Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-01-04

| THEODORE e. BURTON world bia obiert
! being the study of social and economic con-
| dltions-horrible phrase, but interesting sub
| ject! Even then he had been mentioned as
Presidential possibility, and latterly he has
been talked about in the same connection.
II the accent should be put on the possible" !"
he's man still to be counted in the field
of national politics. The ex-senator has
also been suggested as just the man for a
college presidency But Burton's job doesn't
depend on other peoples suggestions, nomi-
nations or elections. It's work. Work has
been his occupation from early boyhood-
work and study, If you prefer, but what's
the difference?
few facts about his public life are
familiar to all readers of tho newspapers.
He was McKinley's chief assistant in the
framing of a well-known tariff bill, and in
1912 he made the principal speech nominat-
ing Taft for President. 1t Is safe to set him
down as a good Republican. Burtons views
on preparedness have undergone consd-
cradle change in the last year or So Though
he was long known as one of the strongest
opponents of large expenditure for naval
armament, he has lately Joined the forces
that are calling for such action as will put
America on a safety first basis in readiness
for conflict with any foreign power desirous
of imposing overmuch on Uncle Sans good
nature This change of attitude, of course,
far from Indicating any inconsistency OF
thought on Burton's part is a good example
of his intellectual honesty.
Bread and Milk for Lunch
The personal side of the famous OhIoan is
not so well known as his public activity
except that 1t has led to the more or less
incorrect appellaton, "the human icicle."
Tall, stalwart, grave, he is the personifica-
tion of dignity. He is always intensely
serious. His personal appearance repels ia
milarIty. 1t seems to say, Don't come too
close" His manner of life suggests certain
cold ascetcism. In his apartments in WASH
ington he made his sitting room into a
workroom-the centre table was a fiat-top
desk Uttered with documents and books
Here he received his visitors. whether they
came on business or on errands of friendship
His MONDAY lunch for years has consisted
of a bowl of bread and milk. Somebody has
said that Burton would have made a corking
monk. He did attend a theological semi
nary with the idea of becoming a minister.
but he analyzed himself and decided that,
though he would be a fair preacher. he would
never be successful at pastoral work. He
has friends. of course, though not many inti-
mate ones. He is not quite the iciee that
tances to suppose. Not lacking in democratic
eordiality, he is easy to reach and excep-
tionally pleasant to meet, If you approach
him with something to say.
We have to go back to his parents. or
think we do, for some of his most notable
characteristics. Burton's mother was a coll
lege graduate in a time when higher edu-
Gated women were something of a rarity.
She was a student and scholar, a great
stickler for definiteness and accuracy. His
father was Congregational minister with
a remarkably serious turn OF mind even for
a Puritanically educated minister of three
quarters of century ago. The son acquired
some OF that seriousness He also initiated
his father by preaching to the family circle
or circle of chairs. thus making a begin
ming as public speaker. Theodore E. Bur-
ton is not an oratorical orator. but he has a
clear, strong voice. a wonderfully resonant
voice, and he speaks slowly, eoncisely,
earnestly. He's a speaker of great endur-
ance. too. for Burton is the champion OF
hlibustering speech makers. On one me-
morable occasion he held the floor for twenty
hours, with no intermission worth men
tioning.
Burton Is one Of the scholars u nolltles.