The Topeka state journal., 1902-05-10
BURTON PASSED IT
He Night Have Made a Reputa-
tiOn IN an Hour.
Great Temptation For a Brush
With TilIman.
FELT A DELICACY.
His First Speech and Had Been
Delayed.
Promises to Take Care of TilI-
man Later On.
A DELICACY.

Washington. May Ex-senator Burton
might remain in the senate of the Uni
ted States for a quarter of a century
and never face such an auspicious occa-
sion for making a reputation in an hour
as that which confronted him when he
rose to address the senate on Wednes-
day afternoon of this week. It was to
be his maiden speech. With the excep-
tlOu of one or two minor and unimpOrt-
ant collOquies, his voice had never been
heard in the senate chamber. and he
was an unknown quantity The c0ldly
critical and exaeting senators, almost to
a man, were in their seats The gal
leries were crowded The situation was
dramatic
Senator McConas, of Maryland. had
spoken for nearly three hours on the
Philippine bill While Mr. McComas
was referring to some Of the cruelties
of war inflicted on both sides during
the war of the rebellion. he was inter
rupted by Mr.. Tilman, who said he
had hoped never to hear again such
statements in the senate chamber After
Senator NcComas had concluded his re
marks, Senator Tillman rose. and qui-
city asked Senator Burton, who was to
have followed Senator McComas, to
yield the floor for a few moments. and
Mr.. Burton readily assented. Senator
Tillman Immediately began one of his
characteristic speeches, in which he de-
Tended the election methods practieed in
the south, shook his fist at the Repub-
lican side (the Democratic senators hav-
ing, with one or two exceptions, retired
TO the cloak rOOnlS), and dared any one
to say that he would do differently un-
der like circumstances. The speech
bristled with Tinnan epigranns, and
was delivered with that bold defiance
and abandon for which Tillman is IA
nous. When he had finished. the Demo-
cratic senators came trooping in, the
galleries buzzed, and the senate waited.
The stage settings approached the ideal
1t was great opportunity.
Senator Burton rose, and for a mo-
ment there were signs of a storm. But
it was soon evident that the senator
had no intention of abandoning a care
fully prepared speech in defense of Gen.
Funston and the soldiers generally for
a colloquy with Tillman. He disposed
of Mr. Tillman in few well chosen
words which failed to arouse the ire Of
the South Carolina senator, and then
followed the lines laid down in his set
speech. The senate recovered its eduili-
brium and dignity, the atmosphere was
clarified, and the tide which had been at
its flood receded back into the sea. With
it went the opportunity to make repu-
tation in an hour.
But there are meets and bounds which
a new senator must recognize and Sen
ator Burton, perhaps, did the only thing
he could do under all the circumstaces.
In the first place, 1t is not surprising
addressing the senate at all during the
first session Of his service, in view OF
the time honOred custom of that body
that a new senator should be seen and
not heard. In the second place, his
speech had been delayed two hours, be-
cause of Senator Tnlman's interruption
and the prolonging of the speech of
Senator McComas far beyond the al
loted time It need occasion no sur
prise, therefore, if Senator Burton be-
gan to grow nervous, and when he did
get the floor at last insist upon. deliver
ing the speech that he had prepared in
stead of launching into an eXtempora-
neous word battle with the adroit and
daring Tillman- And yet there are many
friends Of the Kansas senator who have
great faith in his ability to distinguish
himself along this particular line, and
they will be sorry that it was not pos
sible to take advantage of so Opportune
a time to talk all over the South Car
! olina senator. But Senator Burton
I has promised to take care of Mr.. Till
man later on, after he has been here
/ longer" to use his own words, and his
friends will await the pyrOtechnics with
/ interest.
I Representative Miller introduced to
( Secretary Hay this week Dr Anthony
/ of Cape Town, who presented to the
! secretary the reasons why the salary
/ of Colonel Bigham, the Kansas consul,