Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1906-12-06
the GREAT VICTORY IN NORTH DAKOTA.

people won and the sur has set forever
onfrailroad control of the state and
bossism. John Burke of Devils Lake,
was elected governor, and Charles J.
Fisk. of Grand Forks, was elected to the
supreme bench. both being democratic
nominees. The majorities are substan-
tial, ranging from ten to twelve thou
sane
John Burke is y Scotch-lriShman,
born near Sigourney, Iowa, ~forty-seyen
years ago: he spent the first twenty-five
years of his life on a farm and acquired
most of his education in the rualschools.
At the age of twenty-five he entered the
law department Of the state university
of Iowa, where he graduated two years
later. He began the practice of his pro
fession at Des Moines, but afterward
moved to northern Minnesota and later
to North Dakota. In 1896 he was a
candidate for congress-, but went down
to defeat, as did the democratic candi-
dates generally. He has served two
Ia Liz SSolS SIo oiAo wy
in the house, being elected from a
strongly republican community.
In personal appearance, he is tall and
angular, resembling the lamented Lin
coin. He is a good lawyer and a power
full speaker.
Saturday evening the 18th ult., a
Notification meeting was held at Mr..
Burke's home city, Devils Lake, where
democ ra is from all over the state as
embed to celebrate his election. A
platform meeting was held in which
good government republicans took
part.
In his address, Governor-elect Burke
stated that the recent election was not a
democratic victory alone, but a victory
of good government republicans and
democrats over bossism and railroad
control of the state. The machine
republicans had forced onto their party
a nan for the supreme bench who was
to be used by his makers and they were
justly punished by the defeat of their
candidate. He promised to carry out all
pledges made in the democratic platform
SO far as a governor alone might be able.
He referred in particular to the omen
forcement of the present state law giving
power to railroad commissioners to fix
all rates. This would remedy an evil
which effects the entire state and par
ticularly the coal producing regions.
North Dakota has no fuel problem. She
has coal in abundance. But the rail.
roads discriminate against the native
coal by exorbitant rates. to such an ex-
tent that mining has never progressed
It is cheaper in the Red river valley tc
burn Pennsylvania coal than native coal
hauled from the vicinity of Bismarck.
This is but an illustration of railway
remedy.
Mr.. Burke told me the state appoint.
ments would be given to both democrats
and good government republicans. This
is also the unanimous wish of the demo
cratic state central committee. He sale
he had not made a single promise of al
appointment during the entire campaign
and the central committee resolved tina
ne should be free to make all appoint
anents without suggestions.
AS to the results: The day we were a
Devils Lake, the republican machine
was assembled at st. Paul in our neigh
boring state of Minnesota todecide upor
a course of action during the coming
session of the legislature. They Away:
decide upon a slate at the Merchants
motel in that city prior to each state con
geEtion, and it is always nominated, anc
until this year. elected.
But the democratic platform promises
an extensive primary lew, which will
make St. Paul sessions necessary. The
machine means to fight. There is nc
compromise between them and the in.
surgent republicans.
With an economical and effective ad
mlnistration Of state affairs Mr.. Burke
will certainly be re- elected with the
help of fair play republicans. He tolc
me that the people of this state wantec
a business administration, and it was
his intention to give them such, anc
with the greatest economy possible
There can be no compromise on the par
tof the machine, for both of our United
States senators are standpatters anc
,thelc seats in the senate depends upor
the Defeat of the democrats and insurg
sent republicans. In two years Senator
H~ansbrough, also from Devils Lake, viii
be superseded either by a democrat OF
an i%nsurgent republican, and in four
years Senator McCumber of this city
will meet a like fate.
The evening before the election Sena
COR McCumber spoke in his home city
urging the voters to stand by the ticke1
from top to bottom and particularly tt
elect the %reDublican candidate To thu