The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1910-08-11
OUR sPlNELEss GOVERNOR.


One OF the greatest qualities to be admired in
men is that Of having plenty of backbone the
public official who forever lodges way
other, is Of the most pitiable sights behold
and North Dakota's chief executive, John Burke.
has never been known to come out fat footed for
anything, right or wrong. An official 1s not ex
pected to make good in every particular, but when
he takes 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 governor for the past four
years, expecting that at some time or another he
would take the initiative and make stand for the
rights OF the people, but have waited in van- II
the legislature proved to be wise enough to pass
some merorous measure, the governor could al
ways be expected to pat himself on the back and
say Why I made that suggestion in my mes
sage" If on the other hand the legislature failed
In any particular, the governor was just quick
to hold his hands in horror and remark: well,
I urged them to do that anyway But the gov
ernor never known to take off his coat and
work for any measure whatsoever. No matter
how downtrodden the people might be, the COVER
nor could be depended upon to sit in his
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
good for at least one more term.
fore 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 election easy. But
what did the governor do after he was elected,
when he had an opportunity to at least go rec
ord. 1t will be remembered that he failed to vote
when it came a show down. for the increase of
railroad taxes, and explained to his horror strick-
en- constituents that the reason why he did not
vote was because he in the minority and his
vote would not have counted, anyway. Don't you
think that the influence OF his vote, whether It
the point or not, would have been good? Was
the governors excuse satisfactory one?
In the course of events, of North Dakotas
senators, Martin N. johnson died and it devolved
upon the governor to make appointment to fill
the vacancy. Here is where ne showed his lack
of stamina or backbone, if you please to call it.
1t is an undisputed fact that he irted with Thomas
Marshall and promised him the appointment, but
Marshalls friends knew that the governor would
never do az he agreed to do. The governor, no
doubt believed that he would appoint Marshall
when he promised him that he would but Mar
shalls advisors warmed him to consider the offer
as naught, because they knew that as soon as
some of Burke's Democratic allies got to MIN, he
would change his mind az easily as the wind turns
the weather vane. And he did. Then his Demo
cratic brethren urged MIN to appoint Purcell Of
Wahpeton but the governor afraid to do 80
because Purcell known to be friend of the
corporations. He finally appointed Fountain L.
Thompson, man not fitted by nature nor intel
|gence to hold office of such vast Importance
and finally after Thompsons convenient Illness
manifested ITSELF Burke appointed Purcell, the
poraton lawyer. Everybody realized That he had
made one grand mistake, for the logical man to
have appointed was Cashe, who had been nomi-
mated 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 few examples of the many
weak qualities of governor. The Independent
has always given Mr.. Burke credit where credit
was due, but don't hesitate in showing up his
weak points, We would refrain from referring to
these Instances at the present time, were 1t 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, no doubt has over-estimated
opinion his worth to- the people of the state and
he should have stepped down and out as gracefully
as possible,
Let's see who was 1t said that c. A. Johnson
was not endorsed at home? From the appearance