The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1909-03-18

zens, and referred to the passing O,
the Hon. John D. Lawler and tn
o X. d. WEIGH as two notable
men who were prominently connect.
ed with the growth of Mitchell. and
that now we were to lose another
only for a short time, however
There is a principle in nature, said
Father Shea, to speak of those who
have been and are a benefit to man
Kind. Their departure from our
midst leaves a void in our hearts. and
it is with mingled sorrow and re-
greet that we see them leave. Thew
give of what lies in their power to
give. Generosity with them is pro-
verbal, ready to give to any cause
n help in the quiet way. They are
u~nassuming, retiring and honest with
men. To this class of men Tom Burns
belongs. His example is worthy of
emulation, and when he goes he will
carry the love of all. He worked not
so much for himself as for others.
He spent much of his time in build
ing up Mitchell, and let no man tear
down what has been built. In his
departure we lose one of the firmest
supporters of the city. We wish him
every possible success in his new
field of labor, n to him we owe a
debt of gratitude, which we should
repay when he returns home again
by e%levating him to a higher official
position-one that his ability en-
titles him to, and we hope that our
people will unite in this proposition
when the proper time comes. In con-
clusion Father Shea assured the hon
ored guest that the great bond of
friendship which has existed between,
them shall never be sundered.
With the conclusion of Father.
shea's address, Toastmaster Branson
in a manner brief and pointed in
troduced the guest of honor. When
Tom Burns arose to try and make re-
ply to the many and deserved things
said about him, the reception that
was accorded him by the entire body
of men must have stirred his heart
deeply. The greeting came from men
who have known him, some for all
the thirty years that he has lived
here, and from the various periods
of time down to the present, and in
dictated al enthusiasm that is not
often rendered a private citizen uni
der like circumstances. 1t was with |
some difficulty that Mr.. Burns could
control his voice, and usually not at
loss for words, he evidently for |
was up against it. His speech
was brief, but heartfelt. Tom thought
that the eulogies usually came after
death, and he was surprised beyond I
expression. He said that he had been !
up against some pretty close corr
porations in his time but this was
a little bit the closest
that he had ever encountered. Hell
added that it was the first time that
they had ever worked the gumshoe
racket on him and he wondered how
they accomplished it so thoroughly. |
Ususally he had been able to keep the
wool above his eyebrows, but this
time it had been effectually pulled
over his vision. Mr.. Burns said that
he promised after his short stay in
Gregory county he wanted but one
privilege-and that vas to return,
la yaside his clawhammer suit into
which he had been inveigled, put his
neck into the yoke, get his shoulder
to the wheel and work for Mitchell.
In the midst of resounding cheers
Mr.. Burns resumed his seat, and the
look of wonder was still in evidence
his countenance. How he had
been drawn into the affair had not
been fully settled in his mind.
POSTMASTER Branson stated that
inasmuch as Tom Burns had been
toasted to a turn, that attention
Il
would be turned to matters con-
the boosters and the boost
ing of Mitchell, but the speakers
who made talks on other subjects
could not refrain from referring to
Mr.. Burns in II way or another
in the course of their remarks, his
personal acts in the past thirty years
seeming to fit in so we'll with what
they had to say DR.. Kerfoot,
president of Dakota Wesleyan
was the first to pick up the
of discussion, and the
new booster, who has come saddled,
bridled and bitted for the fray"
DR.. Kerfoot said that while he did
,,~f Lova tho o1roinfo,o 0f tho !