The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-11-07
INSIDE HISTORY.
Why Burton Is Incensed al
Hitchcock and COrtelyOu.
Washington COrresp0ndentTeIls
Some Interesting Things.

The Washington correspondent of the
Globe-Democrat gives the following
version of the trouble of Senator Bur-
ton with Secretaries Hitchcock and
Cortelyou:
When Senator Burton first came to
Washington it was given out that there
would be sweeping changes among all
federal appointeeS both in the state of
Kansas and in the government depart
nents of Washington The most prom
inent of the officials here whom 1T was
understood Senator Burton wished to
displace We're Judge Thomas Ryan, as
sistant secretary of the interior, and
Mr. Joseph L. Bristow, the fourth as
sistant postmaster general. He waged
his campaign against these two off1-
cials so openly and vigorously that the
matter became one of general comment
President Mckinley refused to make
the changes in this direction, but the
senator was most persistent IN the
fight he waged against them. At the
government departments it is reported
that the senator demanded the head or
every Kansas appointee, no matter
what his record had been or his affll1a-
tion with other interests in the state OF
Kansas.
The manner of the senator in visiting
the departments was commented upon
as being most unusual The dignity
usually noted in a member of the
United States senate gave place at
times to an insistence and positive de-
mands that was resented on more than
one occasion.
The senator secured a number OF
places, but in his movements about the
departmentS he created some antagOn-
isns which blocked further efforts in be-
half of his constituents. Now that 1t is
reported that the senator openly ar
raigns Secretary Hitchcock, number
of matters in connection with his reia-
tions to that department are recalled.
While some of them were personally
between the senator and the secretary
of the interior, it is not improbable that
the senator held Mr.. Hitchcock to ac-
count for the results. AT this time and
in this connection it is recalled that just
prior to Mr.. Burton's election as a SEN
atOr there was a measure pending Whlcn
would create the place as general coun-
sci for one of the southwestern Indian
tribes. The senator openly eSpouSed the
measure and stated that he had a con-
tract with the chief of the tribe which
would give him the place. The salary
attached was a good one. The measure
was adversely reported upon by the in
terror department Senator Burton re-
sented this openly. While the matter
was still fresh he exchanged hot words
with one of the bureau chiefs of the in
terror department and stated that when
he became United States senator he pro-
posed to see that matters were run diff
ferently about the interior department
Again, at a subsequent period, the de-
partment is credited with having taken
a position in opposition to the passage
of another measure by one of the tribes
looking to the payment of a goodly fee
in which the senator was interested.
There may have been some patronage
matter at the interior department winch
did not turn out to the entire satisfac-
ton of Mr.. Burton, also 1t is a fact,
however, that the senator has succeeded
even within the past few weeks in Sc
curing some very good places Tor con-
stituents through the department Off
cials.
The feeling which is reported to have
developed on the part of Mr. Burton
toward Mr.. Cortelyou possibly grew out
of the fight which Mr. Burton has made
since President Roosevelt has succeeded
to the presidency Mr.. Cortelyou's
standing in Washington and among
public men is such that it is doubtful
if even a strong coterie of United States
senators would be successful in assail-
ing him. Mr.. Cortelyou is one of the
few younger men in public life who has
never been accused of even making a
mistake. He enjoys the confidence of
President Roosevelt and of every MEM
Der of both house and senate who have
ever had dealings with him. So far as
can be learned here, the first accusation
of Mr.. Cortelyou being unfaithful to his
trust is coupled with the statement
which has been made and credited to
Mr. Burton that ''fe is a leak" Mr..
Cortelyou has been in an embarrassing
Mckinley to a certain extent. He is the
buffer between the place-hunter and the
president. He, had the entire confidence
of President Mckinley.
If President Mckinley made promises
as to the disposal of places they were
known to Mr.. Cortelyou. He kept the
private papers of the president, and re-
peatedly, when the claim has been made
at the White House that a promise was
made by President Mckinley, President
Roosevelt has referred the matter to
him. Mr.. Cortelyou has not hesitated
to give President Roosevelt the ad-
vantage of his knowledge of President
McKinley's intentions and promises. IL
through such a proceeding question
of veracity should have arisen between
Mr. Cortelyou and Senator Burton, no
one here believes that Mr. Cortelyou
would have suffered in the issue, either
with the president or with the public
men of the country, who, without ex-
ception, are known to the secretary of
the president
There was an understanding between
the senator and President Mckinley
that Mr.. Leland should retain his place
as pension agent at Topeka. 1t is gen.
orally reported that certain concessions
were made by the dead president TO
bring about the understanding. There