The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-03-29
He SHOULD RESIGN.
That lis What KanSans Think
Burton Ought to DO.

''The proper thing for Senator Burton
to do is to resign
This was the opinion expressed by a
state house official today, in discussing
the verdict rendered against Burton at
ST, Louis.
"Under this verdict Burton will have
absolutely no standing in washington,
and the people of Kansas will not ac-
cept him as senator. He can do moth
ing to earn his salary and the proper
thing for him to do would be to re-
sign
The expressions from those who are
most intimate with Burton in St.
Louis and Washington indicate that he
will probably not resign, but every
precedent indicates that resignation
would be the proper procedure for him.
Such a precedent was set by Alexander
Caldwell, a Kansas senator who it was
proved purchased his seat as senator
He resigned under the charges without
waiting to have them formally proven
There have been other instances in
the senate in which senators have re-
signed when serious charges have been
preferred against them. The senate Of
the United States is extremely jealous
of It's dignity and its members will not
associate with a man who is under a
cloud.
1T is my opinion" said another
state official today, that while the
senate may not declare Senator Bur
| tor seat vacant until the court Of
last resort has passed on his case, the
| senators will refuse to sit with him
! Following this conviction Senator Bur-
| ton may conclude that he has nothing
| to lose and it would be in keeping
/ with his Old-time character to put on
/ his nerve and go back to WASHINGTON
and go into the senate simply to show
| his bravado. If he should attempt this
| it is my guess that the senators would
| give him to understand that his pres
! ence was not wanted and if he per
sisted they might take some action in
/ the matter. Such men as Senator HOar
| and Senator Spooner and a good many
others are very high minded, and they
have a high ideal as to the dignity of
! the United States senate. Senator
Hoar personally is very poor in this
worlds goods, more so than Burton
! even, but he is among the most highly
respected members of the senate
The majority of people express re-
gret that Kansas is responsible for
Burton. They feel that his action and
| his conviction is a rejection upon the
state. AS an offset to Burton, how
ever, there is Joseph S. Bristow, who
| stands for the highest type of official
honor and probity in Washington.
Everywhere there are expressions of
sympathy for Mrs. Burton, who has
stood Loyalty by her husband through
all his troubles, and who is in no small
| senate.
1T is very hard on Mrs. Burton said
Congressman Campbell, in discussing
the matter in st. Louis. Mrs. Burton
! has worked hard to aid her husband in
realizing his ambition to be United
| States senator, and without her tact and
graciousness during the senatorial fight
in 1901 he would never have been elect
ed. She had hoped great things for him,
and this trouble which must necessarily
wind up his public career is very hard
for her.
A Topeka woman who has known
Mrs. Burton intimately for years said
recently that Mrs. Burton has sacri-
feed all her personal wishes to Bur
tons ambition.
Il know that Mrs. Burton was a
great home- body said this Topeka
lady. She would have liked to settle
down and have a quiet home, but Sem
ator Burton's ambition has kept them
on the go and she has sacrificed ev-
lerything for him. 1 have a great. ad-
miration for her and the way she has
borne up under this charge against
the senator.