The star-progress. (Opelousas, La.) 1917-1921, 1920-01-10
OPELOUSAS INVADED
BY MOSQUITO FLEET
LAST TUESDAY
Fontenot Supporters Brave In
clement Weather to Crowd
the Parish Court House
CITY UNQUESTIONABLY
FOR YOUNG CANDIDATE
Staunch Citizens Speak in In-
terest of ST. Landry's Next
Sheriff

More than four hundred voters of
Opelousas and surrounding country
braved the inclement weather Tues
day night to attend the first political
rally of parochial nature held in this
city this year. The crowd was COM
posed almost exclusively of voters
and it was without doubt Fontenot
crowd, as the young candidate for
sheriff was cheered throughout his
talk, and his speakers were repeated
iy applauded whenever they referred
to his "spunk" to fight the biggest
ring st. Landry has ever witnessed.
HID. Larcade, Sr., one of Opelou-
sas' most representative business men,
was selected as chairman Of the meet
ing and incidentally took occasion to
make an impromptu address in be-
half of the candidacy Of Ariel Fonte-
not.
Morton H. Thompson, wei known
local attorney, of strong convictions
and always determined to fight his
way through, was the principal orator
of the day for Mr.. Fontenot. Mr..
Thompson told his hearers "straighC
stuff, right from the shoulder" and
paid particular attention to the FAM
Gus st. Landry ring" headed by the
district Judge whom he charged as
being unable to judge the records of
efficiency of any officeholder because
he himself was unacquainted with eff
ficiency, since the court itself could
be set up as an example of utter in
efficiency. Mr.. Thompson's address
was received with cheers and applause
and after the meeting he was congrat-
ulated by many voters upon his
splendid and logical appeal for the
defeat Of an unholy alliance"
Hon. K. 7. Catlett the war horse
from the fourth ward, strong be-
lever in independency, at one time a
scrapper for white supremacy" adj
dressed the meeting in behalf of the
fearless young leader of st. Landry 5
democracy, and gave a few of his
many reasons for supporting Mr..
Fontenot.
Then Mr.. Fontenot arose to make
his first political speech in Opelou-
sas. The reception rendered him
showed conclusively that Opelousas
was behind him and that on January
20 this would be his banner poll.
"It is time for them to screen up,
he said, when he referred to the cele-
brated Mosquito Fleet" "They
bite mighty hard sometimes" he said,
"and we are biting the oposition SO
darn hard they are beginning to hol-
ler." A tremendous appaluse greet
ed this statement. Mr.. Fontenot made
one of the best spseeches Of his cam
paign. He told his hearers that he
would stand for efficiency, justice
and impartiality. He promised them
a good, just administration of the af-
fairs of his office.
The two candidates for assessor
being present, they were both called
upon by the chairman to speak in
their own behalf, since both had beer
invited by Mr.. Fontenot.
A. L. Andrus was the only one tc
resopnd and he took occasion to de
fend his record as assessor of st
Landry, and proved conclusively thai
| he was not responsible for high tax
alton, and that the assessor was moth
| ing but clerk Of the police jury ane
the board of state affairs. Mr.. An
drus made favorable impression, j
is said, and many voters compliment
ed him upon his excellent explanation
of the many intricate problems O
assessments.