Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-24
DID NO HARM, HE SAYS
Permitted the Fraud Order to Be Is
sued Without Making Any
Protest.
HAD NO ILLEGAL INTENTION
He Denies That He Was Ever Indicted
for Bribery, Despite the Facts
Published About Him.

ABILENE, Kan, March 23-Joseph r.
Burton tonight was welcomed home from
five months confinement in the Ironton
(Mo.) Jail with an enthusiasm that ex-
ceeded any welcome he received in his
home town while United States senator
from Kansas. Burton was convicted OF
appearing for pay before a government
department while senator.
Several hundred townsmen with a band
met Burton at the station. Many persons
wore badges inscribed welcome Burton
The former senator rode from the sta
ton to his home in an open carriage, and
his passing through the streets was in the
nature of triumphal procession. The
sidewalks were lined with people who lifted
their hats as Burton passed. After an
informal reception at their home, Mr.. and
Mrs. Burton were entertained at dinner
by County Treasurer Schneider. Later they
We're to the theater. where Burton deliv-
cred speech on why Was Prosecuted"
The theater, which will accommodate
about 900 persons, was packed, many per-
sons standing. Many were unable to get In.
Inc three individuals.
Former Senator Burton began his speech
by referring to the three indictments found
against him and the two convictions under
them, saying that while the case was pend
ing he tried to get the Senate to investigate
The charges against him, but 1t steadily
refused to do so, and it was about to
expel him without an investigation when
he resigned to avoid expulsion.
A great wrong, he said, had been done
not only to him, but to the people of Kan
sas as well, and to the people of the entire
country. For the greatest of all crimes
against the people," he said lis where
executors ravish the law in the temple of
justice, as they did in my case.
That 1 was employed for a short time
as the attorney of the Rialto Company was
never concealed or denied by me- Pay
ments on my contract were made In five
installments Of $500 each. The first four
payments were each made by check, which
1 deposited with the bank where 1 kept
an account in Washington. The last pay
Mtnt was in cash. There was nothing
there was nothing to conceal in the con-
tiact or employment
1T was an unjust accusation against me
that had been employed an attorney by
a disreputable corporation, and that I
knewsit to be Of such character at the time
Of my employment. The Rialto Company
bore no resemblance whatever to a get
rich-quick concern. During the time 1 was
of its attorneys, and during all the
time that it was managed by its owner,
Maj. Dennis, the Rialto Company never
swindled any person in the world out of
dollar. l offered to show this In the trial
of my case, but the court refused to allow
the testimony.
Did Nothing to Prevent Fraud Order.
II did nothing to prevent a fraud order
from issuing against the Rialto Company.
Months after my connection with the COM
pany ceased, and when conditions changed
for the worst by reason of the protracted
absence of its owner, and when there was
an investigation by the Post Office Depart
ment, 1t was not l but the two men who
prosecuted me who prevented a fraud order
from issuing against the company.
at was untrue that 1 was indicted for
bribery, though it was so given out in the
fiaring headlines Of newspapers. The
charge against me, throwing aside legal
verbage, was that I had been hired In a
lawsuit-prohibited by the statute because
I was a senator. 1t was not pretended in
the indictment that the government had one
cent Of property interest in the case where
1 was accused of acting as an attorney.
III. aka
made against the late Senator Mitchell and
other defendants in the land fraud cases.
no charge that I had defrauded the gov
eminent out Of anything. The govern
ment had no monetary interest whatever
in the case. Whether a fraud order should
or should not issue against my client made
not one dollar Of difference to the govern
ment. The government would not make
or lose anything, whichever way the case
should be decided by the Postmaster Gen.
eral.
"They did not intend to violate the law.
They construed the statute. in every In
stance as similar statutes In the states
had ever been construed. as prohibiting ap-
pearance of the congressman as paid at
torney only in a case where the govern
ment stood to win or lose something. or.
I'm other words. cases against the govern
ment that might cost the soNeiee
something. There had never been prose-
cution under the statute when was in
dicted. and the law had been forgotten.
think I am entirely within the bounds of
truth when I say not a single senator or
knew of the existence of the
statute at the time was indicted. I GER
tainly did not. But the actions Of great
lawyers like Conkling and others had made
the presidents when the statute was fresh
In their minds. and these presidents were