The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-04-24
POLITICAL GOSSIP
Ex-senator Burton Creating
Something of a Sensation.
His Lectures Are Being Very
Well Received.
HIS PLEA FOR REFORM
Claims Country Is Getting Away
From Democracy.
Cyrus Leland Gives Out a
M'Kinley Letter.
HIS PLEA FOR REFORM

WHAT'S the meaning of this interest
in J. r. Burton, and what effect are
Burton's speeches going to have on the
campaign?
This ex-United States senator from
Kansas, who was humbled and dis
graced by criminal prosecution and
conviction, and stands forever disbar-
red from holding public office, has
been getting more favorable comments
from the newspapers of the state about
his Community of Interest lecture
than has any other man who has been
before the public in this state for some
time. Burton now calls his lecture
Democracy or Despotism Which?"
Republican newspapers and Democratic
newspapers have almost unanimously
commended what Burton has said, and
have commended the dignif1ed and evil
IDENTIFY sincere bearing of the ex-sen-
ator. Papers which are naturally hos
tile to every word which Burton utters
say that his lecture is an able one and
that 1t points out serious defects in
the machinery of government. In fact,
Burton has been making a decided hit
throughout the state with his eloquent
appeal for reform, and reform Of the
most radical nature.
There is the Lawrence Journal, which
is a strict Republican paper, and a
supporter of Stubbs. The Lawrence
Journal has write up of Burton's lee
ture there Wednesday night which is
fair sample of the kind of pieces
have been printing about him. The
Journals piece says in part:
Mr.. Burton spoke for an hour and
half and never has an audience been
held so well. Not q man left the hall
while he was speaking and he could
have held the audience as long as he
wanted to.
"Mr. Burton is an alarnist, but he
has something alarming to talk about.
1t is not necessary to agree with all he
says to realize that there is great
truth in the story he tells. His idea is
that this country is getting away from
Democracy and getting to a despotism.
with the president as. the despot. He
declared that twelve men ruled the
country. --''-'-
"Mr. Burton made one Of the most
Interesting talks ever heard in this city.
His intense earnestness, his sincerity,
his determination to work for the
cause, appealed to his hearers, and no
| man ever had a more attentive au-
dience. He was followed in every word
and not a point was missed.
"The address, the occasion, the man.
| and the words he spoke, all make up a
| situation that is seldom paralleled. 1t
| is safe to say that the people Of Law
renee, who are prejudiced against Bur-
| ton today, did not hear his speech last
| night
Is this uniform expression of en-
| couragement and endorsement for
Burton due to pity for the man who
| fell, and is now trying to rise agair
| by hard work?
| Or is it Indicative of an intense an6
growing interest in political reform ir
| Kansas?
| If the latter, it is likely that Bur
| tons addresses will have a tendency
to help the square deal campaign
Burton certainly does not intend his
speeches to have that effect for ht
dislikes both Stubbs and Bristow. Tht
probability is, however, that Mr.. Bur
| toms addresses will be factor which
| the politicians will have to reckon
| with in the present campaign.
| Cyrus Leland has issued a yer.
unique and telling political circular
| At the top is a fine half tone pictur,
| of Mr.. Leland. Below this is a fa
simile of a letter from ex-Presiden
William Mckinley endorsing Mr.. LIE
land in highest terms.
There are really two letters, both il
| facsimile. They came to Mr.. Lelan'
| after McKinley's death, and explain
| themselves The letters follow:
November 5, 1901.
| My Dear Leland:
In looking over some letters of Pres
ident Mckinley, written to me, fron