The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-11-01
Burton Was Waterway Champion

Theodore E. Burton died Just as his two fayorltc sub
jccts Of advocacy were mott conspcuouay before tic
public. one before the home folks, The other claiming the
car and tho mind OF the western world.
They talk OF tho Ohio senator as a peace advocate, row
that death has brought hi, public career under review,
but Theodore Burton won his spurs and long held tic
attention OF tho country by another form OF champion
ship. Hc vas tho advocate OF sensible waterway I'M
proscment, the watchdog against pork raids OH the
treasury. a believer In canalization where such improve
ment was palpably wac.
In fact, he antcdatcd President Hoover by a quarter
Of q century IN just such administration projects as Hoo
YER advocated tho other night in his speech at Louis
vile. Twenty years ago Burton was proposing III con-
grcss essentially what tho president advocates with suci,
a chorus OF appreciation. 1t has been slow in coming, but
II has como as Herbert Hoover picks up and advances
the Idea where death stays its old champion.
Burton's advocacy Of river improvement WAS regarded
by some III that earlier day rs a piece Of sclfishncss.
Being from Ohio. II was thought that he was speaking
for hts home country when he urged deepening OF the
Ohio river to It's junction with tho Mississippi. But he
convinced his critics that he was right, and tho other
day the great project which he backed with all the force
Of his tirelcss~ championship was celebrated as an ac-
complished fact.
It was q memorable debate when in 1912 he turned on
the opposition and gave them the facts BY contrast with
their own plans OF waterway improvement. The Mis-
souri, river improvement advocates Of that day had stated
that freight on the river amounted to 762720 tons, IN
Justification Of their plea for millions for locks and dams.
Senator Burton analysed the figure to show that of this
total 721. 900 tons were sand and gravel carried in bargcs
an average distance Of one mile. in which locks and
dams played no part, and that Of the remaining ton
nake only 1000 tons really represented freight in the
usual sense moving over the river.
The Red river, running through Louisiana. Arkansas
md Texas. he pointed out in the debate. had been inn
prof. BY the United States at = cost then Of 100000.
and only s. tons Of freight had moved over it in 1911.
The Big Sandy river. running between Kentucky and
Virginia. had been provided with five locks at a cost Of
1l50o.O00 and not = ton OF freight moved over it in the
year Senator Burton was reviewing. which was 1911.
The Kentucky river. In Kentucky. which emptles into
the Ohio river. had less traffic moving on it in 1911,
when there were IL dams. than In 1899, when there were
only five dams. and the record showed throughout con-
SANITY diminishing tonnage in spite Of improvements. !.
Burton will always be remembered for his devotion to
the cause Of world peace. but he was submerged III that
role b. advocates Of more conspicuous prominence and
personality. Burton was not such q great seeker for the
spotlight. anyhow. He even retired from the senate,
later to come hack to the house and then to succeed
Frank B. Willis Is senator when the latter died. Such
conseback has never happened in American public life
excerpt In his case.
one OF his conspicuous political activities in recent
years was his advocacy Of Hoover for the Republican
presidential nomination In Ohio. He carly saw that the
Californian WAS the man the people would appreciate
m6o1. and he espoused his cause against the candidacy Of
0enatoe willis, who was one OF the fayoritc son COM
h1u6klon striving to marshal the field against Hoover.
~ field lailed and Hoover was nominated and tri-
umphnntly elocted. Burton became senator in succession
~ WIlis and Ms renewing his reputation for earnest
levics ~ statesnanship when stricken.
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