The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1911-04-13
Washington Post.1

nun. ELW In
Washington Post.1
There is an interesting political situa
ton on the northeasternmost corner O
the Union. That corner, solidly Repub
lican, with hardly an exception since tn,
Civil War, heralded last autumn's Demo
cratic landslide in unprecedented FASHION
Maine is the one State of voting signif
canoe that holds a September election.
1t Will vote IN September, 1912, and Re.
publlcans, who are concerned about ma.
tional politics, have begun already te
think about Maine. They want the Pine
Tree State to give the country the right
kind OF an intimation of the outcome of
the presidential campaign.
Former Representative Edwin C. Bur-
leigh, who left Washington a few weeks
ago at the conclusion of fourteen years
service IN the House, has been mentoned
much IN connection with Republican eff
forts to reclaim the old time stronghold.
He, denies, however, any intention of
assuming leadership although his friends
say he is emnently qualified to wear the
mantle. AS the dean of the Maine dele
cation in the House for number of
years and great political force in CEN
trail Maine, he has the experience of
many hard-fought campaigns, and en-
joys the support of very loyal follow
ing.
STRONG MAN NECESSARY.
He was defeated for reelection in
spite of the fact, that, as usual. he ran
far ahead of the rest Of the party ticket.
Letters urging him to run again for the
House from the Third Observation-Disclosures
TALLY the district that Blaine long repre-
sented, comprising counties in the Ken
nebec valley-have been pouring in upon
him. Other correspondents have been
urging him to become a candidate for
the United States Senate. Besides elect
ing governor and Legislature next year,
Maine will choose United States sena-
tor. The campaign will undoubtedly
center much in this fight for toga. A
Democratic legislature has redistricted
the State for local representatives and
senators. all of which is calculated to
make it more difficult for Republicans to
regain a majority. This accentuates the
demand for strong and experienced Re-
publican to combat for senatorial honors.
Mr.. Burleigh has given no definite
answer to these letters. Just before he
departed from Washington he said he
was not ready to announce whether he
would accept another nomination for the
House, or even whether he would enter
the race for the Senate 1t is under
stood, however. that under no circum-
stances will he be a candidate against
Senator Frye.
His intimate friends at the Capitol
here believe Mr.. Burleigh will ultimate
y become. candidate either for the
House or the Senate. He and Mrs. Bur-
leigh left Washington with the intention
of remaining in Boston three or four
weeks before returning to Maine. Mr..
Burleigh's career in the House made him
very popular with the folks back home.
In quiet but effective manner he was
successful in getting things done. He
generally drought home the bacon"
whether it was matter of pension
claim for veteran constituent, better
postal facilities for remote rural COM
munity, an appropriation for river dredg-
ing, or an authorization for new public
building.
SUCCESSFUL IN HOUSE.
In such lines of activity Mr.. Burleigh
was probably more successful than any
other man Maine ever sent to the nations
al House. He was interchangeable, and
the results of his industry were little
short of surprising. He did not leave
the running of departmental errands to
others. Such things and matters of
correspondence he gave his diligent per-
sonal attention, for which he has gained
wide reputation the length and breadth
of the State. Although a sturdy parti-
san in matters of general legislation, Mr..
Burleigh knew no politics in taking care
of the interests of the home folks. He
has made personal friends among men of
Goth parties.
So it was that there were Democrats
as well as Republicans in the House who
regretted his defe at for reelection, A
successful business man, with a wide
knowledge Of affairs, he showed sound
judgment in dealing with business legis-
lation. He also is very successful or
ganizer. Ten years ago he was one of
the very foremost in blocking out the
campaign for the reapportionment meas
ure by which the membership of the
House was fixed at 39l in spite of the
protests of the old leaders. AS tie rank
ing member of the census committee. he
had like role in the framing of the reap
portionment bill, which the House passed
and which was afterward killed in the
Senate during the closing hours of the
last session. Both apportionment meas
ures were carried through the House by
non-partisan cooperation. In that con-
nection much was said on each occasion
about taking care of Maine" That
was the object of Mr.. Burleigh's activ-
ity in behalf of both bills. The State
has been anxious to retain its four men,
bers of the House.
HIS WORK ON RIur.n rNc mrs
Mr.. Burleigh has borne no small part in
the public building legislation of the last
decade. He had place on the public
building committee, next to the chair
man, and was a champion of the govern.
ment's transacting its business in build
ings that it owned. He did much hard
preliminary work in preparing omnibus
building bills, served as chairman Of one
Of the leading subcommittee, the juris-
diction of which embraced all the New
England States, and conducted to final