The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-07-09
RICHARDS DEFENSE.
Wellington Editor Replies to
Senator Burton's Charges.

The statement Of Senator Burton in
his recent speech that has probably
caused the most comment was that A.
A. Richards, editor of the Wellington
Mail. was responsible for the Islander
GUS reports emanating from Washing
ton about him. Mr.. Burton did not
name Richards, but it was understood
who was meant.
Richards is assistant journal clerk in
just returned from Washington, and he
publishes the following reply to Senator
Burton in the Wellington Mail last even
ing;
at Topeka last night His effort. was
to Justify and vindicate his course in
the United States senate. Such
speech was considered necessary by
him because of his well known conflict
with the president and the administra-
ton generally. He devoted most of
his two hours talk to an explanation of
his failure to support the administra-
TONS reciprocity policy.
HE referred to articles that have ap-
peared during the past two months il
the Boston and New York newspapers
criticising his actions. He said they
were ISLANDERS and charged them up to
the editor of the Mail.
THE genial senator is too compli-
mentary. He gives us credit for more
than we deserve. Permit an ll1uStra-
ton. The article of which he COM
plains most bitterly appeared in the
one of Washington's best known liter
airy men, Henry LOOMS Nelson. The
editor of the Mail does not know Mr..
Nelson, the author of this article. So
far as we know, we never saw him. He
deos not make the capitol at Wash
ington. He is a magazine rather than
a newspaper writer But Mr.. Nelson
is an intimate personal and literary
wi Of a
intimacy between them is of years
standing. BY some means, Mr.. Nelson
was the man who first put the true re-
lations between the president and
Senator Burton in print The Topeka
Capital of today has a long signed
letter from it's Washington correspond
ent. This letter closes with an article
on the presidents personal friendship
this same Henry Loomis Nelson is ex-
prelly named. The article says, All
these get the most enthusiastic greet
ing when they see the president 1t
was Henry Loomis Nelson who wrote
for the Boston Herald the most scath-
ing article that ever appeared in print
on Senator Burton. Yet the senator
charges this publication up to the
editor of the Mail. We repeat that the
senator gives US too much credit
1.-THE other newspaper articles which
the senat tor denounces as ISLANDERS ap-
peared originally in the greatest news
papers of the east. Three newspapers
are represented in Washington by the
ablest talent that money will COM
mand. Their representatives are all
men of long experience in public life.
During the past session, one of their
number was made first assistant
postmaster general. The severest ar
ticle on Senator Burton that went out
from Washington during the past ses-
sion was an Associated Press report {.
The senator is entirely too compliment
tary when he credits the editor of the
Mail, in "a subordinate position In
Washington with the ability to cause
such men as these. time and again, to
send out slanderous stories about a
great and mighty United States sena-
tor. He gives US credit for rsore power
to control the utterances of the great
newspapers Of the country, such news
agencies as the Boston Herald, New
York Tribune, New York Herald, Phil
adelphia Press and the Associated Press
than he as United States senator can
exercise. It has been newspapers OF
this class that have first printed all the
uncomplimentary things about Senator
Burton.
But the senator had to make some
explanation. Possibly the one he resort
ed to was the best excuse that occurr-
ed to his fertile brain. But we again
insist that he compliments US too high
"