The Irish standard., 1912-05-18

natured, asserting laugh, writes Very
Rev. Francis G. Kelly, D. D., in "Ex-
tension" for the new mayor of La
peer, Mich, is a priest and a Repub.
lican. He defeated the most popu.
lar Democrat in town by :. neat and
comfortable majority. The mayors
name is Rev. Patrick R. DUNCAN. He
has a genial smile, hard grip, an
Irish face and a bald head. He did
not want to be nominated; in fact,
he refused, but they forced it on him
He threatened to leave town on cleo
ton day, and did, but when he came
back he was the duly elected mayor
and could not help himself We know
the Honorable and Rev. Patrick R.
DUNCAN. We also know Lapeer. In
fact, Father DUNCAN was our own
successor in that parish. rhe people
of the town may be Judged from their
action in Father Dunigan's regard.
They are typical Yankees almost to
a man, and they have the best that
is in the old Yankee spirit in them.
Strong-minded themselves and tena-
cious of their views, they do not,
however, ask others to compromise on
theirs. Father DUNCAN was not elect
ed mayor because he was considered
a liberal in theology. In fact, he
knowns his own theology we'll, and,
over and above, is a bit of philoso-
pher."
Further interesting details of how
and why Lapeer chose Father Duni-
gan as it's chief magistrate are given
by Michael ]. Phillips in the de
troit News-Tribune." We read:
Father DUNCAN is mayor of La
peer, and Lapeer is glad of it. Both
the man and the community, think
the outside world, must be remark
able. And the outside world is right.
Father DUNCAN is remarkable man
and Lapeer is a remarkable city.
ITO take the community first: La
peer does not differ greatly in appear
ance from other towns of the state
1t has a population of $500: it is
alive and prosperous; It's main street
is. paved. 1t is surrounded by rich
farming land and has a few manu-
| factories. AS q community it is over
whelmingly Protestant. There were
721 votes cast at the spring cleo
ton, Of which Father DUNCAN re-
ceived All and his opponent, DR..
Frank Tucker, 80. This left ma
jor Of 101 for the priest, the Repub-
lican nominee. And of the 721 votes
just 81 were cast by Catholics.
"The Catholics did not do it; there
aren't enough of them. So it must
be that Lapeer is remarkably broad
gagged and tolerant from religious
standpoint. But there must be a rea.
son for Lapeer's brotherliness. There
is: rather there are two reasons; Fa-
Their Francis G. Kelly and Father Pat
rick R. DUNCAN,
Father Kelly, now president of the
Church Extension society and one of
the most eminent Catholics of the
country, came to Lapeer twenty years
ago, lad fresh from college. It was
his first parish. It is a tradition in
Lapeer, that could neither be dis.
proved nor verified, that when he
first appeared on Lapeer's streets, the
small boys followed him in a drove,
jeering and hurting apples and stones
after him. If that ever really &C.
CURED, it was not repeated, for Father
Kelly began the education of Lapeer
Father Kelly made good inside his
church as we'll as out. He won back
those who had fallen away and at.
tracted converts besides. He bueft a
beautiful church of field stone, one of
the most striking edifices in Central
Michigan. The parish residence is
one of the finest homes in Lapeer.
Both church and rectory are in the
best residence portion of Lapeer.
when Father Kelly was called
away to become the head of the pow
erful Church Extension society, which
he founded, and which has the sane
I ton and the friendship of the pope
himself. Father DUNCAN volunteered
to succeed him at Lapeer. Protestant
Lapeer said: Well, here's something
else again! Another Catholic priest
to get acquainted with. Wonder what
he's like? Hope he's like Father
Kelly
Father DUNCAN is forty-one years
old. He was born in Emmett, the
Irish village and settlement between