The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-09-16
LELAND On BURTON
In an Interview Declares the
Latter Unreliable
IN BUSINESS OR POLITICS
Arraigns Him as One Unfit for
the Office of Senator.

Topeka, Kan, Sept. 1.-THE following
interview was given to a representative
of the local press last evening by Cyrus
Leland:
A reporter saw Mr. Leland and asked
him: at is reported that in 1887 ]. R.
Burton agreed to support Senator Lucien
Baker for reelection and SO wrote him.
What do you know about it?"
Mr.. Leland replied: ST don't think it
counts for much whether he did or not.
Burton's agreements never last over
night. He has promises and agreements
seven deep in nearly every county in
Kansas. The fact is, however, in the
latter part of January, 1897, in the writ
ing room adjoining the Office Of the Cope
land hotel, Burton said TO me that he
was for Senator Bakers succeeding him
self, and that he would not be candi-
date against him. 1 said to him: Why
don't you write Senator Baker and state
that to him in a letter. Ne said, I will
do So and at once took pen and paper
and wrote Senator Baker as follows:
CT am in favor of your succeeding
yourself as senator. will not be a can
didate against you when your term ex-
pires, and will give you my hearty sup
port in having you reelected
Burton handed the letter to me and
said: Isn't that plain enough?' I replied
that it was all right, and then he ad-
dressed an envelope to Senator Baker.
enclosed the letter and sealed, stamped
and then mailed the same. then wrote
Senator Baker regarding the letter and
its contents. In due time I received a
communication from the senator in which
he mentioned having received Burton's
letter"
''Mr. Leland, what do you think of
Mr.. Burton's chances of being elected
United States senator next winter?"
ST do not believe the Republicans of
Kansas will ever elect J. r. Burton to
the United States senate. The people are
not inclined to favor any man for such
a high office, nor for any other prominent
position, who does not have new and
has not had for the past ten years any
visible means of support. I am well ac-
4uainted with Mr.. Burton, and the only
time in many years that I have known
Of him having any business was for a
few months in 1898, during the Cuban
war, when for a short time, he was
agent for some government contractors.
He then visited the quartermaster gen.
erals office quite often with his samples
of goods from which some manufacturers
in Philadelphia proposed to manufacture
certain clothing for the boys at the
front He was successful and assisted
in securing some contracts for his en-
ployers. 4
1.-The business of a drummer who car
ries samples and secures contracts in
Washington for furnishing supplies for
the soldiers who do the fighting in a war
is a safer business than even that of a
sutler. The sutler at times is more or
less in danger Of losing his life and also
his stock in trade. The syndicate that
is back of Burton in trying to elect him
to the senate will undoubtedly keep him
before the public until after the election
A branch of this syndicate is in the
state treasurer's department and another
branch at the Topeka club, where many
of Burton's supporters and strikers are
entertained and filed up with free
the syndicate is composed of attorneys of
certain railroad companies who are deao
sore because they failed to land one Of
their number as United States district
Judge to succeed Judge Foster, and who
for that reason are venting their spleen
on the present senator.
Burton is always elected, before the
election somes off; but after each defeat
he starts up again, knowing that his
hackers would stop putting up if he ceas-
ed to be a candidate. Within the past
few months he has stated to varions
persons whom he wishes 10 convert to
his support that he had reformed and
had lived down his past record: that he
had abandoned his old practices and
was now pure and. new man.
"a man of Burtons peculiar propensi-
ties never reforms. He may borrow a
Sleeps pelt and deceive credulous people
for a while, but there is no reclamation.
He is simply lying low for an oppor-
tunity.
"The conservative business and moral
element in Kansas will never permit Of
the election Of such a man to represent
this great state in the United States
senate.
"The failure Of the Cross bank at EN-
poria has disclosed promissory note for
$4,000. signed by ]. R. Burton and en-