Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1906-11-03
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56H" -
JOHN BURkE's soPHlsTRlEs.

John Burke's political tune is
pitched for the railroads. That's the
burden of his song. About all the ills
the people are heir to- in Mr. Burkes
opinion, are railroads and their in
huence through the bosses, over the
people. Speaking to republican audi
ences, and the majority in his audi
ences throughout the state are republi-
cans. Mr. Burke breaches very little
democracy. He cunningly appeals tn
prejudicies. He endeavors to con-
vince the people that the republicans
are not really in control in this state
and although an ardent advocate of
the primary election system he doesn't
admit that the delegates elected all
over the state to the Jamestown con-
vention under the primary law are
fairly representative of the people-of
the rank and file republicans. Col.
VIM. Thompson, when alive, was a
believer in the theory that what is,
is right" Mr.. Burke is a believer in
the other extreme-"what is, is
wrong" He rails against corporate
greed and corporate influence and
after picturing the hopelessly shack
eled condition of the people urges
them to come under Grandma Demo
cracy's cloak for protection. In COM
munities where railroad systems are
completed, where no more railroad
extensions are needed or expected,
where bleak prairies have already
been redeemed, where market places
are near the producers, it is possible
that Mr.. Burke's appeal to the preju-
dices of the people may have great
. weight, but there does not exist that
complaint against corporation. man
agements in the western part of the
state-this great. undeveloped region
with such meager railroad facilities
as may here and there show itself in
the northern and eastern part OF
North Dakota. Mr.. Burke complains
of inequalities in taxation and under
valuation of railroads for taxation
purposes, ON the part of the executive
officers of this state who are republi-
cans. That there is, and always has
been, inequalities in assessments of
all properties in all states, is ad-
mitted, but these inequalities are
chargeable to republicans no more
than to democrats. There are those
who believe that the valuation of the
railroads of this state, at $4,000 a
mile is not any more out of proportion
than the assessing of Red river valley
and other lands worth from $50 to- $50
an acre on. valuation of SO to Sc an
acre. Mr. Burke fails to tell his re
publican hearers what was done by
the state board of equalization when
the democrats were in control in thi:
state He does not mention the fac
that when they had the power to put
into practice some Of the reform
measures they so glibly talk abou
they failed to rise to the emergency
He does not tell about the acts of the
democratic board of equalization ant
especially the reduction of railroad
values to $500 mile.
Mr.. Burke says the republican
ticket named at jamestown was reall,
selected long before in st. Paul ant
under the guidance and with the O. K
- r;ro II;Iso, -, iJuo1y c1c top, TIC COW
this must be SO for the st. Paul paper
published the slate before the party
representatives met at jamestown
+ What a discovery. Who in this stat
didn't know what the result of tn
jamestown convention would be days
weeks, in advance SO far as the mai
4 officers were concerned? The ques
ii ton at the primaries in June was tn
supremacy Of the stalwarts or II
surgents. Each faction had a slat
and political opinions were pretty we
/ crystalized on both sides long befor
the convention met in July. Governo
\ Sarles had been governor one tern
III was conceded by the stalWarts a
s over the state that he was entitled
another term. No opponent was mel
"a TONED to Mr.. Holmes Of Pembina fc
denomination for state auditor. M
Peterson's candidacy FOR state treai
urer was not Disputed, nor was that {
Mr.. stockwelI for uperintendent {
public instruction. Mr., Porter VIII
had been secretary Of state tire
terms was not q candidate for n
nomination and he mad agreed tossul
port the candidacy Of Mr.. Mccue froI
his county for attorney general All
this was veil known all over I'll