The Dickinson press., 1906-11-17
NEW GOVERNOR
Lacks Beauty But Has
Ability as an Attorney.
Sketch Of His Life.

"He is an everyday sort Of man, who
associates with common people, dresses
like them and when he is with them is
one of them"
This is the characterization of John
Burke, North Dakotas newly elected
governor, as given by one of his closest
political friends and admirers, and it may
serve in measure to explain his some
what personal triumph at the polls.
This is not his first victory of this kind,
for he has three times been elected to
the legislature from district which is
ordinarily strongly republican.
AS his name would indicate, John
Burke has Irish blood in his veins and
plenty of it. His father was born in
Ireland and arrived in America when p
years of age, coming west and settling
in Iowa only few years after reaching
this country. Like SO many other prom
inent men, John Burke is a farmers son.
He was born on his fathers farm near
Sigourny, Ia, forty-seven years ago. He
spent the first twenty-five years of his
life on farm and gained most Of his
education in the district school When
IS years of age he entered the Iowa state
university, where he took up law, grad
uating two years later, in the same class
with Judge N. c. Young of North Da-
kota and Judge Wade, the well-known
Iowa jurist.
After completing his studies, the
young attorney moved to Des Moines,
where he entered upon the practice of
his profession. After spending two years
there he evidently concluded that there
was better field for an aspiring young
attorney in newer country, so he moved
to northern Minnesota and spent two
years in the practice of law in the pine
region. Later, he crossed the boundary
line into the Flickertail state, settling
first at st. Johns and later at Rolla.
He set foot on North Dakota soil at a
very unpropitious time. Owing to a
general depression and shortage of crops,
the country was passing through de-
cidedly bad term of years. But in spite
of this John Burke prospered and was
successful in building up a good law
practice in Rolla. Going there when the
town and the country around it were new
he was not long in establishing repu-
tation and making himself known, SO
that two years after his arrival he was
elected to the legislature from that dis.
trict. During his residence there he was
twice reelected, serving two terms in
the state senate and one in the house
He was one of the strongest supporters
of Senator Roach and worked hard tc
bring about the latter's reelection.
In 1896 he was a candidate for con.
gress on the democratic ticket, but, like
the rest Of the democratic candidates. "a,
that time, went down to defeat. He also
ran against Judge Cowan of Devils. Lake
for district judge but was defeated.
| He moved to Devils Lake in 1858, and
since then has been building up stead
lily increasing practice. He has served
as city attorney at Devils Lake, and
with Emerson H. Smith of Fargo and
Professor Bruce of North Dakota univer
sity, is on the state board of bar exam
iners.
Tall, angular and little rough in ap
pearance, Judge Burke cannot be re-
garded as handsome, but he has pleas
ing personality and is very popular
his college days he has been accustomed
he is man of exemplary character and
good man and his domestic life is said
W OS u VCiy udPPy OHC.
Because of his appearance and char
acteristics, he has been likened to Abra
ham Lincoln and the designation Of
Honest John" has been applied to him
by his admirers. This pseudonym he
does not like, and when his frien6s ir
advocating his selection as the party
nominee at the Minot convention las,
summer called him Honest John" anC
abraham Lincoln of North Dakota" he
pleaded with them to desist.
Everybody is supposed to be honest
until he is proven to be otherwise" he
said. "There was only one Lincoln and
there will probably never be another
do not wish to be compared with him."
Mr.. Burke had lucrative law practice
and was obliged to sacrifice his own per
sonal interests when he accepted the
nomination, and he consented only wher
told that he was the only man the dem
ocratie party could hope to elect.
Frank Lish, Joe Cuskelley and G. S
Cryne, the three out of six delegate:
from Stark county who attended the
democratic state convention at Minot
are naturally proud Of their foresight anc
good judgment in selecting John Burke
as their standard bearer and are jubilan
over his election.