The Irish standard., 1912-05-18
THE MAYOR OF LAPEER
HOW AND WHY A PROTESTANT CITY ELECTED
PRIEST AS IT'S CHIEF MAGISTRATE.

e'6Ss9sssSsS'6SS9SSs9 S7:s19sSsSsa.ASzs996
Lapeer and Port Huron, which has
the unique distinction of owning no
church but a maGaifcent Catholic edi.
flee and jail, which never had but
! one prisoner. Father Dunigan's grand
father is the man who founded EN-.
NETT, and his father, hale old man
of seventy, still lives there.
Father DUNCAN was ordained to
the priesthood in Detroit. The future
mayor attended college at Sandwich
and Berlin, Ontario, and at Baltimore.
He is in his sixth year at Lapeer.
He fitted into the niche which Father
Kelly had created. AS he had at
Crosswell, he removed the old debt
which hung over the stone church.
The successful men of Lapeer ad-
mfred his business ability. Knowing
how hard it is to finance church
property in small town, they appre-
ciated what Father DUNCAN did.
"One point should be made very
clear. He is not mayor of Lapeer be-
cause he sought Protestant popular.
ity. He did not trim his sails to catch
the vagrant breeze. He is, above all
else. a priest of the Catholic church.
HE is not mayor of Lapeer be-
cause he is politician. He is Re-
publican, and always has been. The
citv oonvopt ior uyh;oh nominated h3r,
was one of the few, if not actually
the first, convention he had ever at
tended. He went to that because DIR.
Frazier, his friend, meeting him on
the street, took him by the arm and
led him into the convention hall.
"And he was not elected because
he campaigned after being given the
nomination. He asked no man to
vote for him. He influenced no bal
lot by persuasion. Lent was drawing
to close and his duties in the church
were manifold. He attended to those
duties.
"This ends the recitation of the
things that might have, but did not,
enter into his election. Then why
was he elected?
Because Lapeer had learned that
a Catholic priest is gentleman and
a patriotic American citizen
Because it had learned that Fa-
Their DUNCAN was an able business
man. r." y
But most of all because he is one
who loves his fellow-men.'
Because, as one of the most promi-
nent Professionals in Lapeer said, he's
good; genuinely good -
Father DUNCAN likes to talk to
folks. He is famous visitor He
sits contentedly, when time permits,
by the side of life's road and with
out pose or pretense Is friend to
those that pass. But he doesn't con-
fine good works to talking. If there
is person taken sick in Lapeer who
thinks he Is alone and friendless and
penniless, he soon discovers his mis-
take. For Father DUNCAN is pretty
sure to show up about the, second day
AS soon as the doctors, who are in
league with him, report. He sits down
by the bed and begins visiting Aft
er a good, comfortable talk, Father
DUNCAN goes away. Then there comes
coal for the stove. or quilts for the
bed, or groceries for the empty larder
whatever is needed the worst. La
peer stores have running accounts
with Father DUNCAN that very few
people know about.
"Those are some of the things
which have made priest the mayor
of Lapeer.
"At the first council meeting he
pleaded for harmony. He said in sub
stance to the aldermen: We're all
friends together, chosen to run the
city for year. We all want to DO
the best we can for our home town.
We're all honest, so we'll get along.'>
AND, of course, they will.
"The first problem which faces the
council is that of the saloon. Lapeer
county is wet again, after having
been dry two years. Formerly La
peer city had nine saloons. Said Fa-
Their DUNCAN: That's too many The
competition is too great. The saloon
men may have to violate the law to
make living. suggest that we have
ro1~ 4paIx To
hotel
"The council thought it over and
remarked that five was about the
right number, the three hotels~,and
two others. That's a reduction of
nearly half, said the mayor. I agree
And SO Lapeer will Aave five saloons
instead of nine"
hic douohfo~ lillian IN Iv,oiI po,sl,-