The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-12-27
BAKER DID 1T.
Senator Is Facetfous About
BurtOn's AttOrneyship.
Of Course He Was In No Way
Responsible.
M'KINLEY'S CUSTOM.
Says President Has a Way Of
Sitting Down on Things.
Mr.. Baker Evidently Satisfied
With Trend of Events.

The friends Of J. r. Burton may rest
easy as to the responsibility for their
leaders failure to secure the $4,000 In
dian attorneyship. Senator Lucien
Baker, who is here today, practically
admitted that he is the responsible
party.
Senator Bakers admission was in the
nature Of a protest against such respon-
sibility being placed on his shoulders.
With probably any other Kansas poll
tician this would be rather a strange
circumstance, but with Senator Baker
it is simply the natural order of things.
Senator Bakers statements are prob
ably the most ambiguous made by any
man who has reached the elevation of
a seat in the upper legislative body of
the nation. When he makes state
ment with a peculiar smile lurking
about the corners of his mouth and
most innocent expression on his cOun-
tenance, 1t may be taken for granted
that he means just the opposite to his
declaration
Mr.. Burton and none of Mr.. Burton's
friends asked my assistance to secure
him his Indian position" said the SEN
atOr while sitting in the lobby of the
Copeland hotel this afternoon For
that very reason it is the most unjust
thing in the world to assume that L
was responsible in any way for the de-
feat of his hopes. All Indian attorney
ships and lobby positions have to be
<
noticed that for the past two years MI
Mckinley has been sitting down on
such things. OF course, 1 suppose he
simply followed his usual custom in
regard to Mr. -BurtOn's job.
To saddle me with the responsible
ity of the failure of the plan to have the
state convention name the United
States senator is also an unjust pro-
ceeding,' continued Senator Baker. 4
have no opinion as to whose move it
was, but 1 don't understand that the
e.. co NJ
burdens to bear anyway, that 1 feel it
to be unkind for people to charge me
with responsibilities of this kind. I'm
sure if they knew the burden carry
they wouldn't do it.
Il see Topeka is full of the saviours
of the country, went on the senator,
changing the subject in the polished
way he possesses and indicating the
large crowd of Kansas teachers in the
lobby of the hotel at the time. ''Yo on
know it takes ever so many school teach
ers and a great deal of money to make
good citizens. The politicians are not
in it with the school teachers when it
comes to saving the country. They are
simply men who represent their party
principles and leave the welfare of the
country to teachers and other people
When I say that politicians simply
represent their party principles / don't
mean that there is no such thing as
personal independence in politics. But
what I mean is that when a politician
secures an Office he should stick to all
the precepts of his party while he is
holding the job. It's all right for him
to express himself quietly IN any way
he has mind, but while he is in Of
fee he shouldn't buck against any of
the principles of the party that put him
there. If he feels that it is necessary
for him to buck he should throw up his
office at once. The party that gives him
a job is entitled to his support in every
party measure"
The one subject that Senator Baker
| refuses to talk about is the Curtis
Bailey agreement, which is just now
much in evidence in Kansas politics.
| particularly in the politics of the First
district.
I am in the enemy's country and
shouldn't be asked to express myself
on such matter" sa2d he. From
which read in the newspapers. Ipresume
| of course the agreement wouldn't be
questioned if Mr.. Low had signed it.
| In fact don't think it is at all legiti
mate for newspapers to print the eX-
preston of men in the face of the gun
| about such squabbles. Newspapers are
| apt to get men into trouble in just that
| way. Now if it was anything that con-
| cerned legislation or something that
would concern the public in general
| would be very glad indeed to express
myself at length"
This last statement evidently gave
/ Mr.. Baker an idea and he took up the
| Boer war for discussion.
| My grandmother was a Houander -
/ said he, and 1 come naturally by a
| strong sympathy for the Beers. Their
| nght amounts TO a struggle Tor liberty,
| and while 1 don't think they can hold
/ out forever against the English forces,
/ I think nine-tenths of the people of the
| United States are in sympathy with
| them. 1 don't look for any action, in
| the shape of resolutions. by either
| branch of congress, because it would be
| rather a serious matter. I suppose that
| the president could stop the practice of
| recruiting for the Boer army in the
| United States, but I scarcely look for
| such action unless an appeal was made
| by the English government"
| Just then an old friend approached
| Senator Baker, and among other things
| inquired about the Leavenworth law
/ yers.
4 have dropped out of the law bust
ness in LeavenWorth entirely" said Mr..
| Baker, but for all that 1 am conceited
| enough to believe that 1 could go back
| there next year and in a little while
! have the same business I had when I
| went into the senate OF course, when
| my term expires I viii be compelled to
| put my conceit to the test. While
| have the conceit all right, the thought
| of leaving the senate and its assOcia-
/ tions at the end of my present term
( is worrying me considerably. and I am
| nightly losing sleep and daily growing
| thin over the prospect. But naturally,
| such is the fate of an Office holder
! Mr.. Baker Will return to Leavenworth
| Thursday, and will leave there so as to
! be in Washington on Wednesday of
| next week.
/ Uncle Sam Takes Possession