Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1909-1915, 1910-07-15

mat ne mace a nne array OF speeches.
Is this untrue or discourteous? Is this
an unwarranted attack upon our fell
low townsmen? Third we stated that
he had made some asinine appoint
ments. Where did we get this term?
From the democrats themselves. Is
this not true? Who was it that made
such noise last winter when the SEN
atorial vacancy was filled? The en-
tire local democracy went into mourn
ing, sulked in their tents; and the
things they said about Burke would
make Billlngsgate expert talk like
Y. M. G. A. Bible class instructor. If
there was any method of expressing
dissaprobation, disguest, disapproval,
distrust peevishness and soreness at
the governor, it was put through all
it's PAGES by these same local demo-
Gratis when Governor Burke appointed
Senator Thompson.
WHAT WAS THE REASON GIVEN
FOR APPOINTING THOMPSON? IT
WAS MADE KNOWN FROM THE
GOVERNORS OFFICE THAT BURKE
WAS AFRAID TO APPOINT PUR-
CELL, AS PURCELL WAS KNOWN
TOO WELL AND TOO LONG AS A
CORPORATION MAN. The indepen-
dent democratic press applauded
Burke and lauded him for refusing to
knuckle down to corporate greed.
Comes then the machine democracy
of North Dakota. Thompson must go.
Room must be made for their man."
Senator Purcell, reactionary, dyed
in-the-wool corporation man who has
been with every influence in the North
Dakota legislature which attempted to
throttle reform. Upon Thompson's
resignation Burke, contrary to his past
precord aceeded to these demands and
Purcell was forced upon the people of
North Dakota. ~, I. u h.%
Now in regard to what Governor
Burke has done in his term at Bis
marck In the main he acted so as to
inspire respect and admiration during
the early part Of his term. During the
latter part of the present term his rec
ord has been negative to say the least.
We would regret to deprive him of any
credit he justly deserves, but we have
stated the truth concerning his last
term and the truth alone
When a reform has been put through
by republicans Burke's friends have
had the habit of "pointing with pride"
and saying, Burke did it." When a
reform failed it was against the hercu-
lean efforts Of Governor Burke. When
things went right Burke claimed the
credit; when they went wrong he es-
capped the responsibility. Coming or
going the democrats had splendid OPP
nortunity for playing politics. 1t was
good politics and they have played the
game to a finish. One might say that
they have overplayed it. The Journal
produces the following choice bit
which illustrates the above. But the
direct primary in North Dakota is due
to John Burke's influence on the legis-
lature. The Journal believes the pres.
ent law is outrageously defective, but
had the governors advice been fol-
lowed completely it would not have
been So" The Journal editorial writer
has become so accustomed to backing
and filling on every question that it
was impossible to refrain from doing 1t
in the above.
In regard to the primary law which
the Journal states is due to Governor
Burke, we merely call attention to the
fact that we had primary law in
North Dakota before Burke was ever
mentioned as a candidate for governor
Later that law was amplif1ed and pass.
ed as it stands today by REPUBLICAN
votes in a REPUBLICAN house and
senate.
We are against the continued re-
election of Burke because it Is not JUS.
titled by his recent record. -Four
years in Office Is sufficient reward for
past services. We are against his re-
election because It means the build
ing up Of powerful democratic ma
chine, the kind of q machine which has
lately shown it's hand in Burke's ap
pointments. We are against his re-
election because It means ultimately
the turning Of North Dakota over to
the democrats in national politics, and
the surrenderlng to democratic princi.
pies. II there were any paramount
reason for giving up these things for