The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-05-14
FEW HEAR BURTON
Ex-SenatOr's Lecture Was Not
Well Attended.
About $50 People We're in the
Audience.
PLEADS FOR REFORM.
Wants All Officers Elected by
Direct Vote.
Says Small COterie of Men Con-
troll the Nation.

Fifteen years ago. in the Grand
opera house. an event took place
which is memorable in political an
nails of Kansas. Before a house
packed with bowling and excited
partisans, Joseph Ralph Burton, Re
publican. engaged with William A
PETER, PopuIist, in one Of those heat
ed debates which stirred political
aniruositfes in the state to depth
never equaIIed before or since
Last night Joseph Ralph Burton re-
turned 10 the Grand opera house. and
before scattering audience of $50
people denounced The Political
Conmuarty of Interests" conjured up
great golden dragons of greed; talked
about the iron heel Of oppression;
skinned the IkeIheimers of Wall
street, dashed the president and his
policies: and wound up with q grand
| hurrah in favor of the initiative and
| referendum, the election of postmas-
tiers and United states judges BY d.
| rect vote, and a return to the pure
| democracy of Jesus Christ The
shades OF PETER must have smiled
No doubt the bad weather cut
but the cold, unvarnished truth was
that there were only about IS people
\ in the 25-cent seats, and perhaps rs
more IN the 5o-cent seats This is
not the kind of a crowd that will help
| Burton pay the running expenses Of
his weekly organ No seats were sold
except on the main floor The front
seats were so cents, and the eight
rows of the orchestra. circle were 3
cents There was a gaping gulch of
vacant seats between the 50-cent
crowd and the 25-ceut crowd Some
lecturers would have good-naturedly
invited everybody TO move down into
the 50-cent seats. Not so Burton
There was not the slightest syllable
or expression on his part TO indicate
that he was not addressing packed
Burton's old friends, and those who
feel that he is deeply wronged. bought
merely to hear the speech for what it
was worth were in the 25-cent section |
In the audience were many of the old
Burton appointes. and a good many
er political leader would have TO say
Among those present were w H |
Mackey, United States marshal; Frank
FIeniken, deputy marshal; t T. Kelly.
ex-state treasurer: Senator W. s. Fitz-
patrick; ex-senator Geo P More !
house; W. R. Bigham, former consul
to Cape Town; Frank Grimes. Judge |
Clark A. Smith, Samuel T Howe. H |
B. Kelley, Del Keller. Walter Payne, |
Frank Bonebrake, A. E. Crane of |
Holton. James A Guy. Mark Mason, !
Luther NeIHs, Arthur Capper, George
Crawford H T Chase. NJ. A Hutch |
eson. Mr.. and Mrs. c. c. Burton, F. E
Nipps. Scott Kelsey, 8 r. Kutz-
Burton was immaculate in long
black frock coat After he had
warmed up to his subject. he unbut-
toned this and displayed a broad ex-
panse OF white vest He made fine
appearance on the stage, and his
voice. diction. articulation and eIocu-
ton were faultless- Some parts of
his address were dramatic. but there
was no direct attack upon individuals,
except by inuuendo, the shrug of the
shoulder. and the expressive gesture
In every respect. the speech was
above reproach. But il lacked
warmth 1t was a clear-cut cameo of
elocution. not a blazing jewel OF elo-
Quence-
Concentration of power in the
hands of few men at Washington
was the theme of the address Bur
ton pointed out that the founders of
the government had dug what they /
supposed was an impossible guIch
between the executive, legislative and
judicial branches OF government, but
had made the mistake of leaving
that these bridges had been widened
until now the whole course of govern
mant is dictated by four mem ers of
the house, seven members of the SEN
that these men not only dictate the
politics Of the country. but dominate
commerce as well, and this. he said.
was the political community of inter
ests. He declared that it was but a
short step further to absolute despot-
ism
Burton and La Toilette.
In many ways. Burton's attack on
of La Toilette of Wisconsin But
there was a vital difference. Burten'si
vail was that If a gambler who had
gone into a brace game with his eyes
open. and was squeaIing because he
had lost his roll La FoIlette's speech
is that of a man who has studied So :
cial and political evils. and is seeking
to warn the public before IL is too late
a in Iail convince
ton that he should be a reformer. La
Toilette needed no such incentive.
Burton stepped out upon the stage
at sac and was greeted with light
corning the founders of the American
government He talked very low, but
every word was clear and distinct The ,,
audience was SO still that sound of
footsteps passing in front of the opera
house was distinctly audible inside the !
audience room
Love for power" said the speaker,
after discussing the building of the
United States constitution sis the
most internal part Of mortal man It :
IS more consuming than the love of
money 1t is the most selfish, the most ..
Unsuitable the most brutal desire in
The human heart
Then he showed how this love for
power had taught men, by tricks to
1ircumvent the intent Of the constitu- !
IF George Washington" he said,
with all his popularity. had endeav- c
pred to present 10 his congress an '
a administration measure he would c
nave been dragged from his position
IN a minute
Mr.. Burton then talked of the way
n which the president obtains his 6
power He said II was through con- {
-roI of 100000 jobs. which he farmed >
put to obedient congressman
What would happen here in To-
oeka II your postmaster should die 1
-
hat some of your politicians would !
axe the first train in the morning for :