The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 77, July 1973 - April, 1974 Page: 342
568 p. : ill. (some col.), maps, ports. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Southwestern Historical Quarterly
olution removing Cannon from office, he forced the unfortunate Republi-
can insurgents to choose between an endorsement of Cannon or party obli-
vion. A few months later, and probably in recognition of his role in the
House rules fight, Burleson was elected chairman of the House Democratic
caucus.1"
By early I912 Burleson was deeply involved in the contest for the Demo-
cratic presidential nomination. Thomas Watt Gregory, already Burleson's
close friend, had joined with Thomas Love, of Dallas, and others in lining
up support for the cause of Woodrow Wilson in Texas. Burleson joined the
fray publicly in January, I912, with a blast at the critics of Wilson. There-
after he was involved in the preconvention maneuvers of the candidate.
One of four Texas congressmen who supported the New Jersey governor,
his efforts were welcome. In the Democratic Convention at Baltimore, in
June, he served with A. Mitchell Palmer as floor leader, and in the follow-
ing campaign he directed the Speaker's Bureau.12
While newspapers were still featuring stories of the election results, spec-
ulation appeared that Burleson might enter the presidential cabinet. The
Texan undoubtedly wanted a cabinet post, but his statements and actions
concerning such an appointment were inconsistent to the point of duplicity.
He repeatedly asserted that he was not an applicant, that he did not want
any endorsements, and that he would not make any effort to secure a posi-
tion. Actually, behind the scenes he was busily at work."
During the campaign Burleson's long-time friend and political ally, Colo-
nel House, had won Wilson's friendship and the role of confidential advisor.
Before the election Burleson asked the Colonel to suggest his name to Wilson
for the position of postmaster general, and less than a week after the elec-
tion he sent House a list of congressmen who had assured him their sup-
port. Accordingly, when the Colonel and Wilson discussed the cabinet in
"iCongressional Record, 6I Cong., 2 sess., XLV, Pt. 4, pp. 3437-3438; New York
Times, March 2o, I91o; Austin Statesman, March 20o, I91o. For his resolution Burleson
was severely criticized not only by Republicans but also by some of his fellow Democrats.
He claimed, however, that it was his purpose to turn the victory into a Democratic
triumph, an explanation well in line with his political partisanship.
12Dallas Morning News, January 27, 1912; Otto Praeger, "How Winning Fight for
Wilson Was Made," Dallas Morning News, July 3, 1912.
'sBurleson to House, November 9, 1912, Burleson Papers (Library of Congress);
Adele Burleson (wife of Albert Sidney Burleson) to Burleson, November 12, 1912, Adele
Burleson Papers (Archives, University of Texas, Austin); "Diary of Edward M. House"
(Yale University Library, New Haven, Connecticut), cited hereafter as "Diary"; Burle-
son to W. R. King, December 17, I912; Burleson to J. P. Buchanan, January 30, 1913;
Ruskin McArdle to J. J. Culberson, February 20, 1913, Burleson Papers (Library of
Congress).342
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 77, July 1973 - April, 1974, periodical, 1973/1974; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth117148/m1/392/: accessed May 1, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.