The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-02-05

then Mayor of the city, later Sec
rotary of War under woodrow Will
son. In fact, it is probable that
Burton, a Republican, was more
influenced politically by two
Democrats, Baker and Tom john
son, than by any other two men.
johnson had been Mayor Of
Cleveland four terms, Baker two
terms. Burton later served as
Mayor for three terms and had
an equally brilliant, crusading rec
ord.
Before the last war, Burton had
interrupted his Cleveland legal
career with three years in Salt
Lake City as attorney for the Utah
Power and Light company. So
when he became Mayor of Cleve-
land in 1885, he expected to be
pro-utility. But one day George
McGwinn, head of the Cleveland
Railway company, walked into
Mayor Burten's office to complain
that the Mayor was about to make
a, certain move harmful to street
railway interests.
"One Of these days." exploded
McGwinn, "we're going to get a
Mayor in here who really rep
resents the people"
Burton, who had been listen
ing quietly, jumped up and
brought his fist down on the desk
with a bang, ''Who the hell do
you think 1 representa-"
'If you take this action"
warned McGwinn, 'it will be pO-
htical suicide"
II don't give hoot what it
means to me politically" shot
back Burton, II propose to do
what I think is best for the City
of Cleveland"
BROKER VS. BURTON
Political scouts who have
checked up on Burton recently
have received thumbs-down re-
ports from Old Guard COP lead
ers in Ohio. The Ohio gang
doesn't like him. Their dislike
began when he cleaned up the
city of Cleveland (and did it so
thoroughly that he got enough
Democratic votes to be reelected
twice at times when Roosevelt
overwhelmingly carried the city,
Their dislike continued when he
ran for the Senate.
Early in 1910, Ed Schorr, COP
political boss of Ohio, told Mayor
Burton: We're going to make
Dudley White the next Senator"
'T'm sorry to hear that" re-
piled Burton, because I'm going
to be a candidate myself"
And he was, despite tough OPP
position from most Of the Re-
publican leaders.
Burton and Governor Bricker
had been at swords points for
some time as the result of a row
over relief and WPA. AS mayor,
Burton had 10000 unemployed in
Cleveland to get its relief from
the Federal Treasury in Wash
1ngton, not from the State of Ohio.
"I'm not interested In surplus
es," Mayor Burton told Brick
er. "The depression should be
met wherever possible by each
State and locality. We can't al
ways be running to Washington.
We can't break the back of
Uncle SAM"
In addition to the Republican
machine, Burton also had con-
sentative business interests against
him, dating from his resignation
from the Cleveland Chamber Of
Commerce.
I'm booking out from the
House Of Have to the House Of
Want" he said, in submitting.
his resignation. "And / find my
associates uninterested In the
House Of Want"
So when he ran for the Sen.
ate in 1910, conservative Repub-
lican leaders organized to de-
feat him. Ed Scherr even held
a big political rally In Cincin-
natl where he denounced Burton
as mot good Republican"
In reply, Burton harked back
to his New England background
where some fishermen operate in
home waters, while others, called
''0ff-shOre" fishermen, brave the
bosom Of the deep.
II propose to represent the
people Of Ohio, not the Repub-
Hican boss he fired back. II
am IN oEf-Schoor Republican"