The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-03-12
SEEK TO AID Beers
sYMPATHIZERS OF BURGHERS STIR
CONGRESS BY THEIR
INQUIRIES
GOVERNMENT STOPS HELP
Course of Secretary Hay Denounced
by BurIesOn, of Texas, and Hit
Becomes a Warm Defender
of Acts of Secretary.

WASHINGTON, March u.-Mr. Bur
Ieson of Texas, in the house today caleo
attention to the resolutions introduced py
him a few days ago calling on the sec
rotary of state for information as 10
whether he had declined to request the
British ambassador to furnish passports
for Rev Hiram W. Thomas and wife,
OF Chicago, who were selected TO dis-
tribute funds collected in Illinois for the
relief of noncombatant prisoners IN
South Africa.
MIR. Burleson admitted that he did not
know personally whether the report on
which his resolution was based was
true. His purpose was solely to as
certain the facts. He sent to the clerk $
desk and had read a letter sent from
John 0. Knight, who came to Washing
ton to secure the passports for Or.
Thomas and wife. Mr.. Knight in the let
ter stated that the funds were collected
in response to an appeal by Gov. Yates,
and that the committee having them IN
charge consisted of Mayor HARRISON,
Judge E. +. Dunno and Peter Van Wis
sengen. Mr.. Thomas had gone to Secre-
tary Hay, the letter said, with letter
from Senator Cullom, and the secretary
of state, according to the letter, had de-
clined to make the request Of Lord
PauncefOte on the ground that such
request would be considered NEEDLE
Some,' ana a 'remiSSneSs of neutrality
welt.
If the facts stated in this letter were
true, said Mr.. Burleson, then the state
department was so saturated with pro-
British spirit that it could no longer re-
spond to the common dictates of human
ity when made in behalf of women and
children" Mr.. Burleson said that under
date of March 4 another appeal had gone
from Mr.. Knight to Secretary Hay with
out elicitlng response.
Mr.. Burleson said his purpose in hav-
ing these letters read was to faSten the
attention of the American people on the
course of the state department.
Hit Objects to Question.
Mr.. Hit, Illinois, chairman Of the for
eign affairs committee, replied to Mr..
Burleson with some display of heat. He
said it was with singular surprise that
he had heard the gentleman from Texas
bring forward a resolution which already
had been referred to a committee of
which he (BIrleson) was a member, and
which committee was to meet on a day
liked by the motion of Mr.. Burleson him
self.
1t was strange he said, that Mr. Bur
Lesson should rush in before action was
taken or the reply Of the secretary Of
state was received. He declared it was
an effort to PREJUDICE the case before
The evidence was in. He asked whether
he would have allowed a committee that
existed in London in 1863 and which was
IN 1uu sympathy with the Confederate
cause, to go through the Union lines
for the purpose of distributing relief, In
terndtional law must be observed he
said. The International Red Cross was
organized for the purpose of carrying re-
lief. Funds could be distributed through
II or through cur cOnsuls, but not through
those in sympathy with the enemy
Relief funds raised in this country in fact
had been distributed through our con-
suls.
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.
Says Red Cross Is Not HonOred.
Mr.. Hit replied that according to Mr..
Knights letter the secretary had offered
10 help the Rev. Mr. Thomas in every
way in his power, but he manifestIy
could not do q ridiculous thing. The
rules Of international law upon the cues
ton were Wen established. Every old
soldier who had been in prison during
the civil war understood the situation
perfectly. Jefferson Davis would not |
have allowed Northern sympathizers to
distribute relief. The secretary of state
could not make a demand which on its
lace was contrary to all precedentS 1t
would be a slap in the face of a foreign
government. 1t had not been done in
our war or any other war. Our govern
ment, he said in conclusion, should not
put itself in conflict with another for the
sake of making political capital
Mr.. SulZer asks if the British authori-
ties had not declined to allow the Red
Cross to conduct their humane work in
South Africa.
Mr.. Hit said such a statement had
been made and had been denied; he did
not know the facts.
THE information I have" declared
Mr.. Sulzer, comes from the Boer com
missioners in this country"
Il am not in communication with the