The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-08-26
BURTON IS HERE.
Not j. r. But H is Brother
2. T.
He Talks About the Chicka-
saw Scandal.

z. T. Burton. of Tishomingo, I. T., is
In Topeka today. and met his brother,
Senator J. r. Burton, this afternoon
at the Copeland hotel for a con-
ference.
Mr.. Burton is big. 2OO-pound man,
smooth shaver and dark complex
toned. He does not look much like
his distinguished brother.
At did not hear of this Chickasaw
story" said Mr.. Burton to a State
Journal reporter, until after leaving
my home. I understand that Ralph,
the senator, has made a statement
concerning the report, but have not
seen it. My visit to Topeka is of a
business nature; expect to meet my
brother here this afternoon. His train
As late"
with the Chickasaw legal department,
and the payment of warrants to him,
he said:
Il am not now the attorney for the
Chickasaw nation. I did serve in that
capacity until Ralph became involved
in those former charges, at which time
I informed Governor johnson that in
my opinion it would be better for me
to withdraw from the service, in order
to avoid all possible reflection on
Ralph. Governor johnson has re-
peatedly tried to induce me to resume
the position, but 1 have not consented
to do so.
my brother was attorney for the
Chickasaw nation. serving in a general
capacity until the caucus nominated
him for the senate. There was about
ten days between that time and the
day on which he was to be elected. as
recollect it, and he went down to see
Governor Johnson. He told Johnson
that he could not serve him any longer
as paid attorney, though he would be
glad to continue as his friend and per-
sonal advisor. He told johnson that
he did not think there was any legal
reason why he should not continue in
that capacity, but that he did not de-
sire to do anything which would ap-
pear questionable. Since that time
Governor johnson has not paid my
brother one cent for legal services.
81 think it was in January that my
brother terminated his connection
with the Chickasaws, and about six
months later, I was offered the same
place. In the interim. think that the
place was not filled by anyone, unless
a man by the name of hurry did a lit
tie special work.
1T just happened that I met Gov
eFnor Johnson, and was offered this
position. 1 had been living at Parsons,
Kan. Previous to that time 1 had
lived at Burton, Mont, a town named
for me. The '93 collapse caught me
pretty hard, and 1 closed out my in
tefests there, and was doing engineer
done a large amount of land office
business in the northwest, and am
we'll acquainted at the interior depart
ment. This acquaintance was what
recommended me to Governor john
son. He said he greatly missed my
brothers legal advice and wanted me
to take his place. The Chickasaws
had vast lawsuit pending; the biggest
lawsuit the world ever saw, / expect
THE amount involved was about $4,000
900 worth of land which had been wrong
fully taken from the Indians. 1 went into
this lawsuit and through the good work of
Governor Johnson we were able to save
that land to the Indians.
There never was in all the history of
the nation any scandal about the payment
OF warrants. All this talk about the
'Chickasaw warrants is bumeomb. 1t is
true that about 600 worth of warrants
were stolen once by a common thief, and
some of them were sold. but this is the
only thing that ever happened at all ir-
regular.
Il don't know who started this new
story about my brother. am not in poll
tics, and never have been. am glad to
say that this old charge against my broth
er is now all settled, and there will be no
further trouble