The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1904-04-08
REY. ". l. SEABR00K
ON SENATOR BURTON
Mr.. SEABROOK'S FAITH IN
HIS RIEND UNSHAKEN.
Mr.. Burton is Senior United States
Senator From Kansas, Convicted
On Serious Charge.

The Rev. w. L. Seabrook. pastor
OF the Lutheran Church of the Re-
deemer, OF this city, is staunch and
loyal friend OF United States Senator
J. R. Burton, of Kansas. on March
Goth convicted in the United States
District Court of St. Louis, on the
charge OF accepting compensation to
protect the Rialto Grain and Securi-
ties company OF St. Louis before the
post Office department. Dispatches
yesterday stated that Mr. Burton had
been sentenced to six months impris-
onment and to pay fine of S2,5oo
and was held on a $4,000 bond pend
ing his appeal.
While Mr.. Seabrook was pastor Of
the Lutheran church in Abilene, Kan
sas, Mr.. Burton was one OF his closest
and most valued friends. Mr.. Burton
was a resident OF that city, and when
ever at home on a Lords Day during
Mr.. Seabrook's pastorate was always
in his congregation. Mr.. Seabrook
says that the verdict OF the St. Louis
jury has not shaken his faith in the
honor aad integrity OF his friend; that
it would take not only the most dl-
rect and positive testimony. but testi-
mony without the slightest shadow OF
bias, prejudice or political taint to
convince him that Senator Burton is
guilty of even technic.l violation of
law; and that if such testimony
could BE had even then no testimony
short Of Senator Burton's own ac-
acknowledgement could convince him
that the senator had been guilty of
any dishonest or dishonorable act,
or anything more than the merest
technical violation OF the statute.
In evidence that there are others
who share his feelings toward Senator
Burton and his views on the trial, Mr..
Seabrook quotes from a Topeka Cap
ital interview with Hon. T. E.
Dewey. Kansas supreme court report
er. Mr.. Dewey was a member of
MT. Seabrook's Abilene church and
his most intimate friend: and is char
acterized by him as one of the strong
est, brainiest, squarest and most level
headed men who he ever knew.
Mr.. Dewey said to a representative of
the Capital: 1T may be that J. R.
Burton is a bad man and deserves all
the ignoming that has come to him,
but somehow it does not seem that
way to me. Perhaps am blinded
by my love for the man, and if so
blindness is preferable to- sight, as
sorrow is better that humiliation.
During all the years of the last quar-
ter of the century he has been employ
er, partner. neighbor, friend and
guide to me- We have walked side
by side, measuring life by the same
standards and interpreting it by the
same revelations, and during all those
years never has there come from him
to re. or to any other person to my
knowledge. so much as the suggestion
OF dishonorable act. Mere graft
tude, though it is the hunlblest of vir-
tues and the weakest OF sentiments,
will make for him a refuge in the
hearts OF host of Kansans. Not the
verdict OF jury nor the judgment of
court can take that from him."
The Abilene Reflector, commenting
on this interview with Mr.. Dewey,
says: This expresses we'll the senti-
ment of Abilene people generally,
who having known Mr. Burton for a
quarter OF century, have not
changed their opinion because Of a
Missouri courts verdict"