The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-04-16


are all concerned to know how a sena-
tor justifies to his own conscience the /
sale of his influence with the Washing
ton departments, and what sort OF
transactions those We're which in a
short time showed a profit OF 6b mill
Hons to a very small group Of men
The public is always glad to learn what
is, or has been, going on. 1t IS gel-
ting good deal of profitable informa-
ton nowadays about politics sand
about business from one source or ar
other. but most of 1t is still Incomplete
and any brother. erring or otherwise,
lack attentive hearers. An occasional
view of the under side of things is ex-
tremely instI 1ctive. Especially after
period OF great business and specula-
tive activity, the great army Of losers
are curious to know how the winners
Won"
L. w. Hoch seems to have been
cism which his remarks concerning
the conviction of Burton brought
forth. Mr. Hoch said that only ghouls
would rejoice over Burton's convic-
cause of Burton's downfall are worse
than Burton himself There was no
criticism of Burton in Mr.. Hoch' s
comments, and his editorial was look
ed upon by some people as an attempt
to condone Burton's offense and miti-
gate its punish N ent. In commenting
further along this line Mr.. Hoch says
in his paper this week:
Seldom has a Record utterance
brought its editor so many warm
words Of commendation as his recent
references TO Senator Burton A few
papers, however, have seen in the
article a condoning of crime and the
lowering of official standards. Surely
such people see through a glass dark
ly. The article contained no express
sion or implication whatever as TO
tor
ton. 1t carefully and purpOsely avoid
ed such expression and inference. But
it is one of the denominations of par
tisan and factional politics, that the
downfall of one on the other side is
glOated over by political ghouls, who
care not a farthing sfOr publication of
politics or for maintaining the majes-
ty of the law, but is simply glad that
their side strengthened, as they think
by an exposure of this kind Against
ghouls of this side the article was
aimed.
The editor of this paper and Sen
atOr Burton never had anything in
common, save and except those things
which are common to Republicans and
to human beings in general. He was
never our ideal, and he never had any
sympathy or patience with our pc
culiar political nOtions-although all
this has been persistently represented
to the contrary. for obvious purposes.
and to our mind his downfall is one OF
the saddest things in Kansas history.
How anyone with even a gizzard
where the heart ought to be can feel
other than sorry on such occasions is
something hard to understand. Such
occurrences may furnish legitimate
themes for essayists on morals and
preachers of righteousness but they
are not mt subjects for partisan or fac
tiOnal discussion. The ligature Of sym
pathy binds all normal souls together,
and Of all the human graces the great
est of these is charity.
Mr. Hoch says he carefully avoided
any expression or inference as to Bur
TONS innocence or guilt This IS one
thing for which his critics have found
fault with him. Burton had been ele-
waited to the highest position which the
Republicans of Kansas, the party OF
which Mr.. HOch is now the recognized
leader could give him. NE. HOch him
self had introduced a resolution In his
county convention instructtng the
Marion county member OF the legls-
lature to vote for Burton for United
States senator. Now Burton STANDS
convicted as a criminal by a United
States district court and NE Aocn
carefully avoids any expression con-
cerning his guilt. He has never pub
lished a word condemnatory OF BulIon lc.e,l
nor pointed moral from Burton
career. Suppose the criminal had been
a Democrat instead of a Republican,
would Mr.. Hoch have done the same
way? ..
admirers in Kansas who believe that
personally he is one of the cleanest
men in the state, but his attitude To-
ward Burton and his expressions con-
cerniner the convicted senator have not
strengthened. his hold upon the people
of Kansas by any means.