St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1918-07-20

ply with the defense councils wishes
The government has asked all citi
zens to register and it has the power
to compel them to comply but in this
case there is no wish or desire on the
part Of the authorities to exert this
power and they are relying upon the
patriotism of the people to do what
the government requests. No one ex-
cept those who have something which
they desire to hide have any reason
for refusing to register. It is a waste
Of time to ask the why's or W~herefores
of this work o. inquire what good can
be accomplished by this work. W.
must remember that when the ma
TONS life is at stake we must learn to
obey without question the wishes of
the nations leaders. That is the only
way for us to succeed. These regis
trations are being held all over. the
United States and every sections 10y
atty is being reckoned by the percent
age shown, and old st. Landry cannot
afford to be backward in this impor-
tant work.
Finally, everybody is going to be
registered whether they come to the
polling precincts or not. On Monday,
July 20, following the registration on
the Saturday before, registrars will
proceed to fill out the registration
of all those who failed to appear. This
will be done from information re-
ceiYed and the facts SO stated across
the fate of the card and this will place
the party so registered in an unfavor-
able light. and if so he will have no
one to blame but himself.
The council of defense did not act
hastily in this matter for it vas loathe
to trouble our citizens in the matter,
but finally it foond that the work had
to be done, just as it was being done
everywhere else. The public should
bear in mind that there is an immense
amount of work and those performing
it are working gratis, not n reeeiy-
ing a single cent for the labor per-
formed. This should be an earnest of
the fact that the defense council would
not have taken upon itself this i'm
mense work except as a matter Of i'm
portance. The members of the cohn-
ell are already overburdened but they
did not shirk their duty in the present
instance because Of such fact. Let
us all pause and think q moment of
this work and we are sure there isn't
a man or but who will cheer
fully respond to the little incenve-
nience entailed in going to the pre-
einct and registering on mex Satur-
day. This small work will aid the
boys who are fighting "over there"
Some have been so unkind as to say
that this registration will reflect on
the poorer classes in that it viii
bring out their subscription or failure
to subscribe to the war funds. No
one can seriously make such a conten-
ton for he who has given a dollar
when that was all he could afford de-
serves as much credit as those who
are members of the Limit Club or
who gave more.
We should remember the parable Of
the Pharisee and the widow who gave
her mite. Take up the Bible and read
the words of Christ on the subject,
and let us remember the Biblical say
ing, where much is given. much is
expected. Where little is given, lit
tie is expected" Those who have
nothing to give are not TO blame. it
is their misfortune. But those who
have the wherewith and gave not to
this great cause should meet with the
condemnation their failure so richly
deserves. And it is On this latter
class that the shadows viii fall in this
registration and to those who gave ac-
cording to their means. no harm can
come. But he who could and did not
give and he who lives in idleness
when he should labor to assist. on
them we say the blame should rest,
as it should.