d