The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-03-29
THE TWO BIS"
An Interesting Story About
Burton and Brlstow.

The Kansas City Journal. which has
been continued supporter of Burton
prints this story of the late senator and
Bristow. the present postoffice official:
Two men are responsible for Senator
j. X. Burton's present troubles. One is
Senator Burton himself. The other is
Joe Bristow. fourth assistant postmaster
general. Burton made mistake in
getting mixed up with the shady get
rich-Quick concern at st. Louis. 1t gave
Bristow the opportunity he had long
craved He wanted to humiIiate Bur-
ton, II he could. and drive him out of
public life.
In the legislature of 1895 Saline county
was represented in the house by Joseph
Moore, Republican, and a friend of
Br1stow. Moore was supposed to be for
Burton for senator. The Burton men
said he was elected that way, But
Bristow controlled him. Leland had to
nave Moores vote to beat Burton, so he
got Morrill, into the senatorial race.
Brtstow was a part of MorrilPs official
family. He was obliged to make Moore
vote for Morrill, He regarded the obli-
cation to Morrill, as being more binding
than his obligation to Burton because
Bristow during the fight and asked him
to let Moore vote for him (Burton).
7 can't do it," said Bristow Il am
under obligation to Morrill, for naming
A4C dS HIS secretary.
Then resign" said Burton. "You
can be taken care of in some other
way"
Bristow declined to do so. Moore's
vote beat Burton out of the senator
ship. This estranged Burton and Bris-
tow. However, Burton became recon-
ciled. He wanted to go to the senate
and believed that the way to win was
by healing old sores rather than rub
bling salt in them.
In 1897 the Populists had the Iegis-
lature. The Republicans had only a
handful of members in both branches
Senator John J. Ingalls, hoped to go
back to the United States senate and
felt that the first step in that direc-
ton was to get the caucus nomination
Of the Republican minority at that
session. This would put him in line
the next time the Republicans had the
legislature. Leland also wanted to get
in line. So did Burton. Leland browsed
around for awhile and found that he
stood no show Although he had been
against Burton two years before. he
preferred him to Ingalls,. He had been
skinned too often by the Atchison
statesman. So he lined up for Burton.
This carried BFistow's support also,
for Bristow at that time and ever since
has worked hand in glove with Leland.
Burton got the minority nomination
hands down.
BUTTONS TRIUMPH.
Four years then elapsed before an
other senatorial election. Lucien
Bakers term expired in 1901. Burton
went after it. Until a year or so be-
fore that election Leland and Bristow
were on friendly terms with Burton.
Baker had given them the cold Shout
der and they had turned on him. But
Baker saw what was up and made
terms with them. Then they began to
leg for his reelection. Burton went
ahead and a. few days before the Re
publican caucus Baker threw up the
sponge. The opposition had been whip
ped to a standstill. Burton had the
Republican members by a big MAORI
ty. He was nominated and elected.
Leland did everything possible to de-
feat him but failed. He gave out an
interview during the fight denounc-
ing Burton in most scathing terms. He
charged Burton with all sorts of things.
but people didn't pay much attention
to the interview because all the things
charged by Leland ante-date 1926
when Leland supported Burton People
figured that Leland, who said he had
known the things all the time. was
estopped when he supported Burton IN
1896. : Why did Leland support Burton
in 1896. knowing the things he charged
against Burton was question tnat
played hob with the effect of 1eland's
interview.
Through Leland's influence, Bristow
was appointed fourth assistant post
master general by President Mckinney
in 1897 This put Bristow under stu
deeper obligations to Leland Inc
Gland Rristow element expected to
control the Kansas delegation to the
Republican national convention in 1900
and Leland expected to be reelected
as national committeeman But an
upheaval came The Burton element
realized that in order to land Burton
in the senate it would have to make
grass root fight that year; that the tail
would have to go with the hide; that
the Burton men would have to control
the state convention, send Burton
delegation to Philadelphia, and select
someone besides Leland as national
committeeman or Burton would stand
no show the following winter for the
senate.
LELAND AND BRISTOW BEATEN.
So they organized the fight along this
line They swept the state. They had
full control of the state convention,
sent a delegation of their choosing to