St. Landry Clarion from Opelousas, Louisiana • Page 1

TlE St LANDRY CLARiON "Here Shall th Pra the Maintain, by Ifthluns ceand i lbbed Gain." OLUME XXXI-NO. 6 OPELOUSAS, LA. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1920 TWO DOLLARS PER YEAR IN ADVANCE SURGEONS BUSY AT WORK ON BIG CONTRACT iming Court Square Oaks as Preliminary to "Doctoring" SCIENCE TO SAVE SPLENDID TREES Up-to-Date Process Devised By Lover of Nature's Works It was announced some time ago that the police jury had entered into a contract with a New Orleans 'firm for the scientific treatment of the magnificent oak trees growing on the court house square in order to preserve them from further decay. The firm engaged are now at work the decayed and surplus branches and putting the trees in shape for the receiving of the scientific part of the treatment which will rejuvenate theI half century giants that have been such a pleasing sight to visitors and a read comfort to home people all these years. The Man Who Devised.

It Quite a number of years some man in a northern state who was a 'great lover of nature and nature's works looked on the gradual decay and disintegration of monster trees, symbolizing the growth of a century or more. He bemoaned their fate and dreamed of devising some method whereby their existence might be prolonged. The miore he thought of the matter the greater he was possessed with the desire to save the trees and- thus prove a real benefactor of mankind. If, he thought, a human's decaying tooih could be cleaned and filled and thus saved, why should not a process patterned after the dental, science: prove equally as effective in the preservation of trees. The idea sqeemed feasible and he immediately took steps to put it into actual practice.

Crude Methods at First. H. His methods at first were no doubt crude but showed that they were effective and capable of future development along scientific lines. No thought o. monetary profit entered the originator's mind, but the love of the work urged him on to greater things in his chosen callings.

Cleaning decayed trunks rotten wood be followed this simple process with the of the cavity with cement. "The cement thus applied stopped all decay and the bark of the tree began! cover the exposed cement and hide "it from view. The cement filler servad a double purpose, it was afterwards in that it not only stopped the natural decay but served as a strengthener ard aided the tree to the onslaught of wind storms. Science Developed Rapidly The science of tree surgery has de7vYeloped rapidly and all doubts as to its efficiency have disappeared. The treatment and saving of valuable trees Ia now well konwn and the crude Nmethods of the originator of the scheme have been developed and imBroved to such an extent that all of failure are slim indeed.

Oradually the idea of savjng trees for Ornamental and shade purposes is and today the science itself dot looked upon as a hoax or a e.Bme to secure money without an "quid pro quo." Enter Into Wise Contract The trees of the Opelousas court house square, due to age and other causes, have been showing many signs of decay and ultimate destruction in order to make the square safe from fali limbs or the trees themeselves. Ihe matter of treating these trees by a scientific process has been talked over before but nothing done. Time Uia passed and the trees themselves been showing further signs of de45y, and ift it was the intention to lave them some drastic steps had to taken at once in order to accomlIIsh that desired end. Hence, the pojee jury very wisely entered into a foatract with the treet surgeons to ave the fine trees on the square, and Jhe tree surgeons say there is no of failure and are willing that success of their work speak for itset. Miss Helen Fux left Wednesday for L.exandria to visit her brother, Tony.

Dr. L. J. Bauman and Miss Goslin Lawtell motored to New Iberia to friends in that Mrs. George Roulet, wife of the popagent of the Frisco at Port Barre, shopping in Opelousas ha few days' Attorney J.

Raoul Pavy of this city a legal visitor to Ville Platte the of the week. F. Bailey of Baton Rouge spent visitor to this city the first of the home folks. REV. S.

L. RIGGS IS NEW METHODIST PASTOR With the recent departure of Rev. J. D. Harper for McDonoughville, the pastorate of the local Methodist church is taken up by Rev.

S. L. Riggs, who was located at Lake Arthur during the past year. The new pastor will begin active service in his field of endeavor a tonce. He was received with warm welcome by the members of the Methodist congregation here.

FACE JUSTICE BAR AND HEARSENTENCE AT COURT'S HANDS Batch of Prisoners Recently Cbnvicted Get Terms in Pen SURRENCY FILES APPEAL TO HIGH COURT Criminal Term Winds Up and Court Starts Grind -On Civil Docket "Have you anything to say Why sentence should not be passed upon yoo?" This was the regular question asked by Judge Pavy in district court last Saturday morning, when; the number of prisoners convicted at the criminal term faced the bar of justice to hear the meted out to them for having violated the law 'in such cases made and provided. It was a motley aggregation that His Honor that morning. Some were white, the Irost were black, and the crimes charged ranged all the way from petty larceny to murder, interspersed with one case of forgery and another of cattle stealing. Culprits Face Bar Somehow Benny Green, Opelousas negro, couldn't resist the temptation of selling liquor, even though Uncle Sam, in hard and fast legistlation, said such traffic was illegal. In Benny'scase the local.

authorities went after him and he received $500 tine and six mionths in jail and an additional six months in default of payment. He fil.ed an appeal to the higher court. 'Jim Harris, negro was sentenced to for murder, having been convicted without capital punishment. Conductor J. S.

Surrency, who shot I and wounded Conductor Frank Hadley last August and convicted for life term, received his sentence and his attorneys filed notice of appeal to the supreme Long Term For Forgery Clinton Thhibodeplx was septenced to serve trown two to five yeirs at hard labor in the pen for forgery. He pleaded guilty to charge having withdraw his former plea of not guilty just before the case was called for trial. Guilty of manslaughter, said the trial jury in the case of the State vs. Mannie Goodwin, colored, and his term in the state penitentiary ranges from one to five years. Cattle Case Draws Attention The case which attracted much attention was that of State vs.

Glaude, et charged with stealing cattle. It was a gsneral mix-up about the one who got the sleeping' beef, and the principal in the case took French leave and -skipped for parts unknown, leaving his father, mother and sisters, to "face the music." On trial, William jlaude, wife and daughter, were found guilty as charged. Sentence was sespended as to the wife but William and his luckless daughter were sent over, the road for brief periods. The rt sai William should work for state for froin one to three years, and the daughter, Hen etta, would only have to. serve sir months.

This practically wound up day" and court adjourned to resume the hearing of cases on the ciril docket. EARLY MORNING FIRE DAMAGES RESIDENCE THOMPSON HOME OM NORTH UNION STREET SUFFERS BY SATURDAY BLAZE The fire alarm system was not working quite properly last Saturday morning, and as a cdrsequence an alarm rang in for a blaze at the home of Mrs. Wmn. Thompson on North Union street did not reach the fire station very promptly. The flames were discovered by Mr.

S. A. Irving, manager. of the rice warehouse on the Frisco tracks. Considerable damage to the property was occasioned by the flames, the roof and a portion of-the upper structure being entirely destroyed.

The loss is said to be fully covered by insurance. The fire was caused by a spark from the chimney. L. O. Provost, prosperous farmer of the Bayou Boenuf section, was a business visitor to this city the first fo the week.

KU KLUX KIAN TO BE REQRGANIZED THROUGHOUT SOUTH Long Defunct, Old Order -Will Be Resuscitated And Enlarged SAME PRINCIPLES TO GQVERN INSTITUTION Representative is Expected To Visit Opelousas to Form Local Klan Citizens who lived the reconstruction period following the civ11 w.ar recall the famous organization known far and wide as the Ku Klux Klan, which proved a holy terrior to the carpetbag regime that held sway in the southern states. The order is immortalized in, the famous novels cQf Thomas Dixon and stirring scenes of those stirring days have appeared in picture form in the "Birth of a Nation," Grifrith's moving picture that set America afire. To Orginize Here It will be Interesting to note that the old Klan is being reorganized throughout the south. The following interesting news story coneerning plans for extending the organization was sent out from the order's headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, in which it is stated a representative will visit Opelousas shortly to organize a Klan of the "Invisible Empire:" ite announcement was made today that plans are now being made to organize a brgnch of the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan. Several prominent citizens are said to be interested in the movement end it is understood a representative of the Klan will be in the city in a few days to confer with these citizen and to assist them, in the organization work.

Rejuvenation of Order The Knights Df the Ku Klux Klan, which is but a reorganization of the order that swept from the south the carpet-bagger and the scalawag in the stirring days of the reconstruction period and restored to the white people of the south their rightful place in the nation and the management of their own affairs, was formed in Atlanta in November, 1915. The idea of perpetuating the principles upon which the old Ku Klux Klan was founded originated in the mind of Colonel W. J. Simmons, npw professor of southern history at Lanier university in Atlanta. Colonel Simmons dedicated his life to this cause and for fourteen years thought and studied to prepare himself for this work.

TakeAllegianbe Oath On October 26, 1915, Colonel Simmons met with thirty-four of his friends and after unfolding his plane they signed a petition for a charter. On Thanksgiving night, 1915, the organizers assembled on top of Stone Mountain near Atlanta and there at midnight, under a blazing fiery cross, they took the oath of allegiance to the Invisible Empire Knights of the Ku Klux Klan. Since the Klan had among its organizers three members of the original Ku Klux Klan the new organizationwas granted, 4n its charter, all the legal rights and privileges as granted the original Klan. The charter was issued by state of Georgia December 4, 1915, and a special charter was granted by the Fulton county superior court July 1, 1916. While conditionis today are not the same as they were when the original Klan was organized, the-need for an ori 4zation of this chatacter is just as pressing now as it ever was, according to its founders.

To Teach Real Principles Its purpose is to inculcate the sacred principles and noble ideals of chivalry, the development of chAracter the protection of the home and the chastity of womanhood, the exemplitication of a pure patriotism, the preservation of American ideals and the maintenance of white supremacy. Only native-born American citizens who believe in the tenets of the chris-1 tian religion and owe no allegiance of any degree or nature to any foreign! government, political institution, sect people or persons are eligible for membreship. No man, it is declared, is.wanted in the order who Jasn't manhood enough to assume a real oath with serious purpose to keep the same invioldte. No man is wanted in the order who will not, or who cannot, swear an unqiialifled allegiance to the government of the United States of America, its flag Switution. Mr.

and Mrs. Goldman Lassalle, Miss Alma Lasalle, Goldman and Mr. R. Pevoto motored to rand Coteau convent and were the guests of Miss 1.1lian Lassalle' who is. attending school there.

Mr. and Mrs. Jim Shute Port Barre spent a day here recently as the guests of relatives. WHY THE CLARION IS LATE WITH THIS" ISSUE As a regular thing the Clarion goes to press Friday night This issue is several days late because of unavoidable difficulties not within our remedying. The municipal power' plant "went on the bum" Thursday morning and there was no current until 1:30 p.

m. MOnday Lacking "juice" the newspaper shop could not turn a wheel fo: all machinery is motordriven ahd absolutely dependent on current in order to function. Power plant repairs having been installed, we got busy, at 'once in order to complete a long-delayed job. The loafing spell was not at all t6. oar taste for with its ending came work in a double and treble dose, in order to catch up with speeding tirer We hope it will not occuir again; and it will not occur unless the power plant tries a few more stunts in the break-down line.

DEADLY SEND BUD IIAAS TO EARLY GRAVE Wednesday's Tragedy 'Was Distinctive Shqck to Opelouseans DUFILHO INFLICTED DEATH-DEALING SHOTS Cause of Affair Seems Wrapped in Mystery; Opinions Differ R. M. Dufilho, who shot and. killed A. Haas Wednesday afternoon, was released from jail late the same atternoon on his own recognizance and returned to his home for the night.

Thursday morning his bond was fixed at one thousand dollars which was immediately furnished. The- charge against him is manslaughter. Dr. A. M.

Haas, better known at "Bud" Haas, was shot end instantly killed Wednesday at about I o'clock by Roger M. Dufilho. The tragedy occurred at the main entrance to the Ben Riseman mercantile ehtablish. ment, on the corner of Lendtry and Market streets. Dufilho is a clerk in the has been there for many years.

Three shots were fired, two taking effect and the third and last being fire4d. into the floor. The unfortunate man, it is said, he was armed and some state be attempted to draw his gun, others assert he had it In his hand: when he entered the building. There- are a number of conflicting statements as to the exact happenings and no one ban be entirely sure until the facts are brought out in legal fashion. Following the shooting Mr.

Lufilho surrendered to the officers and. was placed in the parish Jail. The body of Dr. Haas was moved to his home and preparations made for the funeral, which took place on Thursday after. noon, with interment in the Jewish Verdict of Coroner's 'Jury A coroner's jury, composed of Gordon Oge A.

C. Mouret, Eraste Devilliers, H. D. Littell and Andrew Mores4, was quickly and the inqyest being brief verdict stating simply that deceased came to his by gunshot wounds inflicted by R. M.

Du fllho was rdndered. The only' eye witnesses to the afair, Ben Riseman employer of Duftiho; H. P. Robin and Lloyd Landry, these two being with Dr. Haas were the only ones examined by the jury.

Facts Not Known Whether the deceased and Dutlho bhad had a8y previous trouble is not known. The only clearly established facts are that Haas, accompanied by Robin and Landry, drove antomobile to the.Risemanf sas alighted friom the car and entered the building and within a few seconds-was lying dead with two wounds in his body 'eithei, of which would have been sufficient to cause death. Robin and Dufilho are brothers-in-law, having married two sisters. Principals Well Connected The principals in the affair are well known here. The deceased, was a son of the late.

Samuel Haa, and his wife a dapggr of -the late Sol Loeb.x Born and reared 'in Bayou Chicot, now in Evangeline paribh, he moved'to Opelousas a number of years ago and has made Mhis homne here' since. His two brothers bre ir. John A. Hanas, prominent capitalist and president of the St. Landry Bank and Trust Company; and Leon S8.

Haas, former state senator and head of the Haas garage in this city. He leaves a wife, chbitd, two brothers and one sister, Mrs. W. D. Haas of Alexandria.

Roger M. Dufilbo was raised here and is well connected. He has his home and "farm on the Washington road three miles from Opelousas and CURING PLANT FOR CITY IS NOW ASSURED Sibille Stelly Will Erect It Without Any Outside Capital ESTABLISHMENT MEANS MUCH FOR FARMERS Sweet Potato Crop Is Growing in Importance and Must be Saved Thie long talked about sweet potato curing plant in Opelousas is now a It will not be a stock company, but will be built by Messrs. John Sibille and Simon Stelly, both residents of this city. After having had an interview with the new firm of Sibille Stelly, we were assured that the plant will be built and ready for the 1921 potato crop.

They have already contracted for the site and they are now looking out for government plans to heat the building. Mr. Sibille, senior member of the firm, has already the experience and he is the largest potato shipper from the village of Sunset at the prerent time. The two partners in this new enterprise will always be on the watch for the best markets so that they can handly the next year's crop of sweet potatoes for the farmers as profitable to all parties as is possible. SLots of Suitable Soil Everyone here with the least kniowlledge of farming is wise to the fact that soil in this territory produces some of the best potatoes that were ever put on the market.

The demand 'for these St. Landry "sweets" is growt1ag every day. Potatoes are now being used in all countries and can only Sbe produced successfully in a few southern and eastern states, assuring the farmers of this section, therefore, that there will always be a demand for their potato crqp. The south has had a set-back this year in the marketing of cotton, rice and sugar cane, auI th's lesson teaches us more than ever the necessity of diversifying in our methods of agriculture, otherwise we will never be successful. Most Profitable Crop After the farmer learns the potato game will find that it will be the most profitable crop he can raise, because Ihe can plant potatoes where nothing I else will grow such as, on the poor sandy hills and uplands of the wellknown "brown loam" type that have been over-cropped and become deficient in necessary elements for grain production.

Potatoes are a crop that do no require expensive ilabor, and the producer realizes his cash returns early in the season. There are several sections in the neighborhood of Opelousas, such as around Sunset and Arnaud-ille, which have taken up sweet culture on a large kc'ale since the coming the boll weevil. The farmers in thees sections have not entirely on cqtton or cane since 'then, and today they are not as badly "stung" as farmers who have confined their agricuttural operations to what is known as staple crops. These fortunate farmel-s are prosperous and intend going heavier in potato culture another season. Can Get Information Those farmers in the Opelousas neighborhood who wish to plant potatoes on a large scale next year will do well to call on Mr.

SibMlle or Mr. Stelly, and from either or both of these gentlemen they can secure all infornmation concerning the variety of potatoes mostly demanded by the trade, where to sedure the plants and where and how to plant, etc. The promoters! of the new curing plant will be pleased to hear the different views of farmers on this important subject at once, and they assure a Ilinterested parties that they will use every effort in helping them make sweet potaatces their most and most profitable crop. INSTALLING FIXTURES IN PARISH BANK BUULDING The fixtures for the new Parish Bank and Trust Company having arriv-. ed, the work of installing them permaeneetly was accomplished as quickly as possible in order to facilitate the early opening of the bank, which has been long delayed on account of the late arrival of these fixtures.

The vault was completed some tiple ago, and President Mlstric ani Cashier Andrus have been anxious to start operains as soon as possIble. Mrs. A. A. Comeau was a recent visitor to Eunice where she went to see her uncele, Dr.

W. H. Ray, who was injured 1n an auto accident near Lake Charles. has driven to his work in the Riseman store every day for years. Like Haas, he also is a man of family.

He has large family connections in St. SLandry, Evangeline and New Orleans. PRESIDENT ELECT PASSES THROUGH SPECIAL TRAIN CARRIES COMING EXECUTIVE OVER THE GULF COAST LINES In the early hours of Thursday morning. just before the break of day and long before anyone was out of bed, the sliecial train carrying President-elect Warren G. Harding passed through Opelousas over the Gulf Coast Lines bound for New Orleans.

The train came through from Browns ville, Texas, and ran on a twentyfour hour schedule in New Orleans early Thursday. In that city th ecmoing chief executive received a royal welcome and was shown every mark of respect. A full program for his entertainment had been arranged and he delivered an address to the people of the city. From New Orleans he departed via steamer to the canal zone where he intends looking over governmental affairs in order to familiarize himself with a portion of his duties as president. LACK OF POWER AT CITY PLANT HITS ALL HARD Newspaper Shops Especially Suffer by Failure of Current ONLY IN SPOTS AND SPOTS FAR BETWEEN One Engine Going, Two Out of Commission Cause of All The municipal electric light plant, as was partly expected went on the blink the first of the week and vs a result of the breal-dow: of two of the three engines t' i to turnish current on ".1 at all times, and most of time' there wasn't any current at all.

This latter state of afftairq proved a hard blow to the print shops of the city, for all are motor driven and witho.it current neither presses nor typesetting machines could be operated. Hence, the- force of workmen had to stand idle and witness the of valuable titpe and realize that nothing was being acoemplbed toward publishing the papers on schis duled time. Only One Engine It simply couldn't be helped, for there was but one lone engine in commission at the power plant and it was unable to stand the big strain of carrying every circuit in the city. To -have attempted such a performance would have been risky indeed if the third engine had followed suit with its two partners there wouldn't have been an ounce of epergy with which to pump water in the big tank and If water was lacking the public can well understand what might happen if a fire' started. Superintendent Jordan -herefore wisely refrained from risking the sole engine at his command and gave current in spots scattered few and far between.

One night there was illumination for street lights but residences and bneiness houses were in darkness or, used oil lamps and candles. The same night at about 12 o'clock the street lights were turned out and the current switched to house lights and the print shops were able to operate from that hour until the "Juice" wen at 9 the next morning. It came on again Wednesday evening at 6, and the printers, idle all day, had to roll up their steeves and get busy on a long run at night. To Repair Cripples Repairs for the two damaged engines, in the shape of a brand new orank shaft for one and the repaired shaft for the other was due to arrive during the week and alter their arrival the force of employees will work day and night in installing the shafts and getting the plant in ship-shape again. When these repairs are completed it is expected that no further seriois trouble will be experienced.

The whole thing has been exasperating in great degree, but it'-s fortunate indeed that an absolute break-down was not experienced altogether. Best "Nursing" Required Pending the arrival of the new plant and its Installatlon-which may be fully three months off-the acting superintendent and his assistants will exert every effort to prevent a recurrence of what happened this week. IEt has long been known that the engines were in a serious shape and it has required the best of "nursing" in order to keep them going thus long. It has proved an eippensive undertaking but the 'job had to be faced anyhow in order to insure some kind of service for the patrons of the plant. Lawrence Fux of htifs city was the guest of triends in Lafayette reCently.

CONVENTIONS NAME DISTRICT DELEGATES TO THE BIG POW-WOW Sixteen Selected from State's Eight Congressional Districts PUGH AND POWELL IN THE SEVENTH Acadia Jurist, Beauregard Statesman, to'Represent Seventh Cdnventions to nominate tw odele. gates each in the eight congressional districts of the state were held Tuesday. The nominess of the several conventions will appear on the official ballot at the election to be held on Tuesday, December 14 next, and after their formal election will represent the state-at-large in the constitutional convention to be held in Baton Rouge beginning March 1. 1921. The sixteen men selected by the' eight conventions are as follows: First District-John P.

Sullivan, Charles P. Claiborne, both of New Or. leans. Second' District-Harry W. FPiapa.

trlcJ of New Orleans and Conrad F. 1 of Jefferson Third District-Emile Sundberry of Assumption and O. Picot of St. Mary. Fourth Disttict--StdneyjL.

Herrold of Caddo and Thomas P. Land of Clalborne. Fifth Distriot--Joseph D. Barksdale of Lincola and J. T.

McClellan of Sixth Ditrit--Charles Holcomibe of East Baton Rouge and Albin Provosity of Pointe Coupee. Seventh District-Philip 8. Pugh of Acadia nad Frank E. Powell ot gard. Eighth District--Phanor Breaseal of Natobhitoches and iH.

H. White of Rapides. With the naming of these sixteen, the entire personnel of the convention is named with -tha exception of f.p yet to be appoited by the gOvernor. thetwelve to be named by the executive eight have already been made had only remain. The governor has made no' lntimaftfo as to whose the four remaining Poies will be, and al.k talk-as to the lucky ones are but Conjectures or guesswork.

Of the eight already named 'by him two are wom.enf and the convention of one hu qdred shd forty-six will (save at least two teom. males In it to help frame the new orr-c ganic law of Louisiana. OF MEETING DECEMBER SEVERAL OFFICERS TO DE ELECT. ED AN DIN4STALLED AT THAT TIME The Opelousas council of tcbs Knights of Columbus will hold its rea 'ular meeting on Sunday, December 22, at which time several officers will selected and installed. The regular installation was held some Sundays ago but as several of the subordinati positions had not been tilled, the Deo cqmber meeting ares been chosen as the proper time to make such selectfons and install those picked for same.

All members of the organiasion are requested to be on hand at 'that time 'a" qaite a Itmber of mnportant matters are to comeup for discusson and consideratiton. In addition to the regular order, a pleasing diversion will be the awarding of a gold K. of C. button to some member for the performance of some meritorious sertice, and this feature will be a rpgular affair at every sue-, essive meeting. Alfred Vidrine, po.

plar city mairl earrier, is the new grand knight of the local council, and under his guidance the assistance of his fellow officers and the members of the order, Opelousas council is forging to the.front rank among the numerous bodies of the order in Lo.sfaiana. Miss Alma Lassalle left for Baton Rouge to spend the Thanksgiving hol-. idays with her aunt, Mrs. Leo J. Lassalle.

FOURTH RED CROSS ROLL CALL Dr. J. A. Perrault, Chairman "It aint the guns Nor ornamentNor funds that they can pay, But the close co-operation That makes them win the day, It aint the In'dividual, Nor the army as a whole, the everlasting Teamwork of every Blooming Soul." -Kipling. Donated by Dr.

R. M. Littelt).