The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1903-07-30
Then indeed did Duncan wrestle

Then indeed did Duncan wrestlo
with the evil one. The price was so
high, his necessity SO great and his
desire to achieve some sort of indie
pendence so he could marry Alice and
begin career apart from the busi-
ness he despised so heartily that he
was swept off his feet. After long
wrestle with his conscience wherein
he succeeded in downing the trouble
some member, he went to call on
Alice. OF course he said nothing of
the matter to her, but when he left
the house he was all at sea again
The conversation had turned on eth
les and the high stand she took and
the glimpse she gave him Of her
great soul brought it home to him
that he never could lay down to her
the spoils of corruption.
The next day the gang" was as
tonished to learn of his refusal of the
offer. The situation then became des-
perate, because the construction COM
pany played an important part in the
plans of the party leaders, that if the
contract went elsewhere their hold
on party workers would be weak
ened to an extent that their suprem-
acy would be weakened and even
party success imperiled. Another
card must be played and played
quick. So the mayor was again
called in and Taylor was summoned
to his Office and informed that the
contract must go to this company in
order to keep things together" Dun
can was told that whispers of the dis
graceful offer made him reached the
| executive and he was complimented
on his integrity. The bid now to be
made, however, was to be absolutely
"on the square" the mayor had been
informed, and must be accepted for
political reasons. And his honor
pointed out that Duncan's political
future was identified with that of the
administration and limited at high
honors ahead for the young man il
he were "wise."
"It's Just as well this way" re
marked the mayor in talking it over
1--WE will get the dough and throw
the blame on him."
But when Duncan thought it ovel
he decided that he would not be /,
party to the deal and would run hi
own office. So he informed the mayo,
in a note in answer to which he re
ceived prompt request for his resig
nation. This aroused his fighting
blood and he promptly published tn
correspondence in the newspapers
together with statement Of the cas-
and his determination to retain tn
Office until the water works wer
built, unless he was removed. Thi
took the underpinning from tn
gang" for they knew the counci
would never dare approve of
change under the circumstances.
Well, that's about all there is to II
The water works were honestly bull
The powers behind the constructio
company threatened the overtime,
, of the party and the dominant fat
. ton were so impressed that the
cVducO Cuc uOulludtlOus DuHCdA btt
l his opportunity, went after the non
: ination and got it easily, as til
gang" saw an easy way to eliminat
t him from politics through the defea
that they SHE'D at. But they reel
). oned without the people and Dul
: cans level head. He was elected an
on the reputation and notoriety a
! quired during the events here ma
b rated and the record he made 4
mayor captured the nomination 4
!. governor two years later, cleanin
r out "the organization" In the meal
Y time he had sold the business mo-
: favorably and adjusted his father
9 estate so the family was in comfor
o able circumstances. And shortly a
!. ter his election as governor the
r was a wedding at the capital in whit
), the entire state took interest, al
il Duncan had always near him tt
v counselor and conscience which hs
r saved him from degradation and ru
Y and who shone in the new career
IS which she came as she did in the y
e higher one to which Duncan afte
l. ward took her at the national ca
ital.