Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-08-30
Washington Posts Tribute to
Ex-Gov. BurIeigh.
Wide Reputation as Organizer and
Worker Before Entering Congress.
Works Quietly at Capitol and Fully
Maintains Reputation.
Washington Post).

| from as sturdy and brainy a race as
: hourishes anywhere and, once surviv-
/ ing the ordeal of nominating conven-
/ tion. come to, the House of Representa-
tives for practically life tenure. 1t
! has long ceased to be a marvel that
such men come to the front
When the break first came in the ia
nous delegation of four Maine Republic
cans who We're new members twenty
years ago, the vacancy was filled al
most unanimously with a strong party
leader. whose name for ten years had
been almost household word in the
Pine Tree State. He was then known
all over New England as one of the best
organizers in all that section. a man of
honorable political methods, unusually
quiet in his execution of plans, but uni
formly successful. AS modest and
courteous figure as one would come
across in a days travel. but with COM
handing presence, he took the oath of
office on July day five years ago.
/ Coming to Washington in the closing
days of the special session of Congress
which passed the Dingley tariff law, he
was of necessity assigned a seat in the
cherokee Strip on the Democratic
I side OF the House. He thus at the
start became generally acquainted with
the members of the opposition before
he did with the members of his own
! party, and friendships then formed
have proved of great value to him in
+ his subsequent work. Gen. j. A Walk
or. then one of the two Republican rep
resentatives from Virginia, was his
first seat-mate. The grim old Confed-
crate warrior conceived an instant lik-
ing for him and became his stanch and
loyal supporter.
During his first term the new mem
Der from Maine attracted attention by
his effective work in helping organize
the enemies of the Loud postal bill in
to compact and aggressive opposition
that was able to defeat that measure
by a decided majority.
During his second term the early i'm
preston thus made was vastly
strengthened when, with rare tact
courage, and persistency, he organized
victory that was applauded from one
end of Maine to the other more than
any other single achievement since the
close of the Civil War. This vigorous
contest, with its unlooked-for result
greatly strengthened his prestige in the
House and gave him general recogni-
ton as an exceptionally able and astute
political general. He was recently put
upon the Republican Congressional Elk
ecutive Committee.
Ex-Gov. Edwin c. Burleigh enjoys
politics. heart and soul. AS boy, even
before he had finished his education in
the common schools of Aroostook coun-
ty, he was writing votes at March town
meetings, where the rudiments of self
government are so well taught Per-
haps it came to him naturally, for his
father and grandfather before him had
participated actively in the political
fray and risen to some eminence in the
legislatures of Maine and Massachu-
sets. respectively, besides holding
other Offices of honor and emolument.
He was still a mere boy, tall and slight
of build. who had roamed much with
his father over the forest lands of the
northern part of the State learning to
be surveyor, when he hurried down to
Augusta and enlisted in the District of
Columbia Cavalry. DIR. Brickett, still a
practicins physician at the State CAPT.
tai examined him for the service. He
stripped him of his clothes and ran him
across a great hall and back again. OBJ
serving the result. MY boy said he.
you will never do for the army; you
are not strong enough and by thai
decision the doctor has often claimed
he saved to Maine a prominent govern
or. The result was bitter dsappoint-
ment to the future Congressman. but
Adjt. Gen. Hodsdon kindly gave him .
place in his office. where he served I'M
It'll the close of the war.
| When his four years as chief ex-
eeutive of the State had expired in 1892
Governor Burleigh had aspirations to
come to Congress. The late Seth l..
Milliken of Belfast. was then the men,
her from the third district. There
were evidences of more or less opposi-
! ton 70 his denomination, The battle
4 that ,ensued was a notable one in Maine
political annals. probably the fiercest
1 and most holly contested of any fol
| Congressional honors since Maine be-
came a State in 1920.
Mi1liken was a man of strong popular
traits. He knew nearly every voter ir
the district. which comprises a portion
of the counties that Blaine represented
many years. during which he was three
times Speaker of the National House
Burleigh had an acquaintance equal,
wide. The laurels of two terms Il.
governor. which had been EXCEPTIONAL,
successful terms, We're fresh upon him
His organization was supported b!
warm personal friends in every tow
and hamlet in that thrifty Yankee sec
ton. The final result was a victory TO
Mr.. Milliken by very narrow margin
one of the other candidates throwint
his strength to him in order to brin
about his nomination. How clearl
Governor Burleigh had foreseen tn
| final outcome of the contest in its clos
| ing days is evident from the fact tina
he had at that time already in type a
: editorial for his paper, the kennebe
: Journal. exhorting the Republicans {
the Third district to give the nomine
? of their party a united and cordial sup
port. There was no personal BITTERNESS
> because of the campaign. Governo
Burleigh and Mr.. Milliken were goo
'' friends till the day of the latter
death. In fact, Mr. Milliken's las
= dinner in Maine was eaten at the gov
arnor's residence. When the vacanc
l. laie oh ayRntl