Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1896-05-14
wENDLING ON BURTON.
Famous Lecturer Speaks Of the Abb.
leneite's National Standing.

Perhaps no one in America has a
wider acquaintance with public men
than Geo. R. Vending, the famous
lecturer and orator. He has spoken
here and all know how high is his
rank as q platform celebrity. At
Winfield last week after his lecture
the Courier interviewed him and in
replying to a question relative to ].
r. Burton he said:
"Yes, have known Mr.. Burton for
more than twenty years. 1t think it
was twenty-one years ago last win
ter, when was in the practice Of
my profession at Shelbyville, Ill.,.
that heard Of a young man who was
teaching in an adjoining city. 1t
was Mr.. Burton and at my request he
came and taught a class that | organ
lied for him. | have watched his
course at a distance with great inter
est ever since and have believed that
his future was very bright.
"Young Burton is widely known out
side of Kansas. In Washington, where
| live, | frequently hear his name
mentioned by the leaders Of the Re-
publican party and | know that they
are very friendly to him. His work
in the campaign in the state Of Maine
in 1888 and in Indiana and other
states that year, gave him a great
reputation away from home. Then
his joint debates with Mr.. PETER in
this state, and the leading position he
has occupied in helping to re-instate
Kansas in the Republican ranks, to-
gether with his phenomenal and
brilliant race for the senate two years
ago, make him celebrity Of national
reputation.
"Mr Burton, II elected to the sem
ate, would unquestionably take front
rank very early among the distin-
guished figures in that body. His
genial manner, his brilliant wit, his
powers as an orator, his uncom.
promising Republicanism and the fact
that he is a great student and under
stands the West, would make him a
noted man among the new senators
from the West. | have not talked
with a man in all my travels who is
better posted on Kansas and her
necessities, and, indeed, on the inter-
ests of the entire West, than Burton.
Born and reared in the West and liv-
ing for nearly two decades in Kansas,
mixing intimately with her people
and campaigning, as am advised,
in all the counties west as well as
east, he perhaps is as well posted as
any man in the State or nation as to
the necessities Of this western
country.
"I do not know when ! have en-
joyed a conversation more than in an
hours talk with Mr.. Burton year
ago, on the subject Of irrigation He
has given that matter great deal of
and believes that it is the
great coming industrial question.
He believes no question coming be-
fore congress in the next twenty-five
years is fraught with greater interest
to the millions Of people who are to
the western part fthe United
States, than the subject Of irrigation.
1t seems to me he is right in this.
He has fund Of information on the
subject that is simply wonderful. !
10 not know much about the factions
IN your state nor the relative strength
)f the parties, but | do know that
many leading men in Washington, |
md elsewhere throughout the United |
States, regard Mr.. Burton very highly |
md would like to see him succeed Mr.. |
'effer. With great respect for the
lbility and character Of older men
who are mentioned, confess to
oartiality for younger men in the
enate, men who are in closer touch
With the people and with the new
ssues."