Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1902-07-03

duties upon him, conscious Of the in
tegrity of his purpose, and in the full
flush OF honest conviction, takes his
stand against sentimentality and in
favor Of the practical application Of
the principles Of protection to the
beet sugar industry. And who can
say he is not rightP
His attitude comes like shock to
most Of the people Of Kansas. We
have never enjoyed the sensation OF
having real leader represent us in
the senate, and when one with sufii.
cient brains and courage to think out
a course, and consistently and cour-
ageously pursue it, comes to the 'front.'
the impact makes us all shiver.
The writer hereof remembers a
scene that occurred in the Copeland
hotel, room No. 2, a number Of years
ago. The writer and Hon. +. Z.
Grimes, the present state treasurer,
were in conference in that room with
j. R. Burton. The free silver fever
was on in Kansas. The Republican
state convention had declared for the
free and unlimited coinage Of silver.
Everywhere Republicans were leaning
to the silver issue, and the free silver
sentiment was running rampant
through the party. The writer was
afflicted with 1t in common with Mr..
Grimes. We urged upon Mr.. Burton
with all the force we could command,
that the Republican party should
espouse the cause Of silver. Mr.. Bur.
ton as stoutly and strenuously ex'
planned that free silver would be ruin.
GUS to the interests Of the people OF
this country; that the agriculture and
commerce Of the nation would be
ruined unless the single gold standard
was maintained and strengthened.
He said he had studied the question
carefully, and that this was bis firm
and honest conviction. Mr.. Grimes
said to Burton that be did not wish
to controvert what he knew to be bis
(Burton's) honest conviction, but
urged him in the interest Of his own
political future to at least remain ST.
lent upon the question. 1t was then
that Mr.. Burton demonstrated to US
the qualities Of leadership which he
possesses. He said: II believe this
question means everything to the in
terests Of the people Of Kansas and OF
the nation. My convictions are firm.
Believing SO, | should speak out bold
ly, and whatever may happen to my
future political interest, ! shall pur-
sue the honest course, and shall op-
pose with all my power any tendency
in the Republican party looking to-
ward the adoption Of free silver ideas.
In fact, | shall just take the opposite
course, and shall insist upon the
adoption Of clear, ringing plank in
favor Of the single gold standard"
and in less than fifteen minutes he
was giving 9 crowd Of reporters in
the rotunda Of the Copeland hotel bis
famous interview in favor Of the gold
standard. Many Of the politicians
who arc condemning him today con-
demned him then, and said 1t would
ruin bis political prospects. But the
Republican party In convention as
sembled at St. Louis soon after, under
the leadership and suggestion OF Nc
Kinlsy, adopted the view that Mr..
Burton had previously declared for,
the Republican party Of Kansas saw
its error, followed the lead Of the ma.
tional convention and the party was
saved from humiliation.
Now again the Republican party Of
Kansas Is facing similar situation.
One not only Of national Importance,
but OF local interest. In the Western
third OF our state beet sugar produc-
tion is extending ats rapid rate. Ex-
periments have proven that the beets
produced there carry II per cent OF
sugar, being from 2 to 8 per cent
richer than the German sugar beet,
and as rich as any produced in the
United States. When the beet sugar
has been SO far developed as to satisfy
the demands Of domestic consump.
ton Western Kansas will flourish as
no other part Of the state has ever