The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1910-05-19

washington Cor. in Aberdeen News
Charles II. Burke began his legisla-
tive career as a member Of the South
Dakota assembly in 1895. He served
two terms in the state Legislature and
was elected TO congress in 1898, be-
coming n member of the seth con
gress during the last half of McKin-
ley's first administration. He was re-
elected in 1900 when Mckinley and
Roosevelt were the standard bearers
Of the republican party, and was a
member of the committee that escort
ed Mr.. Roosevelt through the state on
that memorable campaign-memorable
especially for the reason that Mr..
Roosevelt was subjected to the most
bitter attacks that were ever visited
upon a political speaker in the state
of South Dakota. Mr.. Burke served
in the seth congress as a result of
the elections of 1902, and again in
1904-when Mr.. Roosevelt was the re-
publican nominee for president-he
was again returned To congress. In
1906 he was defeated for nomination
in the state convention and therefore
was not a member of the Goth con
grIss. In 1905 he submitted his can
didacy to the republican voters in a
state wide primary, and won the nom
ination by a majority which clearly
showed that the convention of 1906
had not voted the sentiment of the
people when it refused him a re-
nomination. He is now serving his
fifth term as a representative in con-
gress and is chairman of the commit
tee on Indian affairs, one of the great
committees of the house Of representa-
tives, and the one of which V~ice-Presi-
dent Sherman was chairman for four
teen years. II is a committee of spec
ial importance tn South Dakota by
reason not only of the large Indian
population in the state and the prob
lens OF government arising thereby.
but also because of the large tracts of
land that have been and must be open
ed TO settlement on the inititive of
this committee.
During his service in congress Mr..
Burke has been exceptionally fortunate
in his committee assignments. In the
seth congress Speaker Henderson as
signed him TO two important commit
tees-public lands and elections. In
the 57th congress Speaker Henderson
advanced him to two other important
committees-Indian affairs and indus
trial arts and expositions. The latter
committee was especially important
at that time, because of the Louisiana
Purchase Exposition at st. Louis. In
the 5Sth congress he retained his posi-
tion on Indian affairs and Speaker Can
o gave him another assignment
equally important ON the committee on
interstate and foreign commerce. This
latter committee, always important,
was especially so at that time because
of legislation relating to railway rates
and pure food, which that committee
formulated. Mr.. Burke continued to
hold assignments on these two great
committees until he retired from con-
gress. March 4, 1907. When he was
returned to the present congress he
was offered a position at the special
session on the committee of ways and
means, which had the responsibility
Of initiating tariff legislation. Con-
STRUNG this assignment as operating
as q bar to his appointment as chair
man OF the committee on Indian af-
fairs. Mr.. Burke declined the honor.
believing that he would receive the ap-
pointment as chairman Of the commit
tee on Indian affairs, and thereby have
opportunity to become a greater SER
vice to his constituents than he could
render them on the committee ON ways
and means, which, while 1t is the great
COMMITTEES of the house. ~ sctive only
at intervals. In addition "a MS assign
ment as chairTa1 of the committees oil
Indian AFFAIR, Itc is slao a member Of
the committe- ca the library, which
has an sseiusive jurisdiction covering
the conf't ructIon and care Of the build
. ing OF tAS.terary of congress, man.
agement Of She library, purchase Of
ths HOOKS and manuscfipts. erection
81 monuments, ETC. and the general
eRairs a. The emltheonian Institution.