The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-03-27
Senator Burton Doesn't Know
About Report of Long.
Places No Credence in Report
He is to Be in Cabinet.
TALKS OF THE SENATE
says That 1t is an Especially
s'S0cial" Body.
Insists He is Taking No Hand in
State Politics.

Concoriia, Kas., March 27.-The cor
dial reception extended to Senator Bur
ton at the Republican banquet here last
night somewhat Modified the chilliness
of the Fifth district congressional con-
vention toward him when it neglected
to mention his name in its resolutions
The senator left this morning for Abb
lene, where he will spend the day at
his home, going to Topeka tomorrow
and remaining there over Saturday,
after which he will return to Washing
ton.
The United States senate is an ex-
tremely social body" said Senator Bur-
ton in speaking of his Washington ex-
periences to a State Journal reporter.
lines in senatorial life There is the
most dignified courtesy maintained
among the senator's
THE trio of senators who probably
WELD as much influence in the senate
as any three men are Allison, Aldrich
and Spooner. They rarely fail to vote
together unless they have distinct un-
derStanding beforehand. Allison is ex-
tremely influential by reason of his long
service, having broken the record by
being returned to the senate for the
sixth time Aldrich is, splendid or
ganizer, and Spooner is the speaker of
the trio.
1.-The United States senate is the only
legislative body in the world that has
no clOture rule Wnen a senator mas
the floor he is entitled to speak as long
as he pleases and about whatever he
pleases. The idea is that there shall be
no restriction to debate and the priv
ilege is seldom abused. A senator who
has served for many years told me that
he had known of the abuse of the
rule but very few times in % years
Once in a great while a measure is
talked to death, but usually there is no
harm in a lengthy discussion of a sub
ject. The things that are kept silent
are the steals and jobs.
Senator Hanna is perhaps the only
public man who ever became greas
speaker after he was 60 years of age.
Senator Hanna is not only a great or
ganizer and a man of affairs, but he is
recognized as one of the best public
sent a proposition in more concise and
lucid form than any other man in the
senate. Yet he never attempted to be-
come a speaker until he was So
Two of the most influential and
highly respected members of the senate
are two of the oldest, and they are
both from the. same state-Senators
PettuS and Morgan of Alabama. They
are 70 and 81 years of age. Both are
Democrats, but both stand very high in
the estimation of the other senators.
Perhaps the most erudite senator is
Senator Hoar. He is a man of extreme
~ high ideals-a man of the purest
mind and the loftiest motives. I do not
always agree with him because from
diced, but he has the universal respect
of every man in the senate"
What about the rumor connecting
the name of Congressman Long with
the portfolio of the secretary of agri-
culture?" asked the reporter.
What Long?" asked Senator Bur-
ton
Chester I. Long of Kansas"
Hadn't heard of it, said the sena-
tor. Where did the report come from?''
From Washington. 1t was reported
that Mr.. Long had been offered Secre-
tary Wilson's place in the cabinet
That's news to me-" said Senator
Burton, 'and / am disposed to think 1
would have known about it had any,
thing of the kind been contemplated"
''Will you make any statement about
state politics?'' asked the reporter.
mo. 1 do not wish to do So" said the
senator. Il am a United States senator
and it would not be fair for me to use
the influence of my position for or
against any candidate. have had Off
Gals do that against me when have
been an aspiring candidate, but 1 do
not propose to do it m yself. My philos-
ophy is to remember the friendly things
that have been said about me and to
forget the unjust things. My friends
can support whoever they please and 1
will not try to influence them for any
special candidate