The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1899-09-07
PAPER By ". B. B0GGS
Read at the Red Land Barbecue by an
Officer Of tho Day.

i
DEAR sIR:-I desire to say to
you, and through you to the peo-
pie, that owing to an extra ses-
sion of the legislature, called by
the Governor to meet at Baton
Rouge on the 9Th instant, | will be
prevented from being with you at
the barbecue, which feel assur-
ed will be grand success.
/ feel it to be my duty to be on
hand at that extra session, even
if | do have to deprive myself of
the pleasure of being with you
and addressing the people. Icon
slider it to be the duty Of every
official to perform his duty, even if
he has to deprive himself of per-
sonal pleasure or sacrifice his po-
litical interest; and in this case,
while there is nothing to come up
where the people of Bossier will
be directly interested, I would
perform my duty in the position
the people Of Bossier have SO
highly honored me with even if I
knew would lose the re-nomina-
ton by not being with you on the
10th instant. :" Duty always be-
fore personal interest in political
advancement I" is my motto.
Now, my friends, while | am
prevented from appearing before
you in person with my honorable
and esteemed opponents, I desire
in this communication, which will
be read by a kind friend, to ex-
tend my sincere thanks to all, and
especially to the citizens of ward
four, where | was raised, for the
almost unanimous support given
me for representative in the past;
where at the last primary election
l received 1875 votes, while both of
my opponents, who were good
men, received, between them,
only Al votes, and in ward three,
where I have lived since 1888, I
received 141 votes, while both of
my opponents received, between
them, only 20 votes, which gives
me the consolation of knowing
that / stand best where am
known best, and | assure you I
appreciate and feel proud of it.
/ regret the more not being
able to appear before you in per-
son, because it was at old Red
Land that / received what little
education have, where / began
my first business experience, upon
which / have, by persistent effort
and personal application at all
times, obtained what little busi-
ness qualification may now pos.
sess, and where in 1888, eleven
years ago, in front of the old Red
Land store, | attempted to make
my first political speech; and, as
your meeting is the formal OPEN
ing of the Bossier parish cam
paign | would be glad, notwith-
standing I feel my inability and
know that / am not a public
speaker, to be there and do the
best | could, but it being impos-
sible for me to be there and per-
form my duty as your represen-
tative at the same time, / humbly
submit.
In conclusion, I kindly solicit
your support for denomination
as one Of your representatives
and desire to say that I have
made up my mind to make the
race in an honorable manner, and
If cannot say anything to COM
mend, or, at least, what is true
about my opponents, I will not
condemn or misrepresent them;
:" justice +" being my motto. And
while / would appreciate and like
to have every vote that is cast, |
do not want any Of my friends to
speak unjustly or misrepresent
any OF my opponents in order to
secure votes for me. Let us make
the race in an honorable manner
and upon merit and qualification,
and the men who get the nomina-
tons that way will appreciate it
much more and will be proud to
know that they have the honor
or representing one of the best
constituencies and parishes in the
State.
Thanking you again for past
favors, and earnestly soliciting
the vote of every voter and the
influence of all the ladies, which
will be certain to secure me the
nomination, / beg to remain,
Your obedient servant,
w. B. BoGGs.
A Word to Mothers.