Jasper County Democrat, Volume 16, Number 83, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 January 1914 — GENERAL AND STATE NEWS [ARTICLE]

GENERAL AND STATE NEWS

Telegraphic Reports from Many Parts of the Country «*— SHORT BITS OF THE UNUSUAL Hap]»enings in Distant and Nearby Cities and towns—Matters of Minor Mention from Many Places. Mayor Durgan Left a Good Record. No man ever retired from public office who enjoyed more thoroughly the confidence, the respect and the esteem of his fellow citizens than does George R. Durgan. After ten years of faithful service to the city he retires the same George Durgan he was before his elevation to office. Victory never caused him to be vain, boastful or exultant. Defeat did not cause him to be sore, revengeful or disgruntled. Through victory and defeat he remains unchanged. His ten years at the head of Lafayette city government have been ten years of steady, honest prosperity for Lafayette. He turns over the city with its property more valuable than he found it. He turns it over with a lower tax rate; with its bills all paid and a healthy balance on hand in all departments. He has builded Columbian park; started play.grounds in different parts of the city; erected new fire houses; installed motor fire equipment and builded miles of improved streets. He has given the city freely of his time and energy. His office door was always open and in trouble and distress he was the friend of rich and poor alike. He was always fair and did not exercise his office for private gain. He occupied the middle ground between the puritanical fanatic and the lawless extremist. He appointed men of broad views and sterling character on his boards and did not assume their authority but counseled them and advised them. He did not command. No taint attaches to his administration—he allowed no grafting, no payment for si»ecial privilege. George Durgan has made a model mayor and the best wish that can be extended Thomas Bauer is that he does as well. George R. Durgan retires from the mayor’s office a bigger, a better thought of man Ilian he ever was before. He will come back!—Tippecanoe County Democrat.