Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1902-05-03
Robert E. Burke and His Friends Refuse to Be
Dragged Into Premature
Fight
But the County Democracy Will Be Heard from
June 3-General Political
Outlook.

Friends of true Democracy in Cook
County are rapidly getting In line for
the party primaries which have been
liked by the central executive commit.
tee for June IL. the county convention
To he held the following day.
At these primaries there will he
fought out some momcntous matters.
and upon the manner in which they
will bc decided will depend to II very
considerable extent the fate of the
Democratic party in Cook County and
the city of Chicago AZ least FOR some
time tn come.
The most important ISSUE that will
present itself ~ the polls on june Is
will be whether the voters or the o'hcc
holders of the Democratic party shall
control It's organization and name its
candidates.
That issue has now been firmly knit.
and II will not be decided until the last
vote has been east and counted on pri-
mary day.
II the people triumph. rs they I'M
'doubtedly will If their interest Is fully
and fairly aroused 10y rapid and clfcc.
tive campaign work within the next
six weeks, an entirely new central
committee will he chosen, In which the
professional taN-eaters will he in Il
harmless minority. IL not altogether
eliminated.
Upon the great popular organization.
The Cook County Democracy, depends
whether or not this kind of campaign
work will he done In the space remain
ing between the present AMI the date
OF the primaries. and the Eagle IL
vastly mistaken In the character ana
ralbcr of that organization If the nee
.ssary work is not fully and effectively
accomplished.
The manner In which the member
ship OF rhe County Democracy has
been recruited, increasing. rs II has
weekly 10y the hundred, Is matter FOR
the slncerest congratulation on the
part of all Democrats who have the
interest of the party AZ heart.
Hundreds have been joining Its ranks
week after week, and the new mem
hers come from the flower of the Dem
NVTil' IIIly, lH' w ''''
independent voters of that faith who
are Democrats not for office nor pclf
but for conscience sake: and 1t Is be'
cause of the faith that i In them that
these valuable recruits to the army oi
the County Democracy are working
with such vim and enthusiasm-in 4
word, with the spirit that Is the sure
harbinger of victory.
With characteristic prudence and
common sense. the leaders Of the new
movement which has for its main oh
ject the elimination of the Payroll
Union from the position Of dictatorship
in the party policies, have refused Il
he drawn into Il fight on the skirmisl
line. Robert T., Burke President Pow
rrs Of thc County Democracy ana theil
friends saw at once when this attemp
was made last week what the effect ol
n possible defeat In Il fight over non
essentials in the County Central Com
mittec would mean, and they refuse,
10 be- drawn into H.
Certain individuals at present In the
central organization had given 1t Ou'
with u great flourish Of trumpcts thai
Robert T.. Burke was To be "dcpoScd,
aud several other things were to b'
done to him.
But when II came 10 Il showdown
all that these bloOdthlrsty persons did
was 70 pass resolutions compelling
themselves 10 attend 10 their owl
duties instead of leaving it to others Il
,lD for them, as they had been doing
in the past. For instance. the chair
mans duties were defined, and the res
nlutions instructed him 10 attend I,
those duties. The Executive Commit
Zee was reminded that il, too, had H.
durlcs 10 perform In the line Of routine
work. ana its share of responsibility II
tho way of transacting such work wa
outlined and emphasized, This was al
that was attempted, and III" fact tia
the "rrpWroriai syndicate on Ia
daillcs luborIDusly cndcayOrcd 10 max
the passage Of these resolution
amount 10 the deposition OF MI
Burke ms power in the party, onl
make the holOwues- and sham OF III
entire proceeding all the more appal
cut. Meantime Mr.. Burkc's friends wo
substantial victory by causing In
passage Of o resolution providing 70
the selection Of an entirely new COun
Convention TAi, l. the beginning o
Tho end of payroll rule In the affairs o
the Democratic party unless all sign