Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-03-22
Not Seeking For Vengeance, De.
clares First Signed Statement
For Publication
RElTERATEs HE is INNOCENT
Fine Will Be Held Over the Former
Senator as a Civil Judsment-Re-
lease Due to Law Which Provides for
Deduction From Sentence for Good
sehavior-Announces Life Work.

Ironton, Mo-, March 22-Former SEN
ator Joseph Ralph Burton, was this
morning released from Jail here, hav-
ing completed his sentence Of SIX
months, imposed when he was found
guilty of violating the federal statute
by appearing before the governmental
department as paid representative OF
an alleged "get-rich- quick" concern in
st. Louis. Burtons sentence also In
cluded a fine of $500, which has not
been paid, and will be held over him
as civil judgment. Accompanied by
ed for Abilene. Kan. his home.
Revenge Not His Purpose.
Burton entered here October %,
1906. His release today is, due to the
law which provides for deduction from
sentence for good behavior. Upon leav-
ing Jail, Burton gave out the following
signed sla1ement:
This is the first signed statement /
have made for publication since the day
/ was indicted. The impression has
gone out that l propose to live for re-
venge. This is a mistake. have no
such purpose. The wrongs done me are
the wrongs of others, and vengeance is
thought to be noble only by the ignoble
Vengeance is mine, sayeth the
Lord is philosophy to which ! have
always subscribed in the past, and to
which / shall adhere in the future.
am a thousand times more solicitous
that / shall not wrong another than
am concerned about the wrongs others
have done or may do, to me. In say
ing this, however, do not pretend to
have more than two cheeks, nor do !
think it is wrong to rebuke hypocrisy.
return to my home at Abilene brim-
full of life and hope Only my body
has been in, Jail and my mind has been,
at all times, free. Sustained with the
knowledge that l am innocent, shall
take up my life's work, with malice
toward none, and charity for ALL
shall talk and write With pen and
tongue l shall stand for the policies
and principles that l believe will make
for the general good. and oppose such
as think are bad. 1t is bad policies
that make bad men and bad govern
ment; while true policies make good
men and good government.
Will Run Newspaper.
my fight shall be against measures.
rather than against men. l shall have
charge of a newspaper, unless there is
fraud order issued against it before
1 can arrange for it's publication. +.
will reflect my ideas. 1t is to be one of
my agencies in the work which hope
to do l shall talk when am not writ
ing, and write when am not talking.
The history of my case. is already pre-
pared, and will appear in serial form,
first in the paper. The story will not
be sensational; it will be truthful. In
terwoven with history and the neces-
sary part of it, will be discussion OF
certain conditions in our legislature
and administrative judicial government
that, 1 think, have escaped the atten-
ton of the average citizen. I will not
now. go further into my case, nor my
plans and purposes. My first statement
will be made Saturday to my home
people, then there will be more to fol-
low"