The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1902-03-12
he IS AFTER Mr.. HAY
Mr. Eurieson 4 raigns Him for His
Prp-IiiIt.h s n ir1rni.
HIT D..FENDS nIM.
The T.x,s Cengressman Charge, the
Secretary Turning Deaf Ear
to an Appeal FIR Dislrih1.
ti0n If Fnns for Beers.

Washington. March i2.-The fe'tn-a
In the house Tuesday, was a speect
by Mr.. Burleson of Texas attacking
Secretary Hay for declining to request
the British authorities to furnish pass
ports to go through the British lines
to Rev. Hiram W. Thomas and wife
who desire to go to South Africa to dis
tribute Boer relief funds collected In
Illinois.
Mr.. Hit of Illinois. chairman of the
foreign affairs committee made a spir
tied reply to Mr.. Burleson, charging
the Texas member with attempting tc
prejudice the case before the evidence
was in. Mr.. Hit pointed out that re
lief funds could be distributed through
the Red Cross and the American con
suls and declare that 1t was contrary tc
international law and usuage to allow
those in sympathy with the enemy tc
go through the lines In time Of war.
Mr.. Burleson then called attention
to the resolutions introduced by him
calling on the secretary OF state for
information as to whether he had de
clined TO request the British ambassa
dor to furnish passports for Rev Hi
ram w. Thomas and wife of Chicago.
who were sent to distribute funds col
lected in Illinois for the relief of non.
combatant prisoners in South Africa.
Mr.. Burleson sent to the clerks and
had read letter from John A. Knight,
who came to Washington TO secure the
passports. Mr.. Knight stated the
funds were collected in response to
Gov Yates appeal. He had gone to-
Secretary Hay, the latter said, with a
letter from Senator #Cullom and the
secretary of state according to the let
ter had declined to make the request
of Lord Pauncefote on the ground that
such a request would be considered
meddiesome and q remission of neu-
trality and against the views Of Presi-
dent Roosevelt.
If the facts stated in this letter were
true, said Mr.. Burleson. then the state
department was so saturated with
pro-British sentiment that Ii no longer
responded to the common dictates of
humanity when made In behalf OF Boer
women aud children"
Mr.. Burleson said that under date OF
March 4 another appeal had gone from
Mr.. knight to Secretary Hay without
eliciting response.
Mr. Burleson said his purpose In
having the letters read was to fasten
the attention of the American people
on the course of the state department
Mr., Hit replied to Mr.. Burleson
with some display of heat He said II
was with some surprise that he heard
the gentleman from Texas bring for
ward a resolution which already had
been referred to a committee of which
he tMr. Burleson) was member and
which committee to meet on a day
fixed by the motion of Mr.. Burleson
himself He declared IL was an effort
to prejudice the case before the evil
dence was in. International Law must
be observed. he said The Red Cross
was organized for the purpose Of carry
ing relief Funds could be distributed
though it or through our consuls, but
not through those in sympathy with
the enemy,
But why should not the secretary
of state use his good Offices to relieve
the distress of the Boer women and
children confined in concentration
camps?" asked Mr. Burleson.
Mr.. Hit replied that according to
Mr. Knights letter the secretary had
offered to help the Rev. Thomas in
every way in his way. but he manifest
ly could not do a ridiculous thing. The
rules OF information law on the CUES
ton were we'll established. Jefferson
Davis would not have allowed northern
sympathizers to perambulate through
southern camps to distribute relief.
The secretary of state could not make
a demand on the face of which 1t was
contrary to all precendents.