The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-02-10
THE PRESS ON
BURTON'S CASE

i have no doubt that not only vii
I promptly establish my entire innocenc
in the matter, but that my course will b
seen to be above criticism" says Sen
| ator Burton (Rep.). of Kansas, in com
| menting, on his Indictment for receivin,
| s.. 500 from the Rialto Grain and Secu
| rites Company for interceding with tn,
post-office officials TO prevent a fraud or
der being issued against the company
The Senator says that he merely &C
companied the president of the company
to the postal department TO find whethei
a fraud order had been issued agains
him, and acted purely in the matter
as attorney, to ask what had been done
For this kindly act the Senator received
the honorariun mentioned, and is now
sumnarily hailed into court for it.
Some of the newspapers do not think
the matter so clear and simple Thus
the New York Press (Rep) says:
Senator Burton is ready and glib with
explanations for the rude action of the
federal Grand jury at St Louis in
laying against him an indictment for
taking a handsome fee from a get
rch-quick concern IN return for valua-
bic services rendered at Washington.
Purely professional services says the
Kansan. All | did was to go to the
Post-Ofice Department to find out if a
fraud order had been issued
Judgment must be suspended, OF
course. until the Government shows
down its hand and the Senator reveals
his legal defense. Meanwhile the pub
lic having the briggs and Dietrich cases
well III mind, will wonder what peculiar
professional skill marks members of
Congress above their fellows in the law
for practise before the government de-
partments; will marvel at the generosity
of even a get-rich-quick swindler who
pays Senator s., 500 merely for going
to the post-office to get information
about fraud order and never by any
chance to get that fraud order stopped;
and will finally be amazed at the eager
ness of grave and reverend Senator
of the United States to perform such
errand at any price
Such speculations may do Mr.. Bur
ton injustice. Nevertheless, the pub
lie will continue to indulge in them until
a jury finds that his indictment was
right or wrong. The Senator, who
thinks neither the moral law nor the
penal code is violated by the sale of
ones influence as member of Congress
under the thin cloak OF legal services,
says he will press for an early trial.
This is exactly what Senator Dietrich
said when he was indicted for selling
lis post-offices We hope the Dietrich
parallel will not be carried further than
mis-. We trust Senator Burton will not
permit his counsel, like his Nebraska |
colleague, to avail him of flaw in the |
he indictment whereby to prevent a |
ury from getting. at the truth, nor will |
hen resort to Senate committee of in |
JURY, with senator Dietrich as its |
Hartman, for his 'vindication.
The Philadelphia Ledger Gnd.) in
Iulges i'll uncomplimentary reflections |
n the Senator's moral density:
Senator Burton may be guiItless be-
ore the law, but his own account of his |
with the case of the Rialto
1rain and Securities Company and its
Citations with the Post-Office Depart
lent shows him in light in which his
lost kindly friends can not regard him
1ltn satisfaction. The Rialto Company
,as in trouble with the Government.
s right to use the mails was questioned
Indeed, the Post-Office Department
ad threatened to issue orders against it
5 fraudulent concern. Mr.. Burton,
len Senator of the United States, ac-
opted employment as its attorney. His
Nn story of his services is that he ac-
ompanied the president Of the Ria1to
ompany, H. c. Dennis, to the Office
the chief Inspector of the Post-Ofice
apartment to find whether a fraud
-der had been issued against him. This
as in the dav of the notorious Tyrler,
lachen, and Barrett
Mr.. Burton saw nothing wrong in !
king up the interests of a concern sus-
ected of fraud as against those of the
overnment, and in accepting money
n doing SO. He regards his connection
18th the case as purely professional and
ltirely proper
here IS no arguing against moral
ensity like tbs. 1t it does not occur
man chosen to a place in the ma
onal Senate that he is not at liberty
give part of his time and talents to
Spected offenders against national law;
a Senator imagines that he can at
III dlvest himself of his Senatorship
I'd appear before officials of depart
ents of the Government as a mere at
r1ley; If a Senator is so guileless as
fancy that he is wanted by clients of
fashionable virtue for his legal ability
Id not at all for his official prestige.
en- there is wide and deep chasm be-
'een Senatorial sense Of propriety and
mmon sense.
II |