The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-09-25
BURTON HAS GOOD
CHANCE TO BECOME
PRESIDENT OF 0. S.
He Halls From Ohio Where
They Grow Good
Stuff.

Theodore E. Burton OF Ohio is 10.
day the most likely candidate for the
republican presidential nomination.
He is coming into the Root strength.
Roots age and record are gradually
putting him out OF the running.
The conservative business interests
which sometimes are called wall
Street" are casting friendly eye on
Burton. II Root were ten years
younger. and bit more OF popular
hero. they would prefer him. He was
the choice 0: the late Senator Aldrich
and Is still the choice OF William
Barnes. But the more astute republi.
can leaders recognize the need for a
man who can go into the middle west
and make some Roadway In popu.
lar primary.
Theodore Elijah Burton has a rec.
ord OF 20 years of public life. The
public knows him. III his votes and
speeches he has shown what he Is as
a public man and the publicity which
shines on senator's and such has
shown something also OF Burton's per.
sonal characteristics. AS to these
1t is interesting, though unimportant.
to know that he is 81, a studious bach.
elor, with an absent.minded manner.
a full rich voice, and labored habit
OF geniality. He was born at Jcfier-
son, Ashtnbula.co. His father was a
minister and his mother a college
graduate. AS a boy he was delicate
and addicted 10 books. Al six he was
reading Blackstone; not from cover TO
cover, but he was reading In the ia
nous commentaries. When other
) boys were playing baseball, Theodore
Elijah was giving an imitation for the
benefit OF the family cat Of father con.
Quoting religious service. So when
Theodore grew up and had gone
through GrinnelI and 0berlin colleges
It was natural that he should study
at a theological seminary. He was
by family tradition destined for the
church.
But underneath the solemn and
studlous exterior, unknown perhaps 10
his early friends and associates, there
lurked In t. Burton some leaven OF
worldliness and when II came time TO
choose a pastorate he chose to study
law. He went to Chicago and studied
In Lyman Tfumbull's office. whence
he returned TO Cleveland and began
in 1875 10 specialize on the handling
OF estates In probate. II was that
first year he laid the foundations OF
competence (perahps $200.0o0) by
saving most OF his $4,000 earnings. A
thrifty. studious life has since con.
tinued the saving practice. and invest.
ment in real estate has proved safe
and moderately remuncrative.
Burton's step into public life oc.
Cured when he consented 10 be can.
lidate for the city council in the
fourth ward OF Cleveland, In 1886. As
alderman ne proved to be one of those
useful implements in practical poll
tics--a fellow who is willing to do
the research and desk work. and TO
supply prccedents and parliamentary
lore on call. For faithful service he
was promoted TO congressional nom-
nation by the machine and was In
congress, except when defeated a
couple OF terms by Tom l.. Johnson.
until year ago, when he decided not
TO run again for the senate.
: In the house and later in the SEN
ate, Burton was the same studious,
absent.minded, bookworm. AS chair
man OF the river and harbors COM
mittee he became mine OF technical
information garnered from engineers
reports and visits to the places. AS
holder Of the pork barrel purse
strings, he was courted and feared
and later when the pork barrel be.
came a democratic party function,
Burton, as member OF the republi.
can minority. achieved fame and ia.
yor by drawing on his large expert.
ence to shop up some Of the partic.
ularly rotten CRAFTS which were being
perpetrated by the southern demo.
Gratis under the name OF waterway i'm.
movements.
The studious boy In big specs Is
sometimes mollycoddle, and the
freckled mick from across the tracks
can often. punch him with ,impunity.
Not so with Theodore Elijah. This
! god fighter, right or wrong. And. on
theNpersonal side, in spite OF his ION
kish look and his book.writing habit,
he Is bit OF sport. He gets into
his baggy dress suit almost every
night and takes his meals at the Met.
ropolitan club. Sometimes he has
even been seen to alight from taxi
as late as 1890 p. Nor even later
and there are rumors that once he
was heard to hum little tune on
his way to bed.
But on the whole Burton looks upon
life as serious affair.
The Public Burton-the Burton OF
votes. speeches and congressional acts
lis the conventional. old.school,' re.
dictionary republican. He is forward.
looking" on only two subjects: world
peace" and internal waterway I'm.
provement. On the tariff he Is what