The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-06-20
EAST ON BURTON.
Correspondent of Boston Herald
Discusses Him.
Says He Has Always Been
Enemy Of Roosevelt.
PHILADELPHIASPEECH
Was Made at Request of East
ern Men.
Influence Of Long and Burton
COntrasted.
PHILADELPHIASPEECH

When Senator Burton came to Kan
sas from Washington to attend the Re
publican state convention, the report
preceded him from Washington that he
would stop his fight on President Roose-
Velt. When he was asked by a State
Journal reporter on his arrival in To-
peka if this report were true, Senator
Burton assumed an air of injured in
nocence and declared that he was not
opposed to the president; that he was
on the most intimate terms with the
White House and that if there were any
stories afiOat that he was fighting
President Roosevelt they IN ust have
been circulated solely in a few Populist
papers Then he made his play at the
Wichita convention and Immediately
afterward returned to Washington and
renewed his fight with the Boxers
against the president.
Henry LOOmis Nelson, a noted Wash
ington correspondent, writing from
Washington to the Boston Herald re-
garding Senator Burton's attitude toward
the president, says:
'tThe Kansas Republican state con-
vention was a very significant and in
struetive gathering. It was entirely
under the control of the element of the
party which is loyal to President Roose-
velt and antagOnistic to his enemies in
the senate. 1t thoroughly represented
the popular opinion of the state and, in
its action, it recalls the attitude of the
delegation to the national convention
Senator Burton stood for two years
ago. he stands for now, and his over
throw, or rather in the overthrow of
his announced purpose to prevent an in
dorsement of Mr.. RooseFelt's adninis-
tration, he was simply what he was in
1900-the enemy of the president and the
friend of the presidents enemies.
Those who were at Philadelphia in
1900 will remember an interesting and
SON ewhat dramatic incident which Oc-
CURED in Mr.. Roosevelt's rooms. Mr..
Burton and the Kansas delegation ap-
peared there two evenings before the
nominations were made, and Mr.. Bur
ton, addressing the then governor of
New York, informed him that whether
he wanted the nomination for vice pres
ident or not, Kansas intended to put
him in the field He added that they
did not come there for an answer; that
they did not care whether he refused
or .assented; that it was his duty to
serve where the party commanded, and
that, therefore, they would nominate
him whether he said yes or no.
AT that time Mr.. Roosevelt was ex-
erting his utmost endeaVors to prevent
his own nomination as vice president.
believing that his duty called him to
continue to be governor of New York,
and believing, furthermore, that no Re
publican would be elected governor the
coming autumn except him
1.-The Kansas delegation which accom-
panied Senator Burton was composed of
the sincere and enthusiastic friends Of
Mr.. Roosevelt. They wanted him to be
nominated for vice president just as
they want him now to be nominated for
president in 1904 But Burton, the adj
venturer, who had been defeated for the
senate five years before, had nothing
but selfish interests at heart. He was
the tool of the men who desired ROose-
velt's nomination for the vice presidency
merely to drive him or push him out
of the goVernorShip at Albany. There
he had stood in the way of their own
f~rI
they sought his nomination for the vice
presidency simply to he rid of him and
shelve him.
Further than this, they accepted the
tradition of the vice presidential Office
believing that if they could procure the
election Of Roosevelt to it they would
end his career forever. They did not
foresee the assassination of President
Mckinley, or they would have heSitated
before putting him on the presidential
ticket
Burton was induced to take the stand
he did and to make the speech he utter
ed in Mr.. Rcosevelts room on that
evening, which is now historic, by the
promise of eastern help in his next
candidacy for the senate. He performed
his task and has been paid. He is in
the senate and from the moment that
Mr.. Roosevelt assumed the presidency
Burton has been his enemy
Burton, IN his crude way, represents
the senate's hostility to the president
He is one of the men who has been
unab bic to procure Offices for his loyal
and disreputable, or reputable, whichever
the case may be- followers. He has
sought the control of the patronage of
the state, and has been disappointed
He has been one of the enemies Of the
presidents Cuban policy, and has done
his utmost to prevent the enactment of
any relief measure.
sOn the other hand. Representative
Long has stood for the honest sentiment
of the Republican people of Kansas.
The appeal of the president that the ma
ton should keep its faith with Cuba
and should grant such measure of re-
lief to its most important industrial and
agricultural interests. met with an I'M
mediate response from Mr.. Long. He is
member of the ways and means COM
mittee, and it was to have been expect
ed, by reason of the geographical situa-
tion of his state. that he would be on
the side Of the beet sugar industry.
But Mr.. Long not only has a con-
science himself. but realizes that the
country has a, conscience too, and it
was due to his efforts IN the ways and
means committee, more than to the ef-
forts of any one single man, although
Mr. Mccall is also entitled to great cred
1t. that bill for the relief of Cuba was
finally reported from the committee,
passed the house Of represents tiVes and
is row in the possession of the senate.
Mr.. Long rerresents Mr. RoOsevatt's s
popular strength before the country
and Mr.. Bur on stands for the senator
iaI cabal. which IS a cabal Of the ma
chine politicians who are the enemies of
the president, because they cannot in
duee him to turn over the whole pat
ronage of the government to them for
the reward and emolument of their fol-
lowers.
The victory OF the Long element in
the Kansas convention illustrates the
truth and soundness of the contention
that. whatever Mr. Roosevelt has done
which differs from the senate and what
ever the senate has refused to do for