The Dickinson press., 1911-05-20
PROF.. THOMAS SHAW
REVIEWS MATTER FULLY
Grand Forks Evening Times:

Grand FORKS Evening times:
In the former letter to the Times
gave it was my opinion that Governor
Burke made monumental blunder when
he vetoed the increase, voted by both
branches of the Legislature. for the sup,
port of the farmers institutes of the
state. At the meeting called by the
Commercial Club of Fargo, and held in
their rooms on the evening Of April ~.
Governor Burke tried to defend his
action. He said that if he had the de-
cision to make again he would do just
what he did. He would veto the ap-
preparation. The hopeless kind of trans
gresser, is the man who stiffens his neck
in the face of clear light, and will not
repent.
The first blunder was monumental,
but, what of the second made at the
meeting above referred to? Some new
words will have to be coined to express
adequately the brazen character of the
conduct and the folly of the course
adopted by the governor at this meeting.
The course he pursued at this meeting
may be outlined as follows:
First: He came to meeting called
for the purpose of trying to undo that
mischief which his unfortunate veto had
brought to the farmers institute. He
came without an invitation. and butted
in for an hour in trying to defend an
action that was indefensible. AS though
it was not enough to be the occasion
of the calling of the meeting, he seemed
to conclude that it was duty he owed
to the state to do what he could to rem
der the work of that meeting inopera
tive. This was done by modest John
Burke.
Second: He commenced his address
by attacking man in the audience who
was. sittingly quiet in the room and was
not molesting any one. The reference
here is 10 Prof. Willard. There was
not the shadow of an excuse for the
attack. The matter was entirely foreign
to the object of the meeting. This was
done by fair-minded John Burke.
Third: He said early in his speech
that he was not going to answer the cri-
ticism of man living outside of the
state. There was dignity in that answer
worthy of the governor. He referred of
course to the writer. But he coud not
apparently resist the temptation to give
vicious thrust about every five minutes
in his speech to that same man whose
logic he could not and did not answer.
That was digni6ed conduct, wasn't it?
In the governor of great state at a
meeting to which he had not been
invited. This was doue by Gov. John
Burke.
Fourth: The essence of his defense
consisted of an onslaught on the action
of Superintendent Hoverstad in drawing
so heavily on the institute funds. thus
leaving the treasury so depleted. He
overlooked the fact that the superinten-
dent had acted constantly under the
advice of the institute board. and that
both superintendent and board had been
influenced in their action by the. best of
motives. The low condition of the
funds of the institute when the whole
state was clamoring so loudly for insti-
tutes furnished in itself powerful
argument as to why that grant should
NOT he vetoed. This was done by LOGICAL
John Burke.
Fifth: He vowed the opinion that
politics was at the bottom of the meet
ing. He was the only man who hinted
that there was politics in the meeting.
If there was, he was the only man who
brought them there. These things were
said by honest John Burke.
Sixth: The governor furthermore said
that he favored the work of the insti-
tutes. Does his action in vetoing the
bill bear out this statement? When the
Prophet Jonah was running away from
duty, he told the sailors that he feared
the Lord, and yet he was running away
from him. There are times when the
action of men contradict their words.
Governor Burke is assuredly welcome to
all the comfort he can get out of that
veto. feel quite sure that no man in
North Dakota or out of it will grudge
him the glory that he. can get from that
most regretful act.
Meantime let the people Of North Da-
kota bestir themselves to save the insti-
tutes. If the governor is anxious to help
the institutes, there is still one way
open to him. The commercial clubs
want money, and they want the aid Of