Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1912-05-22

1
Judgment in dealing with business iegis-
latlon. He also is a very successful or.
the very foremost In blocking out the
campaign for the re-apportionment meas
| ure by which the membership of the
House was fixed at ssi in spite OF the
protests of the old leaders. AS the rank
Ing member OF the census committee, he
apportionment bill. which the House
passed and which was afterward killed
in the Senate during the closing hours
measures 1 were carried through the
| House by non-partisan cooperation. In
that connection much was said on each
| occasion about taking care of Maine"
That was the object Of Mr.. Burlelgh's
activity in behalf Of both bills. The
state has been anxious to retain Its
four members Of the House.
His Work on Building Bills.
Mr. Burleigh has borne no small part
IN the public building legislation OF tne
| last decade. He had a place on the pub
lie building committee, next to the chair
man, and was a champion OF the gov
buildings that it owned. He did much
hard preliminary work In preparing om-
nibus building bills, served as chairman
the Jurisdiction of which embraced all
the New England States. and conducted
TO final authorization a great number OF
| legislation of this sort and insisted up
on consideration OF the public business
Some years before coming to Congress
he served two terms as governor OF
the enS ses Il Business 20
had had In a quarter of a century. He
gave to State affairs. the same careful
TO bestow upon his private affairs, This
policy brought him wide popularity in
every county Of the State, and has al
ways helped pile up big vote Tor MIN
Although the Democrats. Of recent
years. have been very active In central
| ty, OF which his home city Of Augusta
is the seat, he has retained many good
friends in their sc sanas IN ana D oopps Of
cities. which might have been avoided.
would have even survived the big land
'I Maine ne has has very few living former re-
personalities. Mr.. Burleigh Is the only
Survivor in that class. save one who
s serGsa fsr long followed the policy
OF keeping their representatives at wash
lngton, and Of promoting REPRESENTATIVES
| Of long and efficient service to the
Senate"
These are but few of the public
tributes TO Governor Burleigh's stand
ing, selected as typical OF the esteem
in which he is held both at home and
in Washington.
How is "influence" Acquired?
The Boston Herald, the leading In
dependent paper In New England.
in an editorial on Seniority in Con-
gress," has this to say:
"A mans standing in Congress is
gained by seniority. His influence
there comes from length of service.
New men, no matter how ambitious
and Jealous, have very little infiu-
ence. They do not and cannot be-
gin their work where their prede-
cessors left of. Speech making does
not bring them influence; work
brings it-committee work. Men,
bers work in their committees by
seniority. Besides, new members do
not get and cannot get. in the u.s.
ual course of things. appointments
to the more important committees"
Truer words were never written. Add
to this analysis the elements of fine
nersonal character, a genial personality
and kindly disposition, keen insight In
To human nature, a ready appraisal OF
men and their motives. and tact and
Judgment in dealing with them. unsur.
"a ssed ability as an organizer. untirine
Industry. and a sincere and unselfish
country. and you have solved the Sc
cret OF the influential position which
Mr.. Burleigh has attained in Washing
ton.
speech-making alone, as the Boston
Herald Justly remarks counts for but
little. The real work Of Congress, the
framing Of important measures. COM
mittee hearings thereon. their discus
sion by the public press the personal
interchange of views between members.
ard all those things which operate to
mould the sentiment OF members of
: Congress and determine their votes
these things take place not on the floor
NJ the House or Senate, but in the
weeks and sometimes months of work
and consideration and conference which
,, nrecede their actual submission to vote.
, Debats serves useful purpose In
making clear to the country and en-
ba,ming in the public record the POSI-
ton of the contending parties. There
are many brilliant orators In both the
House and Senate, but their oratory
, rarely changes a single vote In either
! branch. The Senate often listens with
quiet amusement to the inspired
bursts OF oratory" OF those new MEM
, bsrs who have not yet learned the
ropes" and who fondly imagine that
the hne sounding phrases of political
. stump speech are effective in influence
ing legislation in the national councils.
The United States Senate is not unac-
customed to talk. 1t is heard day in
and day out, for weeks. months and
years. The proceedings OF a single ses-
. sion of Congress often fill over 5000 OF
The closely printed pages Of the Con-
, gressional Record. equivalent to per-
haps over so, 600 pages Of an ordinary
novel, and a considerable portion of 1t
! is talk. To actually and effectively in
fuence legislation, is a matter OF long
service and training, combined with
those elements which Governor Bur
leigh possesses in a pre-eminent de-
! grsA Lacking these elements, man
, may nh many pages of the Congress
sional Record with his speeches with