Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1897-02-11
LOYAL TO HIS PARTY.
J. B. Burton Commended For His
Splendid Republican Service.

Q
been done. 1t was right because de.
served, and because in supporting
him they voted for a man who has
never retreated and who has always
advocated stalwart republicanism.
Mr.. Burton is an aggressive Republi.
can and believes in keeping the flag
floating above Republican head
quarters every day in the year, and
every hour in the day.
We of the Fifth district know him
and appreciate his true loyalty to
party and friends. He has never be-
trayed either. His word is as good
as any mans bond, and his services
to his party are second to no mans.
Beginning away back in 1876
twenty-one years ago-up to the
present time there has not been a
campaign in the State in which he
has not taken an active part, and has
frequently been called to other states
by the leaders Of the party. During
this time be has made hundreds Of
speeches, and not one Of them has
ever been copied into Pop paper or
used by Pop orators as Populistic
doctrine. He has stood on every
platform enunciated by the National
Republican conventions since he has
been voter, and IL was not neces-
sary for him to be an acrobat to do it.
After the cyclone Of 1890, when
most Of the heretofore trusted leaders
had become demoralized and quit, he
seized the flag and rallied the forces,
and in his joint debates with PETER
and other Pop leaders, made ram
pant Populism stand the test Of rea-
son, and those debates did more to
reorganize the Republican party than
all other agencies combined.
Two years later he was nominated
for congress in this district by ac-
clamation. The district had gone
Pop in 1890 by a larger majority than
any district in the State. The major
ity against him was over 5000. After
five long months of campaigning, or
ganization and hard.work, this major
ity was cut down to paltry thousand
and the foundation laid for the tri-
umphant election two years later of
that splendid sound money champion
Hon. W. A. Calderhead.
In 1894 be refused to become can
didate for congress and stood for the
senate. All will remember his great
fight against the combined opposi-
ton, his defeat by only one vote and
his patriotic speech rallying the Bur-
ton forces to nominee of the party
Hon. Lucien Baker. There was no
kicking or talk of boiling among that
loyal following. With tears in their
eyes, and their hearts in their
they filed in and voted as
man for their party's nominee. Com
pare that grand spectacle with the
bolt of the two shriveled up souls at
Topeka this week. Which course is
to be respected and emulated?
Beaten but by one vote for the sem
ate in 1894, and urged by his loyal
following of that year and by many
who were then against him, he again
became candidate in 1896, with
John j. ingalls, as his recognized OPP
ponent The result at Topeka this
week shows how easily he would have
been elected had the Republicans
carried the State.
Mr.. Burton believes in thorough |
organization and loyalty to the prin-
,iples of the Republican party. He
S a partisan and believes in majority
'ule. He has never been an acrobat,
lemagogue nor trimmer. He has
never been disloyal to friend, or ac-
used of being political liar.
By the hundreds of speeches made
or the party, by the thousands Of
dollars expended in its interest and
~ loyalty to its principles he deserv-
ID the compliment paid him by the
Republican caucus.-[J. c. Republic
AN.