The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-08-19

Minot Independent: One of the
greatest qualities to be admired in men
Is that of having plenty of backbone
The public official who forever lodges
one way or another, is one of the most
Ipitiable sights to behold, and North
Dakota's chief executive, John Burke
has never been known to come out fiat
footed for anything, right or wrong. An
official is not expected to make good
in every particular, but when he takes
a stand for what he believes to be
right, it proves refreshing in the eyes
of the public, to say the least. The
independent has been keeping fairly
close tab on our governor for the past
four years, expecting that at some time
or another he would take the initiative
and make a stand for the rights of the
people, but we have waited in vain. II
the legislature proved to be wise
enough to pass some meritorious meas
ure, the governor could always be ex-
pected to pat himself on the back and
say: why, / made that suggestion
in my message" If on the other hand
the legislature failed in any particular,
his hands in horror and remark: well,
I urged them to do that anyway" But
the governor was never known to take
off his coat and work for any measure
whatsoever. No matter how downtrod-
den the people might be, the governor
could be depended upon to sit in his
easy chair, with his feet cooked high
on his desk, and rest securely in the
belief that by virtue of the split in
the ranks of the republican party, he
was good for at least one more term.
Many of our readers will remember
how, before his first election, John
Burke went UP one side of the state
and down the other proclaiming that
he stood for higher railroad taxation.
That won him votes and made his elec-
ton easy. But what did the governor
do after he was elected whenlane had
an opportunity to at least go on record.
1t will be remembered that he failed to
vote when it came to show down, for
the increase of railroad taxes, and ex-
planned to his horror stricken .constit-
| uents that the reason why he did not
vote was because he was in the minor
ity and his vote would not have count
| ed, anyway. Don't you think that the
influence of his vote, whether Ii won
the point or not, would have been
good? Was the governors excuse a
satisfactory one?
In the course of events, one OF North
lDakota's senators, Martin N. Johnson
died and 1t devolved upon the governor
to make an appointment to fill the va
cancy. Here is where he showed his
lack of stamina, or backbone, III you
please to call it. 1t is an undisputed
fact that he flirted with Thomas Mar
shall and promised him the appoint
ment, but Marshalrs friends knew that
the governor would never do as he
agreed to do, The governor, no doubt,
believed that he would appoint Mar
shall when he promised him that he
would, but Marshall's advisors warned
him to consider the offer as naught.
because they knew that as soon as
some of Burke's democratic allies got
to him, he would change his mind as
easily as the wind turns the weather
vane. And he did. Then his demo-
cratic brethren urged him to appoint
Purcell of Wahpeton. but the governor
was afraid to do so because Purcell
was known to be friend of the cor
porations. He finally appointed Foun-
tain L. Thompson, man not fitted BY
nature or intelligence to hold an office
flee of such vast Importance and f.
nally after Thompson's convenient i'll
ness manifested itself, Burke appoint
ed Purcell, the corporation lawyer.
Everybody realized that be had made
one grand mistake, for the logical man
to have appointed was Cashel who
had been nominated by the democrats.
The governor could have saved himself
great deal Of trouble and won the
respect Of all by appointing Cashel in
the first place. These are but a few
examples Of the many weak qualities
'of our governor. The independent has
always given Mr.. Burke credit where
credit was. due, but we don't hes fasc
In showing up his weak points. we
would refrain from referring t. these
instances at the present time, we're il
not for the fact that he Is asking to be
elected for the third term. He ought
to be satisfied with two terms but he
mo doubt has an over estimated oIn-
Ion Of his worth to the people OF the
state and he should have stepped down
and out as gracefully as possible.
Chop Suey at the Rathskeller, M'h's.