Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1906-01-18
|MR.BURkES SPEAKS
He Gives Good Reasons Why
He is Again a Candidate
for Congressman.
His Record Has Called for
Increased Majorities
Year After Year.

~ WASHINGTON, January 10. Charles
81 II. Burke, of South Dakota. announces
N that he is "a candidate for denomination
n and his statement last night to an Ar.
4 gus Leader representative, says:
u 'The republican state convention hay
q ing heen called, it would not seem out
of place for me to state thac will be a
candidate for denomination before the
convention, though formal announce
ment is hardly necessary as it has been
generally understood that | am DESTROYS
of continuing in congress.
"Since | was first selected, have en-
tirely given up engaging in business
and have devoted my entire time and
\ attention to my official duties To the
ity, | have honestly endeavored at all
times to do tina. which. would best pro-
mote the development and interest Of
. my state, Politically, Il have stead
lastly supported the republican party
and have never in a single instance OPP
poseu any republicans measure On all
occasions | have heartily supported the
administration, not only of our present
president, but also of his lamentesi pre-
decessor, William Mckinley The fact
that | know possessed the confidence
of the latter and that / have the
confidence and good will of President
Roosevelt, is a very gratifying recon-
pense for my loyalty in my party
"Upon the question OF extending the
powers OF the interstate commerce
commission to enable that body to fix
rate when a rate has been challenged
and when upon a hearing and full in
vestigation the same is found to be un-
reasonable and excessive, | have here
tofore and do now stand squarely with
President Roosevelt,
During the winter of 1904 and 1905,
as a member .of the committee on in
terstate and fOreigD commerce, | at
tended almost daily the meetings of the
committee for a period of weeks during
the very full and exhaustive hearings
that were held upon the question of
railway rates. Upon the conclusion of
the hearings, voted to cooperate with
the majority of said committee in per,
fecting and reporting the so-called
Townsend Esch bill, which was known
to have the presidents approval, and at
no time did support or vote for any
other hill ON the subject.
"When the Townsend Esch bill was
considered in the house, ] not only
voted for the measure, but made a
speech in support of the same, stating
in universal terms that / was in favor
of the proposed legislation. still stand
committed to the presidents rate pol
icies and shall, L hope, in the near flu
ture, join the majority of the committee
on interstate and foreign commerce, of
which | am member, in reporting a
new measure embodying the presidents
ideas and having his approval.
81 shall base my candidacy for the
nomination. entirely upon my official
record. For the loyal support that j
have heretofore received, am, indeed,
grateful. Having been renominated
three successive times by reclamation
and having been elected by an Increased
majority each time, from majority in
1898 of 1000 to nearly $4,000 in 1904, |
have felt that my services have been
satisfactory to. my constituents, which
has been exceedingly gratifying to me.
"If | should again be renominated
and reelected, | shall continue as |
have i'll the past, endeavoring to do that
which will be for the best interests of
the great state which have the honor
in part of representing and to con
scientiously uphold the principles and
policies of the republican party as ex.
pressed in platform declarations made
inrepresentative delegate conventions .
Local Items of Interest.