The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-03-25
Verdict at Washington Concern
ing Burton Speech.
Believed That President Will
Make Reply.
PARDON OFFER DENIED
Feels Deeply on the
Burton Case.
Would Have Extended Sentence
if Possible.

Washington, March 25.-The lengthy
address delivered by former Senator
Burton at Abilene, Kan, Saturday
night was reproduced in each of the
morning papers here, more or less at
length. 1t created much comment, but
ELECTED no official response. At the
White House it was said that the pres
fdent had not had time to read the ad-
dress, and no decision would be made
as to whether there would be a reply to
any feature of it or not
While there are many who are ready
to advise the president not to pay any
attention to the attack which the Kan
sas ex-senator makes upon him, some
who are close to him and who know the
depths of the presidents feelings in the
Burton case and that he thinks the
Kansan was treated with the greatest
patience and consideration, believe he
will make reply of some sort.
The Burton address reao well. 1t has
much that was plausible and dealt in
some facts so that it carried weight
with it and an impression of sincerity
which could only be pierced by those
fully acquainted with all of the ramii-
cations of the different transactio7-~
touched upon. There are some absolute
misstatements of facts. One of these is
to the effect that five or six days after
Burton was placed in the Jail at Iron
ton he received an offer of pardon
from the pardon attorney at Washing
ton, but disdainfully tore W the letter
and never made answer to it.
Would Have Extended Sentence.
Now any one who knows the presi-
dent of the United States and his at
-
ernment started the prosecution
against him knows full well that if
the president had been able to do so
he would have taken satisfaction in
mitigating it. Those who spoke about
the possibility of a pardon were told
as much at the White House from time
- ttrZ-s 50 IL ssl eslt ss1sl = h '5l'-
ton that he received a letter from the
pardon attorney here in which an
offer of pardon was made can be
denied fatty and on the authority of
the pardon attorney himself The
don. He has been pardon attorney
for the past three years and hence
throughout the period when Burton
was under conviction. He lives at
Gaithersburg, Md. and the correspond
ent had him on the long distance tele-
phone last evening and he declared
positively that he had written no such |
letter; that he had never been author !
lied to write SuCh letter; tnaI ne COulQ |
not have written such a letter except !
on the warrant and authority of the |
president of the United States, and
such authority was never limited at.
The one and only letter written by I
Mr.. Gordon to Mr.. Burton was writ
ten shortly after Burton was taken to
jail. About that time three letters
we're received at the department of JUS
ice and referred to the pardon attor-
1ey, Mr.. Gordon. They urged that |
Burton be pardoned. Now. it is re-
1uired that all applications for pardon
must be made in the regulation way.
md when they are made informally
,r do not comply with the department
lotifed. The pardon attorney ad-
iressed n letter to Burton. telling him
If the receipt of these letters and ask
ng if Burton intended these letters to
De considered an application for par
lon.
Burton Was Silent.
Burton did not respond. Instead of
aking a martyrs position Burton un-
White House would assume toward a
orInal pardon from him, and to avoid
scathing arraignment in connection
With the denial of his pardon, he paid
10 attention to the letter from the par
lon attorney.
The vague charges which he makes
eIative to the operations of the sugar
rust in connection with Cuban recipro-
.1ty are not taken seriously. In the
.arly stages of the reciprocity fight
rumors of this sort were
hick Not once did they have the eff
ect of swerving the admiiistra ton
rom it's viewpoint that President Nc
<inley had made a pledge to the Gu
,ans. which his successor was bound in
lonor to carry out. In the end the su-
,ar trust after effectinG what delay it
Guild, favored the reciprocity arrange
nent when it had time to set Its house
n order.
The promotions of men in the govern
nent service who participated IN the
prosecution of Burton are taken here
o indicate only that they were men of
Ugh character. Burton had every ad-
antage that the court could give him
nd that skilled and well-paii and
AIMED legal counsel could procure for
i'm. Twice his case was passed upon
Y the United States supreme court.
he positions of the men whom he '
ames as being in a conspiracy against /
i'm are too well esta blished to reed de- I
ense.