Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-08-30

J Known. zoe. druggists.
convinced the people of the diStric
. that he was entitled to the nomination
1t is a striking coincidence that the
very few good political generals in the
House are men of quiet demeanor
None could be more so than Governo,
Burleigh. He is modest almost to 8
fault, yields graciously to his elders ir
Congressional service, but withal Is
the most tenacious of men in carrying
out what he undertakes. When one
would think him in retreat he is
doubling on his tracks and preparing
for an assault with new energy. He
went diligently about the unpretentious
duties of serving his constituents as
coon as he arrived in Washington and
kept piling up results. which increased
his reputation at home for usefulness
Whether it was Il question of better
postal facilities for some little farming
community on the northern border Of
his district or urging the interests of
the great granite quarries along the
Maine coast in some government con-
/ tract. he watched the matter with the
same zeal.
I When the appointments for the Sc
lect Committee on Census were made
in the Fifty sixth Congress, Burleigh
was named as next to the last of the
Republican members. This did not
happen by accident. In 1890 Reed and
| Dingley had eXerted themselves to the
utmost to carry an apportionment bill
in the House that would insure for
ten years more four Representatives
for Maine. In many states, especially
\ those of large representation, reduc-
ton of one member would be regarded
as tritling matter; but it has been a
question of great moment in Maine.
where the pride in the Congressional
delegation is very great.
/ AS a member of the Census Com
mittee Governor Burleigh was in an
advantageous position to organize for
an appointment that would still give
Maine four members for another de-
cade. He and Mr.. Littlefield took up
the task months in advance. for it was
known that the Republican leaders
were averse to increasing the member
ship of the House. They worked Shout
der to shoulder, but Burleigh laid the
plans of the organization, decided that
the fight must be won, if at all. through
the cooperation of Senators; made
the combines with various states, and
set in motion the influences that
brought the decisive votes from New
York and Pennsylvania.
The turning point in that contest
came in the Census Committee. Chair
man Hopkins. of Illinois, had a bill foi
357 members, as at present, based or
a population of POSSESS for each mem
Der. Gov. Burleigh had a bill providing
for $50 members. based on a population
of 1941S2 the smallest number tina
would allow Maine to retain fou
members of the House. When the da!
for voting in the committee came there
was pending a third proposition t
. amend the Hopkins bill, so as to pro
: vide for a membership of 313 baset
upon a population of 199,90S. Thl
would have taken care of all the state
represented by members of the com
2 mittee with the single exception o
Maine All were playing politics. an
the argument was circulated quleti.
that if the intermediate proposition
were adopted it would be step towar'
r a larger representation such as IN
n Burleigh bill proposed, when the ap
n portionment was taken up in tn
q House.
e The committee of thirteen was al
=. most equally divided. At GOV Bur
Y leigh's request Chairman Hopkln
S agreed to vote on the Burleigh NIL, IN
y intermediate proposition. and the Hop
/. kins bin in the order named. The Bur
y leigh bill was beaten to 6-and
n was the intermediate proposition
: That was where the surprise cam
II in. All his friends supporte
4, the immediate proposition, ~hie
g would have cared for their States
= but to their amaZement, ne vo'
y ed against it. Hot words were spoke
ie after that vote, but Burleigh stuck
= his position. He had canvassed tn
y proba bilities the previous evening wit
/" his own delegation, and reached a pei
feet understanding as to what !
= should do in that very contingency. :.
the Intermediate proposition h;td ca
ried Maine would have been weakene
:, by the loss of Indiana. Ohio. kentuck
:. land South Carolina" said he afterwar
~ Then the Hopkins bill was adopted
- vote of to 6. and the commlttt
. went before the House with a repo
-, divided on those lines as between II
= two extreme propositions.
-, II was known long ago how IL
ar House decided by a good majority Il
ut the Burleigh plan. Not cog silppe
hit in the arrangements. The voters
ne Maine have not gotten over rejoicir