Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1910-10-16
PROMISES OR
PERFORMANCES?
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:: WHAT is THE STANDARD i
- FOR JUDGING THE PUBLIC ::
:. MAN WHO PROCESSES RE. ::
:. FORM AND PRACTICES PLAIN ::
:. POLITICS? I:

- MAN WIN FnOT 1866 ne.
:. FORM AND PRACTICES PLAIN =
:: POLITICS? :
=: :.
:: !: = + : (: :: :: :: :: = :: : : :: So
10y the Republican State Republican
Committee.)
The test of public man is his &C.
tion in emergencies.
Any man can be a hero at a time
when no danger threatens, no issue
is involved and no decisive action is
required.
What did John Burke do when he
was confronted by the only real emer-
gancy of his administration, and when
the opportunity was presented to him
to demonstrate TO the people OF this
state of what kind of metal he was
cCmposed-when there was a United
States senator to appoint to represent
the people of the state of North Da-
kota to succeed one Of the ablest men
this state has given to public life
Hon. Martin N Johnson. Governor
Burke hesitated, evaded, wobbled and
finally in a way out of the difficulties
with which he had entangled himself,
through his lack of decision, he NAM
ed for this high office a close personal
friend, unknown and un1ried in pub
lie affairs.
And when thi; man after few
short weeks of official life, resigned,
whom did John burke name?
A republican to represent the peo'
pie of this republican state of North
dakota? No.
The democrat who had been chosen
by his party at the primary election?
No.
A democrat of the progressive type,
who stood for the policies declared for
by the state platform Of the demo-
cratic party, and for which John
Burke in the past claimed to stand,
and for which he now on the stump
claims to stand? No.
Whom did he appoint?
A democrat of the conservative, the
stalwart or Bourbon variety of the
democratic party-W. E. Purcell.
The record of w. E. Purcell as
member of the legislature was well
known to Governor Burke when he
signed his commission as United
States senator.
w. E. Purcell as a member of the
legislature was consistent opponent
of legislation to control and regulate
corporations for which class of legis-
lation the democratic platforms OF
this state have declared and for which
John Burke processes to stand.
w. E. Purcell was constant oppo
nent of 1he anti-pass bill for which
John Burke claims to stand, and
which he charges the republicans with
defeating.
w. T.. Purcell opposed legislation to
strengthen the prohibition law for
which Governor Burke claims to
stand.
w. E. Purcell opposed and voted
against the temperance commissioner
law.
w. E. Purcell acted and voted as he
had a right to do as a member OF the
legislature and a citizen, but he did
not act and work for those policies
for which the governor so long and
so loudly declares.
When John Burke, as governor OF
this state, chose member OF his
party to reward by appointing him
member of the United States senate.
the most dignified law making body
in the land, whom did he choose
w. e. Purcell, Of Wahpeton.
Governor Burke processes to stand
for the primary election principle.
He has always claimed that the
people of the state should he heard
directly in the choice of their can
didates for public office.
He and his party stand for the elec-
ton of United States senators by
direct vote of the people and until
the constitution of the United States
is amended, the nomination of candi-
dates for United States senator at
the primary election is the nearest
that we can come to this method OF
electing our United States senators.
When John Burke, governor OF
North Dakota, named United States
senator did he act upon the platform
declaration of his party, did he heed
the wish of the democratic party OF
North Dakota as expressed in the prl-
mary election of June, 1908, and
name the man whom the democratic
party had declared as it's choice, did
he accept the fundamental principle
of democratic government--majority
rule. He did not.
First he named Fountain L. Thomp-
son, his personal. friend, and ignored
entirely the fact that the result OF
primary election and bound him as the
head of his party to name its choice
for that Office. ..
Then when his first appointee had
resigned he named not the man who
had received the majority of the dem.
ocratic votes, but the man who had
been rejected by the democrats OF
the state at the polls.
Here again the governor showed
how completely his preachments fall
short of his performances.
He held himself to be a better
Judge than the majority of the DEM
ocrats of the state.
Did he make this appointment to
benefit the people of the state OF
North Dakota, to crafty the desires
of his party, or to help build up the
personal machine for himself? It Is
- &h4 foto IN tho Kphf