The star-progress. (Opelousas, La.) 1917-1921, 1921-05-11
SHERIFF THIBODEAUX

The Star-Progress, in pursuance Of
It's proud privilege as free American
Journal, al the last shrievalty election
opposed Sheriff Thibodeaux and warm
Iy advocated the interests Of its
friend, his opponent. for which it has
nc apologies to make, nor any vain
xegrets to mourn.
When Mr. ThibOdeaux became the
nominee Of the party, factional lines
Tor the time being at least were wiped
out. and It became the duty Of all DEM
ocrats to fall into line and d. The ut
6ermcst to make his administration
Of the office a success.
The St3.-Progress determined, II ne
failed to make his campaign promises
good, that it would rake him over the
Goals. If, on the other hand, he made
good, it was equally determined, with
out solicitation from him or his
friends, to publicly praise his efforts.
years service in office has now
afforded an opportunity to get the
proper perspective and Judge wheth-
er the sheriff is carrying out his cam
paign promises, which too frequently,
alas, are disregarded by politicians
when they get in, their promises, like
ME crust, being easily broken.
II affords us now genuine pleasure
10 say that Sheriff Thibodeaux has
more than made good. His pledge to
Areak up the gamblers and moonshin-
ers. in so far as lay in his power, has
been kept, both in letter and spirit
THE gamblers have abandoned their
Ser1ner haints and if pursuing their
uefariOus occupation continue it SO
secretly that no one but a secret ser
I. vice agent could ferret them out. A
large number of stills have been selz-
I'd. hundreds of gallons OF WhlLe
muIe" and malodorous mash has been
ronfiscated. and while doubtless the
SWORN of the still will continue
wriggle in its Shiny ooze, it will not
As in the past, rear defiantly its hide
ous head and rattle its castanets. Tho
enormous profits Of this Illicit traffic
yin always lead some of the avari-
eious to run the risks. but a whole
some restraint has been placed on
thefr activities through the vigilance
and determination of the sheriff, who
Is always on the job.
The civil department of the OFFICE
& equally we'll managed. There are
no deadheads on the pay roll A sys-
tenn has been adopted in the office
eminently satisfactory to the court
and bar. A lawyer gets his return
within three days, for the first time
IN the history Of the office. A method
mas been adopted of keeping track OF
al funds that come into the office SO
mat in a moments notice complete
tableau could be exhibited. A bank
rnuJd not be run quieter, smoother and
more efficiently than the sheriff's OF
1bee. The urbane deputy, 'Bulr' Stage
4 always on deck. The sheriff him.
self is constantly on the go in the
outsfde work. The, pleasing feature
4 that all departments are run with
cEock-like regularity and without par
4isan bias, everyone getting a square
deal The sheriff exerted all his IN
yIuenee and succeeded in securing a
raurieye for delinquent taxpayers un'
su Iune-a God-send to many a man
whose property otherwise would nave
gone under the hammer. This mas
been an unusual year of financial
hardship, the worst since the civil war;
"A a result of bad crops and rapid de-
cline In the price of farm products
made on the high and sold on the
low dollar, the logical sequence OF In
dated war prices and ensuing della
aTon.
The sheriff deserves great credit
for his determined effort to secure
thls rsprieve which laid him liable to
a pre-emptory mandamus on the part
of the fiscal authorities Of the state
30 In this, the anniversary OF his first
YEAR in office, we say "weII done, thou
good and faithful servant" keep up
tfle good work. Four years OF suen
work will prove you to be the best
sheriff St. Landry has had since the
einlN NG7R. ..x