Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1909-09-30

to be recognized and adopted IN North
Dakota before the influences of Governor
Burke's administration have abated.
Previous to the 1906 election it was
the general custom among the republic
can office holders to turn the conduct of
their respective offices over to deputies,
while the official himself devoted much
of his time TO his own business interests.
He drew the salary but gave very little
to the state in return. Governor Burke
made this a very effective issue, n as
a result the republican party was driven
in the last campaign to include in its
platform the declaration that the state
official must attend to business if he
draws the pay, and the last legislature
in providing for increases in compensa-
ton of state officials, made such increase
contingent Upon the official making his
actual residence at the capital of the
state
In 1908 Governor Burke was renomi-
mated by his party under the primary
election law which had been passed at
the proceeding session of the legislature.
The campaign of 1908 will long be
remembered in the political annals of
the Northwest. The republican organi-
cation was stronger than in the cam
paign of 1905. Certain internal troubles
had been patched up. 1t was a presi-
dental year. Instead of $50 newspapers.
the republican organization had fully
400 newspapers at its beck and call. The
democratic press consisted of about
fifteen papers, of which only two were
dailies. The whole strength of the
opposition was directed to defeat Cover
nor Burke. A campaign of villtication
and misrepresentation most extraordi-
nary wa" inaugurated by the republican
organization and directed especially
against Governor Burke. He again
took his case direct to the people. In
six weeks he made upward of $50 politi-
cal addresses, refuting misrepresenta-
tons and upholding his administration.
The result was his triumphant election
once more in one of the strongest re-
publican states in the Union. Consider.
ing the physical demand upon the candi.
date, the character and efficiency of the
organized opposition to be met, and the
final result, it is doubtful If tho 1905
campaign of Governor Burke has evel
been surpassed.
Briefly summarized his election has
E served to bring about the following re
suits:
i. Adoption of the State wide primary.
2. The elimination of the party boss.
3. Honest enforcement of law.
a. Re-adjustment of railroad taxation.
i, ). Elimination of party lines in the selection
of appointive public servants and the organi
: cation of all state institutions on a merit basis
6. A higher plane of public service and g
l practical demonstration that a public office j
| indeed a public trust.
The personality of this man who win
0 victories in the face of such advers
conditions, cannot fail to be of publ
( interest.
Governor John Burke was born Feb
g ruary 25. 1859, in Keokuk county, Iowa
near where the town of Harper was sub
%sequently located. He was educate'
Q in the common school and grew to man
hood on the farm. He entered the Law
department of The Iowa State Universit
as a student in September, 1884, an
graduated therefrom in June, 1886. HI
o commenced the practice of law in De
. Moines, Iowa, in the fall of 1886. Tw
years later, feeling that the Northwes
offered greater inducements to a younI
lawyer, he left his native state and locat
d ed in North Dakota. BY unt1agginl
d industry and incorporating honesty