The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-01-25

burton.
Chief Postoffice Inspector NJ E. Coch-
ran appeared in ST. Louis and before
the United States grand jury shortly
after the report of Bristow on the post
office scandals was made public. I'm
he received his information
to come here from Bristow. Burton
had simply been shown to have used
his influence with the postoffice depart
ment and Bristow did not shift the
matter to other shoulders.
Many stories are told of Burton's
methods in politics. It is an invariable
rule of the United States senate that
a new member should in courtesy to
his exalted position, remain modestly
in the background for a short time at
least. There was none of this for Bur
ton. There was no man who was
quicker to go after jobs for the poll
ticians to whom he had become in
debted in his long canvass for vacancies
and it is probable that at the present
time no western senator has more lieu
tenants in the employment of the ma
tional government.
Burton gained the senatorship after
ten years of fighting. Cyrus Leland is
the leader of the opposition to him.
Burton succeeded in ousting Leland
from the national committee and put
ting David Mulvane in his place He
beat Senator Baker for. reelection af-
ter Leland had championed his cause
Burton is recognized as one of the
has a f1owery delivery, graceful ges-
lures and a command of language that
is remarka BILE. He is not a particular
ly handsome man. His hair is black
and usually combed back from the fore
head. He does not know what it is to
quit after he has once begun a task.
He is never tired. He has the ability
to get and hold friends.
At the present time the two factions
in Kansas are nearly equally divided,
- g.
sion of the governor and the state
chairman. Last winter, the senate and
legislature were under the control of
different factions. E. w. Hoch is now
championed as a candidate for COVER
nor by the Burton faction against Gov
ernor Bailey.
Previous to his election as United
States senator, Burton served as special
attorney for one of the Indian nations.
Since his election, he has spent a great
with various schemes. He was con-
nected with an institute of healing in
Nevada, Mo. A Cincinnati concern also
commanded his services.
He was president of the Jerusalem
concession at the Worlds fair, but,
after permitting the publication of a let
ter from the president in advertisements,
he became a director. The publication
of this letter caused break between
him and the president, who is said to
have demanded an explanation An
other incident with a patent toy is also
said to have caused unpleasant rela-
tions with the president
Burton started the stampede to Roose-
welt at the Philadelphia convention,
when he was nominated for vice presi-
dent. Heading the Kansas delegation,
Burton burst into the rooms of Roose-
welt and secured the first consent for
ing the Kansas delegation. came Mis-
souri, Republicans and in a short time
Roosevelt was carried off his feet and
nominated by the convention.
TO RECKON WITH GREAT TRIO.
Washington, Jan. 25.-Did ever a man
in public life ever have such comloi-
nation to deal with? Joseph L. Bristow,
whose equal in exposing crookedness
has never served as a government Off
cial; Joseph w. Folk the most pfle-
nomenally successful Doodle prosecutor
in the history of the republic,and Theo-
dore Roosevelt, who loaths corruption
with all the intensity of his nature.
This combination is what Burton now
has to confront. Before there was an
Indictment by the grand jury William
E. Cochrane, chief postoffice inspector.
was called to st. Louis and appeared
before the federal grand jury. Cochrane
had all the facts relating to the former
government case against Burton 8
clients at his tongues end. It was
Cochrane to whom Burton talked when
he went to the postoffice department
in behalf of his client. What the ex-
act language of the conversation be-
tween Burton and Cochrane was can
not be given, because Mr.. Cochrane has
resolutely refused to talk.
To the bribery indictment Senator
Burton has made an admission in his
interview which is equivalent to plea
of guilty if the government can show
that the request he made to the post
office inspectors (for which he was
paid) concerns matter pending in any
of the departments of the government
1t is charged that while acting as
the attorney of Major Dennis of the
Rialto Grain and Securities company
he made requests for certain papers
which had been used in fraud order
case The government wanted these
uaners for use in a criminal case which
was pending against Dennis. Burton
admits that he took the money as a
fee: he admits that he went to see the
inspector with Dennis in performance
| of services for which he was paid, ana
| that he was interested In the deIehse
! of Dennis in a criminal case.
! But Burton will claim that he was In
terested an attorney IN a case penu-
| ing in the state courts He VIII cam
that he said to the inspector that II the
| government was Interested in any pro-
ceedings against Dennis he could not
appear as his attorney. Yet 1t Will be
shown that the governments agents
were interested in the cases which were
J to ne IT1SQ III llle SldlC COhA 80
The points to be decided are:
| Was Burton a senator? This he Will
admit.
Did he receive the fee for services to
be performed before the department?
This he will hardly deny.
At the time of Senator Burton's visii
to the postoffice department number
/ of facts were developed, which finally
4 resulted in a newspaper story that OBJ
| tanned considerable circulation in Kan
| sas papers 1t was said that wher
/ Senator Burton approached Mr.. Coch
rane the chief inspector. that ofhcia
/ said he could do nothing in the cas'
until he consulted with Mr. Bristow
the fourth assistant postmaster gen
/ eral who was his chief. Senator Bur
(Continued on Page Three.)
AnMnE EQnM u0ME