The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1907-04-20
BURTON COMES
HOME IN POMP
Met by Procession, He Attacks
Roosevelt as Author of His
Troubles.
ESPECIAL to the New York Times.)

triumphant welcome home from prlsoI
by his fellow-townsmen, ex-senator
Joseph Ralph Burton tonight made E
speech, in which he bitterly arraigneo
President Roosevelt. He charged that
he was prosecuted only because he had
stood against certain policies of Mr.
Roosevelt while in the Senate, and be-
cause the President feared his opposi-
ton in the National Convention of
1904.
Mr.. Burton left the prison at Ironton,
Mo-, where he had been confined for
FIVE months, this morning. He was met
at Kansas City by prominent Kansas
politicians and friends, who acted as
escort to Abilene. When he arrived
here this afternoon he was greeted
with an enthusiasm that exceeded any
welcome he received in his home town
while United States Senator from Kan
sas.
band met him at the station. Many
wore badges inscribed "Welcome Bur
ton.'' He rode from the station to
his home in an open carriage, and his
progress through the streets was In
the nature of triumphal procession.
The sidewalks were lined with people
who lifted their hats as he passed.
After an informal reception at their
home, Mr.. and Mrs. Burton were en-
tertained at dinner by County Treas
urer Schneider. Later they went to the
theater, where Mr.. Burton delivered
speech on "Why l. was Prosecuted"
The theater, which will accommodate
about 900 persons, was packed. Many
were unable to get in. An admission
fee was charged, the proceeds going
to the city library.
DENIES FRAUD BY RIALTO COM
PANY.
tfFor the greatest of all crimes
against people is where the executives
ravish the law in the temple of justice,
as they did in my case,'' said Mr.. Bur-
ton in beginning.
He first entered in to defense of
the Rialto Grain and Securities Com
pany, for representing which he was
sent to prison. He denied the charge
that it was get-rich-quicko concern.
He said he had offered to show in court
that while he was connected with it
ait had never swindled any person in
the world out of dollar" but was not
permitted to do so. 1t was organized
under the legal direction of Judge
Chester B. Krum, who has been en-
p1cyed since by the Government under
Mr.. Roosevelt's direction in the st.
Louis Terminal and other litigation.
The company was "vouched for by
the leading banks and trust companies,
mercantile agencies, and men of the
highest business standing in that city,
No Federal action was taken against it
while he was connected with it, he
pointed out.
I'm the history of my case,' he con-
tinued, sit will plainly appear that
did nothing to prevent fraud order
from issuing against the Rialto Com
pany. Tt will also plainly appear that
months after my connection with the
company ceased, and when conditions
changed for the worse, by reason of
che protracted sickness and absence of
its owner, Major Dennis, and wheE
there was an investigation by the Post
office Department, that it was not l,
bat it was the two men who prosecuted
me, Colonel, soon to be Judge, David 2.
Dyer and C. H. Robb, who prevented a
company"
NOTED MEN ACTED AS HE DID.
He pointed out that no charge of
frazd or bribery was brought against
him.. "The charge aginst me, throw
ing aside legal verbiage,'' he said,
twas that [ had been hired in a
lawsuit prohibited by the statute, be-
cause / was Senator. It was not In
the indictment that the Government
had one cent of property interest in
that case, where was accused of act
ing as an attorney"
The law under which he had been
convicted was passed after the Civil
War to prevent members of Congress
from representing persons who had
claims against the Government. 1t was
not intended at any time to prevent
practice by such officials in any case
where the Government IS money or prop
erty was not involved.
''Such was the construction placed
upon it by the makers of the statute"
he declared. ''Such was its construc- |
ton by Senators and Representatives |
Cabinet Ministers, Bureau officers, and,
1ndeed, by everyone, until the Supreme |
Court by decision of FIVE to four |