The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-10-31
LABOR'S FALSE FRIEND.

Editor of The Tribune.
Sir-The Democratic candidate for rem
resentative in the Fourth legislative dis
trlct is NJ. II. Burke. He has done con-
siderable crying ever since he became the
nominee. In last Fridays issues of the
Leader and Herald he came out with his
record on the free text book bill, over the
signatures of three of our most estimable
and worthy citizens. He must have gone
to much pains as well as labor to try to
convince the Investigators that he was
truly great and that he was a very much
wronged man. 1t is true that he did not
vote in the affirmative on the bill on its
final reading in the house, though the
record he produces does say so on page
l,2OG. The secretary of the house says 1t
Is wrong If the records show 1t. But, for
the sake of argument let this pass. Let
us say he did vote for.it and give him all
the honors and more than all rightfully
due him. We can yet find abundant rea
son why he should be defeated
Suppose, for Instance, we review his
record as Knight of Labor, "the work
ingman's friend" Immediately after Mr..
Burke became secretary of District 16 of
the knights of Labor he stopped working.
He soon became a teacher in the public
schools in Carbondale township While
in that capacity he was almost semi
monthly called to ofiiciate at the meeting
of the board. For this service he re-
ceived s. a day and expenses. When not
at his duties as teacher 1t was necessary
that he should procure some person to
take his place. (For the position Of
teacher he received $65 q month";. He got
a very capable young lady and to her,
it is said, he gave the large sum of 81 a
day, thus making as profit $.25 day.
Instead Of giving the lady who more than
filled his boots" 1926 which was due her,
providing he had the interest of labor at
heart, he is said to have given her that
miserable .pittance of 81 a day and took a
rake-off of $2.25 per diem. Readers and
Democrats, Is he true Knight of Laborf
Not only has he done this, but on sew
eral occasions has he stumped the ticket
and elected the Republican candidate.
He has lived on the blood of the public
for the last ten years, and will try to
continue If enough rope is given him.
There Is a vast difference between voting
for a chronic office seeker like Burke and
casting your ballot for young man, sin
cere, honest and trustworthy, like c. p.
O'Malley, who Is young man in the
prime of life, you may say without a
penny, seeking to make name for HIM
self so that his friends and family in the
future may look upon him with pride and
be thankful that he was one of theirs.
O'Malley though young, in our estima-
ton, is one hundred times more able than
our present representative, He is not a
policy man and cannot be found on both
sides of question, pleading with equal
facility and earnestness. He is too hon.
est to try to be a society man so as to
further his own ends. Mr.. Burke with
ont doubt would join every organiza-
ton known, if allowed, so that he might
be kept idly doing nothing but live on the
fat of the public If he dare contradict
my statements and give me ample time
to refute his, | will be only too pleased
to let the voters of the Fourth legislative
district know more of him and what he
thinks of the workingmen.
]. Burke.
Carbondale, Oct. 30.