Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1902-09-20
BURKE STRONGER THAN EVER.


To an unbiased and impartial OBJ
server the efforts of the enemies of
Robert L. Burke, both in the press and
outside Of 1t, to make that gentleman
an issue in the campaign would be pos.
itively amusing were not the malignan-
cy of those engaged in it so evident.
In some issues Of the dailies devoted
to attacks upon Mr.. Burke We find, for
instance, sometimes in the same col
umn, the announcement that Burke
has been cut of from all participation
in the county campaign" closely fol-
lowed by another to the effect that
MANY Democrats are dissatisfied over
the bossing Of the campaign by Burke
and Harrison and suspicious over an
alleged understanding between these
gentlemen and the Republican cam.
paign managers"
These would.be maligners Of Burke
are SO absurd in their conflicting state.
ments, allegations and innuendoes, that
their calumnies fall short Of the mark
and find no Judgment in the minds Of
decent, honorable citizens.
Certain pin.headed leaders Of graft
ers' unions and other similar organiza-
tons fall into the same ridiculous and
illogical position, and inveigh against
any campaign "bOssed by Burke and
Harrison" In full view Of the fact that
Mayor Harrison has forced the regular
Democratic organization out Of all
control and practically out Of all par.
ticipation In the campaign, installing Il
so.called advisory committee In COM
mand, and also In usurpation Of the
duties of the central committee which
carried the mandate Of the people OF
the party to manage and control Its
affairs.
In some publications one finds sly
illusions, amounting practically to con
demnation Of Mr.. Burke's alleged In
ertness In the campaign, and on top Of
this lying statements anent Mr.. Burkc''
alleged methods. his hand being seen In
certain conditions. and so forth.
So that It would seem that the policy
Of these calumniators and pinheads II
regard to Burke's leadership or non
leadership Ia to have him damned II III
does and damned II he doesn't"
Good Democrats, and even fair-mind
cd Republicans, have naught but con
tempt for such methods Of defama
ton, and petty persecution. For TIT
benefit of such as resort to these meth
DDS the Eagle reproduces the following
extract from q recent editorial In til
esteemed Inter Ocean, probably tn
most uncompromislng Republican or
gan in the West:
1.-THE Democratic county campaign
committee has at length settled dow
to work, and 1t will be well for he
publicans to consider seriously tn
conditions that they will henceforth b.
| called upon to meet in regard to tn
retirement Of Mr.. r. e. Burke.
mfr. Burke's methods. whatever els
may be said for or against him. hav
always been dangerous methods from
Republican point of view. Mr.. Burk
Is a worker himself and he pOssesse
to a remarkable degree the faculty Q
surrounding himself with workers.
mo practical Republican underest
mates his organizing ability or the pow
er which 1t IL his wont to obtain an
exercise over the rank and file Of III
party. More than this. all practical n
publicans have reason to know that NJ
Burke's methods are those which 1t
impossible sometimes for the shrewdei
OF his opponents to uncover or will
stand.
"There will be some rejoicing In II
publican circles, therefore. that Ro|
ert e. Burke has been compelled
take a rest. To many Republicans h
retirement from active participation
the campaign will mean an easy vi
tory for the Republican county tickc
Republicans, however, mu'
take nothing for granted, and put n
their energies into the fight"
This Is tribute to II. Il. BurR
: from manly and independent sourc
and ut the same time a sufficient III
swer and rebuke to those who still kee
snarling and swapping Mt his heels.
There Is jut one point, however, upo
which the Eagle desires to correct u
esteemed contemporary and others wi
may have fallen into the mistake
imagining that Mr.. Burke has eitht
permanently or actively retired frol
politics.
Mr.. Burke, on the contrary, Is "ver
much In it, and will SO continue II
many n day to come. As a matter
fact, Robert +. Burke never was strOnI
er with his party and his friends tina
he is to-day. The developments Of tim
and that In the not distant future, wi
show that he Is now, as he has been
the past, the real leader Of the Demo
) cratic party In Cook County, ana thos
who imagine otherwise will find then
selves very much mistaken.