The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-03-12

HTASHINGTON, March lin the
wv senate Mr.. Burleson Of Texas to
day called attention to the Teso-
lutions introduced by him a few days
ago calling upon the secretary Of state
for information as to whether he had
declined to request the British ambas-
sador to furnish passports for Rev.
Hiram w. Thomas and wife of Chi
cago, who were selected to distribute
funds collected in Illinois for the relief
Of the nOn-c0mbatant prisoners in
South Africa.
Mr.. BurIeson admitted that he did
not know personally whether the re-
port on which his resolution was based
was true.
1t was stated that the funds were
collected in response 10 an appeal by
Governor Yates, and that the commit
tee having them in charge consisted
Of Mayor Harrison, Judge E. F. Dunno
and Peter Van Vlissinger. He had
gone to Secretary Hay, the letter said,
with a letter from Senator Cullomr
| and the secretary Of state had declined
I to make the request of Lord Paunce-
| fOte on the ground that such a request
would be considered ''meddIesome' and
| against the views Of President RoOse-
welt.
Denounces the Answer.
If the facts stated in this letter are
/ true" said Mr. Burleson. then the
| statement was so saturated with pro-
/ British spirit that it could no longer
/ respond to the common dictates OF hu-
mainly when made in behalf Of BOeT
/ women and children
! Mr.. Burleson said that under date of
/ March Z another appeal had gone from
/ MI knight 70 Secretary Hay, without
| eliciung a response. Mr.. Burles0n said
/ his purpose in having these letters read
was 10 fasteu the attention of the
/ American people on the course of the
/ state department
Mr.. Hit of Illinois, chairman of the
I fereign affairs committee, replied %
! Mr.. BurlesOn with some display OF
/ heat. He said il was with singular
/ surprise that he had heard the gentle
man from Texas bring forward a resO-
/ luton which already had been referred
to a committee Of which ne (BUrlesOnI
I was a member, and which committee
I was to meet on q day fixed by the mo-
ton Of Mr.. BUrleson himself. 1t wa:
/ strange. he said. that Mr.. BuTIeSOT
should rush in before action was takeI
/ or the reply Of the secretary Of state
was received. he said 1t was an effOr'
| to prejudice the case before the evi
dence was in.
Quotes Law Of Nations.
But why should not the secretary Of
state use his good Offices 10 relieve tbs
/ distress of the BOer women and chill
asked Mr.. BurlesOn.
Mr.. Hit replied that according TO Mr
+ Knights letter the secretary had of
fered to help him in every way in hi
. power. but he msnifestIy could not d,
. a ridiculous thing. The rules of inter
I national law On the question were wei
established. Every old soldier of eiUhe
army who had been in prison during
the civil war understood the situation
( perfectly. Jefferson Davis would no
have allowed northern sympathizers q
perambuIate through southern camps
to distribute relief.
The secretary OF the state department
could not make a demand which. on it
face. was contrary to all precedents
IT would be q slap in the face of for
eign government IL had not beel
done in cur war or any other war.
Mr.. SulZer asked If the British au
thorities had not declined TO allow tn
Red Cross to conduct their human
work in South Africa
Mr. Hit said such a statement ha'
been made, and had been denied h
did not know the facts.
The Information I have" declare
Mr. Sulzer, comes from the BOer com
uissioners in this country.