Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-06-23
THE NOMINEE.

THE NOMINEE.
Joseph Ralph Burton, the nominee
OF the Fifth district for congressman.
was born on farm near Mitchell
Ind, in 1852. He spent his boyhood
working on farm during nine months
IN the year and received his first educa-
tiOn from the traditional HoOsier coun-
Wy schoolmaster during the remaining
thFee months. Later he attended the
academy at Mitchell and at IS entered
FRANKLIN college. Here he remained
Two years Besides the regular courses
ne TOOK special training in oratorv
under the president, Dr. Wayland.
editor of the National Baptist, Phila,
delphia, Afterward he attended De
Pauw university, then Asbury uniyer-
siIy, Among his teachers was Bishop
Bowman, OF the Methodist church.
and DIR. John Clarke Redpatb. the
author. His room mate was the now
celebrated DIR. j. B. Denote,
During college life he made money
to keep him in school by teaching elo-
cut.on. Leaving college he read law
at Indianapolis with the celebrated
firm of Gorden, Brown & Lamb. Be.
sides the privileges of the Office he was
Tie constant companion of General
Brown and Major Gorden, two on
lhdiand's famous orators. He began
the practice of law at Princeton, Ind.,
IN 1870 ana at once entered on lucra-
tive practice. lie was on the republi-
can electoral ticket in 1876 and made
63 speeches in that CAM aigD.
lie visited Kansas for health and
recreation in the summer of 1878 and
III the fall OF the same year removed to
Abilene and formed law partnership
with j. ii. Mahan. lie devoted himself
to the large practice Of the firm and
was notably successful as a criminal
lawyer, conducting some of the most
famous cases in the state.
ln 1852 he was elected TO the legisla-
ture from the North Dickinson district
and was reelected in 1854, being
speaker pro TEN of the house that ses-
sion. He made the race for the con-
gressional nomination in 1856 when
Congressman Anderson was seemingly
all powerful. In 1883 while speaking
for the national ticket in Maine be was
again nominated for the legislature
and was elected by large majority,
leading the entire ticket in the district.
On entering the legislature, although
one OF the youngest mt mbers. he took a
high rank and together with his bril-
liant colleague, G. B. Hoffman, started
agitation on railroad legislation, tue
result of which has been SO beneficial.
At the last session lie was the fecog-
nized leader in cutting down appropri-
ations and wrote and introduced the
first antitrust bill that ever became a
law. The present national antitrust
laW'p"ssSd by congress is a part of the
same measure.
In the campaigns Of 1854 and 1883 he
was called by the national committee
to stump Indiana and Maine. One
year ago he was selected by the repub-
licans to be pitted against the leader of
the peoples party, Senator W. A.
Peifer, ia the famous series of joint
debates and the result of that discus
sion was conceded by even the peoples
party managers as a great victory for
the republican party as well as per-
sonal triumph for Mr., Burton.
Although connected with the law
firm of Burton Il Moore for three years
his personal business engrosscd nearly
all his time, being chiefly engaged in
reclaiming arid lands in Montana and
Colorado by irrigation.
The worlds Fair commissionorship
was rendered him few months since
by Gov. Humphrey ard President
Palmer and the judiciary committee Of
the Worlds Fair board were 80 i'm
pressed with him at his first appe earance
on the board that he was made mem.
Der of the judiciary committee.
=, The present honor Of the nomination
for congress has been rendered him
almost unanimously by the entire Fifth
district with no effort on his part,
Abilene, his home for ii years, is
proud of bis success and though he is
with invitations TO speak
throughout the state, being recognized
rs Kansas best orator, he is most
orized at home and can draw a larger
,rowd whenever advertised to speak
han an outsider. He will make
chool district campaign this fall and
he Fifth district will honor him with
zig majority.