The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-03-29
BURTON'S BLUNDERS.
They Began Directly When He
Entered Senate.

Joseph Ralph Burton's senatorial
career has been a series of calamitous
circumstances. In all the history of
the senators of the United States con-
political laundering, stupidity and in
discretions, which may result in inn
prisonment and inability to hold office
of public trust. Senator Burton came
to Washington under circumstances
and conditions which gave him an OPP
portunity to rank high among the pub
lie men of the nation. During the
period in his state when the Populist
zeal bearings a majority of the poll
ticians who figured in state affairs,
Burton stood Loyalty by his party. His
public career at that time was forming.
He had been legislator in his state.
Formerly a teacher of elocution Mr..
Burton had acquired the ability to ex-
press himself effectively on his feet.
He dressed fashily, and the combina-
ton of dress and ready tongue made
him factor in state whose first de-
mand of public men was that they
should be noticed. Burton attracted
attention. He was noisy; he was in
sistent; he was irrepressible. AS a
member of the state legislature he was
the readiest debater of which his party
could boast He rendered valuaf
service to the richest family in his state
and was adopted by 1t politically This
family of state and almost national
reputation in the business world had a
youthful member who combined all the
qualifications OF gentility and political
resource. He was young, well educated
and courtly. He committed the SUI
preme folly of devoting his time, his
money and his talents to advancing the
ambitions of Burton. David Mulvane,
the present national committeeman
from Kansas, could have himself occu-
pied the seat which Burton now holds
had he builded from the first about
1t q
young lawyer from Abilene, who was
in all respects his inferior.
MULVANE'S INTEREST IN BURTON
Mulvanes personal friends from the
very beginning protested against his
policy. He refused to listen to them.
He worked for Burton and Burton
alone. In the first contest which came
at time when the Republicans had
succeeded after a fierce state campaign
in wrestling the control of the state leg
islature from the Populist party, Bur
ton was a candidate for the office of
United States senator. There was moth
ing to recommend him save a glib
tongue, a colossal egotism and an elo
cutionary training. He was defeated
for the senate by one vote The field
was full of good men, but the man Sc
lected made failure as a senator Why
he failed is another story, but fail he
did, and Mulvane, still standing by Bur-
ton, contrived to have him elected sena-
tor to succeed Lucien Baker. He took
the oath of office in March, 1901 His
autobiography in the Congressional
Record is the briefest in that publica-
ton. 1t does not indicate the modesty
of the historian, but is brief because
there was nothing in his life really
worth the telling. Here it is:
Joseph Ralph Burton, Republican, of
Abilene, was elected to the United States
senate to succeed Lucien Baker, Repub-
lican. who took his seat March A. 1901
His term of service will expire March 3,
1907
Mckinley was president when Burton
became senat tor. The Kansas senator
began his career with an entirely erro-
neous idea of his office. A senator is