The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-09-09
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Il NNN~ANOAN &S~@0AAs WI A@ARS~A@~@ N
1 friends are inviting us to break
away from party and party prin-
ciples and in the election this
fall vote TOR John Burke for governor
They assert that Mr.. Burke is pre-
emfently fitted for the position of gov
ernor. In fact that he is the only gov
ernor North Dakota ever had, and that
he is looming into national figure be-
cause of his greatness and that If we
republicans will only give him third
term he will be the presidential nonai
nee OF the democratic party and be
swept into the White House on the
wave Of popularity our republican
votes give him.
Now the truth of the matter Is that
John Burke is a very ordinary man
Just a common, everyday sort of in
dividual without any of the charac-
teristics that spell greatness, unless 1t
might be his alleged likeness to the
martyred Lincoln. He has never done
anything since coming to the Office OF
governor that has stamped him as an
extraordinary statesman, man stand
Ing out in bold relief from his fellows.
On the other hand he has proved him
self to be possessed of very ordinary
ability and lacking IN decision in
times when decision was a very vital
thing.
For instance when the question came
up for settlement as to who should be
elevated to the supreme bench by APP
pointment. Did John Burke act with
decision and dispatch? Did he grasp
the situation and rise to the occasion,
or did he daily, procrastinate and fl
nally make appointments that set
some of the best men in his party and
in the state at ears?
Again when 1t came to the question
OF appointing a successor to the late
Martin N. johnson as senator. Did
the governor show that he was the
real head of the government in this
state? Did he show himself to be a
fairminded man who desired to carry
out the wishes of majority
of his party, or did he show
himself to be a narrow partisan,
man who will listen to the Islander Of
his friends and act on rumors that do
great injustice to his close political
allies? John l.. Cashel Of Grafton, was
named by the democratic party at the
primary and in the legislative assem-
bly, as It's candidate for senator. He
had been chairman Of the democratic
COMMITTEES for two campaigns and in
both had neglected his private busi-
ness to attend TO the election of John
Burke, and 1t is believed by most men
of good discernment in North Dakota
that without the efforts Of John L..
Cashel John Burke would never have
been governor of North Dakota. How
did John Burke reward his friend !?
How did he obey the expressed wish
of the democratic party? why he
simply opened his ears to every idle
runor and false accusation that could
be made against John L. CasheI and
then appointed an unknown man who
resigned within few weeks after his
appointment. Then again the cues
ton was before the governor and
again he turned down the name of
Cashel and elevated to the proud posi-
ton OF United States senator, w. e.
Purcell, whom the democrats at the
polls the previous June had repudiated.
Now let US inquire into his fairness.
Let US see whether he is the governor
of all North Dakota or whether he is a
small bore politician who looks after
the loaves and fishes and is willing to
stand for pork barrel appropriations
so long as his special community gets
what 1t wants
Tie Eleventh Legislative assembly
OF the state of North Dakota had be-
fore 1t the appropriation bills for the
several state institutions, penal chart
table and educational. The two houses
sent investigating committees to the
various points where these institutions
are located and made a careful study
of their needs and requirements. These
committees reported to their respec-
tive houses and after considering all
the appropriation bills the appropria-
alton committees passed upon what
they considered minimum of neces-
sity for the we'll being of the various
institutions.
The institution for feeble minded To-
Gated at Grafton was granted the fol-
lowing sums for necessary improve
ments: For stock $780, improvements
to grounds $1,000, new hospital $40, 600.
farm house $4,000, addition to barn
$1,000. Every item was considered
necessary by the. superintendent and
board OF trustees, and the legislative
committees agreed with them and the
legislature as a whole granted them.
What did John Burke do2 He vetoed
every Improvement except the $500
for stock and $4,000 for hospital The
other items, vital and necessary, were
refused for the reason that the appro-
priations exceeded the revenues. This
institution Is new, and growing rapidly
In population 1t needs many things
that older and better established in
situations already possess, yet the gov
ernor set up his Judgment against that
of the whole legislative body and We
toed these items.
Devils Lake, the city where Govern
or Burke halls from, has a state insti-
tuition, the school for the deaf. That
Institution has about third as
many inmates as the institution for
feeble minded. 1t has been in opera
ton for many years and is one of the
best equipped of all the institutions in
the state. 1t has land grant behind
1t that produces large revenue. This
school for the deaf asked for appro-
pTldLloHs ZOE gymnasium ana amuSe-
ment hall to cost $4,000 and for
separate hospital to cost $4,000. Tile
legislature passed the bill and 1t went
to Gov. John Burke. Now when this
bin came before the governor he did
not think the appropriations exceeded
the revenues, or at least he did no,
think so very hard, for he approved
those items of $4,000 for his home
town, and he did it March 30, 1909, the
very day he vetoed the $500 for the
institution for feeble minded.
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