Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1910-08-11

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appear.
Had he lived, Gov. johnson of Min
%nesota, would undoubtedly have been
democracy's logical candidate in 1912.
He was undoubtedly a great man, a big
product of the progressive northwest,
and his untimely death was not only a
party but a national less. Butthe north
west seems to be prolific in big men.
There seems to be other men like John
son out there on the broad prairies who
have kept their faces to the sunrise,
and are working out against great odds
the true destiny of democratic govern
ment.
1.-THE name Of one such man has been
called to u attention recently by a tele-
graph dispatch which reads:
"On Democratic day at North Dakota
Chautauqua. at which prominent demo-
Gratis of the northwest were in attend
ance, strong resolutions were passed,
urging the candidacy of Gov. Burke as
standard bearer of the democracy in
1912. Mr.. Burke has twice been
elected governor in a strong republican
state. he is now running for the third
time, and his election is conceded by
many republicans. Burke's friends say
he. will have the support of the states
west of the Mississippi"
Gov. John Burke of North Dakota!'
Again we repeat, it is a name to be CON
jured with in democratic circles. He is
the first democrat to have peer elected
governor in that formerly rock-ribbed
republican state. True, back in 1892
a fusion ticket, aided greatly by the
democratic presidential landslide of that
year, carried the state by a scant
majority against the regular republican
nominee.
But never before or since has a demo-
crat had a look-in ia North Dakota till
Honest John Burke as be is called, ap-
peared OF the scene.
SIN the gubernatorial contest of 1902,
a so-called off year, the republicans
polled 31,62l votes to the democrats
1866. In 1904, a presidential year,
Roosevelt got $3.50 votes to Parker's
1878, and Sarles, republican candidate
for governor, 37,S2S votes to democratic
candidate Hegge's 1874. Two years
later, an off year, John Burke, demo-
cratic nominee, polled over 80 per cent.
of the entire vote of North Dakota.
He beat his G. @. P. opponent 34,424 to
29,309. In 1908, a presidential year.
Taft got 57,771 votes in North Dakota
to Bryan's 32,909, but Burke carried the
state for governor by 1886 votes
against 1903 for his republican OPP
ponent. Burke, in fact, has duplicated
in North Dakota the political success of
John A. johnson in Minnesota.
1.-THE people of North Dakota,
irrespective of party, believe in the
honest, sound judgment of John Burke.
Young men of promising ability and
high ideals have been attached to this
man and have thrown themselves into
the fight for him and the things for
which he stands with all the zealousness |
of crusaders. Burke stands for the
square deal in North Dakota and he has
backed his words by his deeds, his
promises by their fulfllment. 1t is i'm
possible here to recount the good he
has done.
"Mr. Bryan was never a weak drawing
card politically in North Dakota, as
<Lo E-,,ro- will chow T. 7SOt {ho ro
publicans carried the state, 23,723 to
S,1S8 votes for the democrats. In 1896
Bryan polled 2O,6s6 votes against 26,335
for Mckinley. In 1900 Bryan again
polled over 10000 votes. In 1908 he
polled nearly $4,000 votes, but Burke
polled nearly 1900 more votes than
Bryan. Surely there is presidential
timber in a man who can make such a
showing IN a republican state in com
parison with such a deservedly popular
candidate as Mr.. Bryan.
"Now The Union is booming no man
particular for the democratic presi-
dental nomination in 1912. Folk and
Harmon, and Gaynor, and Wilson all
have their strong and weak points IN
our estimation. The purpose of this
editorial is served If the reader will
CLEAN from it the lesson that this is a
big country, that the democratic party
is a big party, filled with big men, that
1912 is a long way off, that nobody ought
to be given a mortgage on the demo
cratic presidential nomination 30 far
ahead, and that in the end the party
may best serve its W and it's country's
future by turning to such a man as John
Burke in much the same way as the re-
publican party turned to Lincoln in
1890"