The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-12-20

~ AFTERNOON 'oii'i pu'"e '"'u
\ "Hurrah for Mcclellan and the
Union"
John Burke was years old. II was
his first speech. Mcclellan then was
the military hero Of the North. John
Burke's mother was a Democrat. Fur
thermore she was Irish. The same can
be said of John Burke's father.
Since that Friday afternoon there on
the prairies Of Iowa the life of John
Burke, now Treasurer Of the United
states at a salary OF $4,000. has been
passed largely in speech making. mostly
to jurles and every autumn to outpour-
ings Of the electorate.
The war boards of Germany. Russia
and the Allies cannot teach John Burke
anything in the line OF tactics or
strategy. John Burke. as may have
been guessed by the Office he holds and
the parents he had. is a Democrat
Nevertheless he has been in the public
service on and Off for twenty Ave years
and in North Dakota. a Republican
State. He was Governor OF that Com
monwealth for three terms At Balti-
more in 1912 he was almost nominated
for Vice President.
The figures Of his contests when he
was up for Governor are astonishing. At
the first election. in 1906. John Burke
ran ahead of his ticket by some 10 900
votes. lie received 81 600 more votes in
-
date. His lead over his ticket In 1910
was $4,000 votes.
The three Legislatures which served
while he was Governor were. as he ex-
presses the fact. overwhelmingly Re
publican. All of the State officers but
himself were Republicans. Even so
many II the modern laws Of North Ia
kota bear the imprint of John Burke a,
their tops. along their margins and a,
their ends.
There was period OF twelve years
during which John Burke spent all OF
his time practising law at Devils Lake
He stumped in every campaign. but he
Ola not ask for office himself. Then
suddenly. 1t might almost be said-hs
locked his desk. got into an automobil,
and from six to fourteen times a day. il
halls and public schools. told the men OF
North Dakota that he meant to be Gov.
ernor of their State
II said the time had come for /
change"--he was explaining to an inter
viewer for THE SUN in Washington tn,
nature OF his appeal and the method o
his elections ering-"I didn'; attack tn,
Republican party.
The men who were running tn,
state, as was particular to point on,
were not Republicans II they had beef
Republicans, things would have bee,
better and different. would have been al
right in fact.
They claimed TO be Republicans. !
10 true, but they were railroad agent.
and lobbyists first OF all and were bring
ing disgrace upon the honorable an,
historical organization they pretende,
to represent.
"fes. the plan of the campaign wa
success, ] was elected Ramse
county, where | live strongly Repub
lican, gave me 1887 votes. as agains
476 votes for my opponent Rolett
county, where | first settled on movin
to North Dakota, also strongly Repuh
lican, gave me l,020 votes and my oppo
nent Just about one-third of that mum
her. So it went, county after count,
all of which proved that the people, a
] had supposed, were ready for a ne,
man and new methods.
"We increased the taxes OF the rail
roads 80 l-3 per cent. by raising the as
sessed value of their property TIL
railroads fought us bitterly, but afte
they were beaten their lawyers came I
my office and said they were satisfied
Little politicians hsd been flying a
over the State with their pockets file
with railroad passes. We emptied the
pockets and the little politicians cease
to travel. Then We passed law takin
the election OF Judges out of partisa
politics. Likewise We enacted a bette
primary law"
do you still believe in nomInatin
candidates for Office at primaries instea
Of at conventions?" Mr.. Burke wa
asked.
II do" he replied. The day is con
ing when candidates for President vi
be chEen in that manner. There wi