The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-07-13
SENATOR BURTON HAD A TOP.
FAVE IT no THE PRESIDENT, BUT
nyDN,T GET A TESTIMONIAL.

DIDN'T UEa n A0A ~" "''@A'
A.. p,c,dent of R0Osevelt's Last western
'' rr,n Recalled by the Final Break
n.twecn the Two over the Jerusalem
Exhibit at st. Louis--Muhvane's Part.
SHARON SPRINGS, Kan, July. l2.--Now
.ho, William Allen White mas disclosed the
iran ,,r.at secret that President Roosevelt does
not regard Senator Burton OF this State as
hs sincerest friend and most disinterested
ad,;aer political circles in Sharon Springs
love felt at liberty to discuss somewhat
freeIv the history of the. past relations he
,re.n the President and the Senator. II
rms at Sharon Springs, two months ago,
hat President and Senator spent happy
sunday, free from toll and strife, while
,ssscr lights in Kansas politics sat on prairie
doc mounds round about and hoped for the
worst
Those on the prairie dog mounds had
,o,ion that at any minute the restraints
nnon the two, as quasi-guest and quasi
hast might be dissipated and that they
Might witness the dissipation. Mr.. Whites
vivid description OF Mr.. Roosevelt's wrath
when the discovery OF what Burton had
done with the Jerusalem letter was made
caused the greatest unhappiness hero
to-day.
why, oh, Why" mosned the sages,
couldn't that have como of here?'
II was at Sharon Springs that Burton had
his top-playing experience with the Presi-
dent and Senator Long, Senator Burton's
Young and handsome colleague. The story
of how the President and the two Senators
nlayed with that patent top on the dining
room table of the car Elysisn has been
nrirted before, but in the light Of Mr..
Whites alleged Jerusalem booming Incl
dent it takes on a new and touching sig
ni6cance.
There 10 widespread opinion in Sharon
Springs that the reputed great sagacity
OF Senator Long was left at the post In the
ton episode. For, by the exercise of that
peculiar ability which is his beyond com
pare, Senator Burton got Senator Long to
present the top to the President. 1t has
been written: Persuade thine enemy to
write O. book Senator Burton persuaded
his n to give top to the President.
1t was beautiful top. II it wasn't solid
cold, it was 30 gilded that IL would have
taken an expert to tell the difference. They
have folk out here who can gid most any
thing, not excepting the humble building
brick Of commerce.
1t was wonderful top. 1t worked with
out string. Mr.. Long called the Presi-
dents attention to this fact and remarked
iocularly that the top was non-political
top. 1t was made to spin by thrusting q
knife-like implement into its inwards
When Senator Long made his comment on
the tops non-political qualities, Senator
Burton eyed that knife-like implement in
the tops inward and started TO say some
thing--and then, as wise man often does
held his peace and grinned under his flow
ing mustache. ~,
turer had put 1t in handsome leather case
lined with glossy satin. In the case besides
was a polished slab OF onyx, upon which
the top was to be spun. The slab, 1t was
found, was so slippery that 1t failed Of it:
own ends; tho top wouldn't stay on 1t, nc
matter how fast ft whirled. Nobody made
any comments on the political attributes
Of tho onyx slab.
In recalling the matter now, Sharon
Springs politicians remember that 1t was
Senator Burton who especially seemed to
desire that the President should make
trial OF that top. He kept reminding
Senator Long OF 1t. Long, he said, was
bv constituents when he forgot to present
to the President gifts which had been In
trusted to him. At last, Senator Burton
went and got out the top himself.
As has been explained, the slab was toe
slippery for the top to spin on. Therefore
the cloth on the dinner table was cleared
away and the top was spun on the polished
mahogany surface. It spun poorly all
three Of the eminent statesmen took turns
In spinning it. But It did not live up to the
high assertions Of it's qualities which hse
through both Senators.
The President, 1t iB remembered, COM
mented scathinEly upon this fact. He
declared In his most exaggerated manner
OF iocular sarcasm that he thought the top
scandalously unworthy OF the attention Of
three so eminent public officers. Senator
Burton at once reached into his pocket and
produced another top. 1t was made OF
pasteboard, and was covered cheaply with
Autographed paper. Otherwise 1t was ex-
actly like the gilt model that had been pre-
sented to the President.
Both Mr.. Roosevelt and Senator Long
began to comment playfully upon the coin
Cidence that Senator Burton should be carry
ing around in his pockets samples OF the
manufactured products Of Mr.. Longs
friends. Mr.. Burton began to talk very
fast and crack jokes, and make many ornate
motions with the top, and the subject faded.
The paper top spun right up to the plans
enthusiasm was withdrawn from the tops
advocates. 1t Ia with such moments OF
by-play and foolishness that great men
often smooth over crises In government
and politics The top-spinning had put
everybody at his ease and in a good humor.
The President seemed to have had enough
o. II. So did Senator Long. But Senator
Burton wanted to keep on talking top:
At last the President said that he was afraid
that any further exhibition OF the tops
would subject the toys to the danger OF
being broken and that there were some
youngsters at home who would never for
give him for breaking that beautiful gilt-or
rather, gold--top.
at would be very interesting said
Senator Burton, Ito know what such an
interesting family as yours thinks OF this
'oR RI. President was sure they would like
n. This general answer did not seem
w edlboly INC OthdJOT' AlOcA % WHAto lao
remarked again:
Il hope you will let us know how the
children like that top"
But the President apparently didn't hear
him at all
The publication by Mr.. White Of the
story about the use which Senator Burton
ls said to have tried to make OF the Presi-
dents letter about the st. Louis-Jerusalem
show. shed great light on the top Incl
dent, In the opinion Of the local politicians;
Delievaa thnt ba Ia tho individual most