The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-03-31
Senator Thompson Parallels
Baker-BurtOn Trouble.
His Refusal to Endorse Hodges
a Great Mistake.
MAY DEFEAT HIM IN KANSAS
General Sears Explains SINH
Iarity of Incidents.
Excitement Ahead for Demo-
Gratis i'm the State.

Senator William H. Thompson may
have paralleled the famous Baker
Burton troubles of former days when
he refused to endorse George H.
Hodges, former governor, for a place
on the federal trades commission.
Gen w. H. Sears, formerly of Law
renee and private secretary to Senator
Harris at the time of the Baker-Bur-
ton break, has declared that Thomp-
SON made a grave political mistake in
refusing to endorse Hodges.
1t was Senator Bakers refusal to
endorse J. R. Burton for the attorney
ship for the Five Civilized Tribes that
defeated Baker for reelection and
gave Burton the job. In Washington
last week, Colonel Sears recalled the
case of the Baker-Burton trouble.
"I was in Washington serving as
private secretary to the late Senator
w. A. Harris at the time Mr.. Burton
was a candidate for the attorneyship
of the Five Civilized Tribes" said
General Sears. zone morning L went
to the capitol on an errand and in the
Senator Baker. He was trying to
smoke q cigar-he never really learn
ed the art or acquired the habit. AS
came in he greeted me with this
blunt statement: We'll, have Knock
ed Burton out this morning.
"'What do you mean, senator?'
asked.
why, I have just been down to
protested against Burton's appoint
ment as attorney for the Five Civilized
Tribes
IT knew it required the approval of
the secretary to legalize Burton's ap-
pointment, and this approval the sec
rotary would not give without the en-
dorsement of Senator Baker, which
was the custom in those days.
''sWhat do you think of my ac-
tion?' continued Senator Baker.
Made a Mistake.
'f I think you have made a mistake
I replied. IF you want my opinion, I
would advise you to go back to the
department at once and withdraw
your objections and urge Buttons i'm
mediate appointment for these rea-
sons: This position pays $4,000 per
annum, the same salary you receive
as senator. This appointment secured
for Burton by your endorsement, will,
in effect, shelve Burton and you will
be reelected to the senate without a
doubt. Even if Mr.. Burton becomes a
candidate for the United States senate
the people of Kansas will say that he
is ungrateful to run against you after
you had secured him such a good, fat
job, and will not support him.
4 can't agree with you,' said the
SENATOR. DO you think for a minute I
would furnish Burton with the am
munition to fight me with ?? Why, he
would use every dollar of that five
thousand per year, running up and
down the state of Kansas fighting me
for the senate
Senator Baker made no secret of
his action in the Burton case, for to
my knowledge he told Ed Weilep,
then a senate employee, and Senator
Harris just what he told me- !
Later in the day met Mr.. Burton
at the Normandie hote1-which in |
those days was the County Copeland |
of Washington for Kansas politicians |
and related to him what Senator |
Baker had told me. On receipt of |
Burton n
excited, and pacing up and down the !
smoking room where we met, said:
4" That's as good thing as 1 want |
/ shall return to Kansas and travel |
over the entire state and tell the peo- |
pie that Snator Baker has taken the |
bread out of the mouths of my fami- |
lyi This will defeat Baker and send |
me to the United States senate
Couldn't Stem Tide.
And so it proved, for Burton car
ried out his threat and made things |
so hot for Baker that Baker published |
a denial in the Topeka State Journal. |
But he could not stem the tide of pub
lie opinion. and the legislature. when
it met, proved to be Burton legiSla-
ture, and sent him to the senate in
place of Baker"
case to that of the Hodges
case, General Sears is of the firm be-
lief that Senator Thompson made a
most grave mistake in not urging
AAouSOS hahie 1Ot d pace oIi the leu
era1 trades commission. General Sears,
now residing at Pentwater, Mich, was
a candidate for congress last fall on the
Progressive ticket, but failed of cleo
ton because of the juggling of ballots
in many places in his district He was
well known in Kansas in the early
'90's when the Populist party was in
power. During that time he was adj
jutant general of the Kansas militia
and had charge of the troops during
the famous trump house" war. He |,
is in Washington this week, appear
ing as an attorney in a case before
the United States supreme court.