The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1915-10-01

/ ing friendly ego on Burton.
II Root were ten years younger.
and BIT more OF u popular hero.
they would prefer him. lie was the
choice Of the late Senator Aldrich
and Is still the choice Of William
Barnes
hut the more aatutc republican
leaders recognize the need for
man who can so into the Middle
West or West and make some head.
way In a popular primary.
Il Absert.m lrded Bachelor
II Theodore Elijah Burton has a
record o, 20 years OF public life.
Ho II 50. Studious bachelor.
with an absent-mindod manner.
FUN rich voice. and labored habit
OF Eeniailty.
He was born az Jefferson. Ash.
tabula county tiis father was a
minister and his mother college
graduate. As boy. he vas delicate
and addicted 90 books
II When Theodore grew 40 and had
gone thru GTinnoll and Oberlln col.
legea. Il was natural that he should
study NJ theological seminary He
was BY family tradition destined
for the church.
But he chose To study law.
lie went 10 Chicago and studied
In Lyman Trumbnll's office. when
no returned 10 Cleveland and began
In 1875 to specialize on tho han.
ding Of estates in probate
II was that fret year he laid the
foundations OF a competence (per.
hAps $780, o0l by saving most Of
his $1,000 earnings.
A thrifty. stndious life has since
continued tho saving practice. and
investment In real estate hes
proved safe and moderately rcmun.
erntivc.
Held Pork-Barrei Strings
Burton's step into public life oo-
CURED when he consented 10 be
candidate for the city council IN
tho Fourth ward OF Cleveland. In
1850 For faithful service. he was
promoted TO n congressional uomi
nation by the machine and was IN
congress. except when defeated q
couple OF terms by Tom L. Johnson.
until a year ago. when he decided
not 10 run again for tho senate
In the house and later in tho sen
ate. Burton was the same studious.
ahsent-minded. bookworm As
chairman OF the rivers and harbora
committee. he became mine Of
technical Information Earnsred
from engineers reports and visits
30 the places. As holder Of the
pork barrel purse strings. he WAS
courted and feared. and later. when
the pork barrel became a democratic
party function. Burton. as a mem.
Der OF tho republican minority.
achieved fame and favor by draw.
ing on his large experience 20 show
up some OF the particularly rotten
gratis which we're being perpetrat-
cd by the Southern democrats IN
der the name OF waterway improve.
ments.
Burton IA a good fighter. right or
wrong And. on the personal side.
In spite Of nls monkish look and his
book.writing habit. he IL a BIT Of n
sport. He gets into his baggy dress
suit almost every night and takes
his meals at the Metropolitan club.
Sometimes he has even been seen
to alight from q 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 10 bed.
Belongs 70 penrose Class
But. on the whole. Burton looks
upon life as serious affair.
/ The Public Burton-the Burton
OF votes. speeches and congression-
al acts-is the conventional. old.
school. reactionary republican. He
IL "forward-looking" on only two
subjects World Peace" and in
ternal waterway Improvement. On
the tariff be is what Aldrich was.
In the general run OF voting in the
senate the Burton vote will be
found In that group typified by Pen
rose. Gallinger, Crane and Smoot,
/ II was the same IN the house.