The San Francisco call., 1909-03-12
BURNS REPLIES TO
PROGRAFI ARTICLE
Calhoun Organ Attempts to Re-
feet on Record of
Detective
Circumstances Surrounding the
Lentz Speech Are Care
fully Avoided

Following the time honored custom
of graft defense a new TRADE Of vilih-
cation against everyone connected with
the prosecution Of the San Francisco
'grafters has been begun. The newest
angle OF the campaign in the interest,"
of Patrick Calhoun was given last
night in the columns Of the Iatter's ofi-
cial organ. the Globe, in an attack on
William J. Burns. special agent Of the
6istrict attorneys Office
In an article that bears all the marks
Aof painstaking manufacture in the lit
Nerary foundry maintained by Calhoun
tfhe official prograft organ seeks TO
Sdiscredit Burns record and in so doing
53las turned 10 the Congressional Record
for 1901 An excerpt has been taken
iSrom speech made by former Con-
HEressman John J. Lentz Of Ohio, in
(which the latter charged Burns and Ell
FINER J. Miller. then collector OF the port
Eat Columbus. O.. with having purchased
Eshe votes Of II negroes as a step
Toward defeating Dentz for reelection
TO congress. Burns last night gave the
circumstances surrounding this speech,
which the Globe carefully avoided.
LENTZ ABUSED MCKINLEY
1T is true that Lentz made such a
( speech" he said. He was then con-
Fgressmsn from the twelfth Ohio dis
t1rict. in which I lived. and was an out
tand out anarchist He advertised him
. self by abusing President Mckinley
at every opportunity and was conse-
squentiy doomed by the Hearst papers
When ne came up for reelection all
The federal employees We're against him
and showed him up as a blackguard
sand blatherskite. Elmer Miller and my
self worked openly against him.
Lentz was defeated for reelection
by Emmett TOmpkins. and at the close
OF the session. after the latter's cleo
ton. he made this final attack on Pres
7dent Mckinley on the floor of the
house. lie accused Mckinley OF having
sent me out TO work against him, and
this quoted speech was an incident of
that charge. It was absolutely without
foundation. Although he had recourse
through the courts Lentz never at
tempted 20 prose any part Of the
charge OF produce any evidence TO sus-
tain it,
SOUGHT NEGRO AFFIDAVITS
subsequently Lentz attempted TO get
sfhdavits from two negroes in Wash
lngton 10 the effect that / had sent
them 10 Columbus 10 colonize the ne
gro vote there. These afi1davits were
being taken before q referee in Wash
ington. and I learned of it through
John F. Wilkie. CHER Of the secret
service. One Of the negroes testified
mat Billy Burns Of the secret ser
vice had hired him TO go 10 Columbus
Tor rhis purpose He was asked. on
cross examination to describe me. and
ms description didn't fit at ALL In the
meantime, I had entered the room and
was called TO confront him. Asked
10 identity me. he declared that was
not the man he referred TO- That end
"a Lentz attempt to injure me- He
iad undoubtedly intended to get these
amdavits for his own use and then get
I'D Of the negroes. This same nee-ro
was later arrested IN Washington CON
,Nlcted- and served term. for sphorna
Iion of perjury.
Ihe present attack being made on
lne IS the same kind that 1 have had
10 race IN every big case that I have
ever had anything to do with. Efforts
AaNe always been made to find some
thlng IN my past record that could be
used 10 in5ure me. and that IS what
mas been done here I am too busv nov
with the matters in hand. sucl, as
watching the crooks employed -bv pat
TICK calhoun. to give attention 10 these
matters. but the time viii come when
those responsible viii be forced IN an
sWer for every attack in which tbov
nave overstepped the bounds"