The Washington herald., 1916-09-11
BURLESON REPLIES TO
ATTACK BY SHERMAN
Postmaster General Says Senator Was
'Misinformed."

Postmaster General Burleson yesterday
answered the attack made upon him last
Friday in the Senate by Senator Law
renee Sherman. of Illinois. The chief
allegation made by Senator Sherman was
that the Postmaster General had profited
through convict labor in Texas. He read
from Texas newspaper an article that
alleged In 1903 the Burleson & Johns ranch
was operated largely by convicts from
Texas jail.
In his answer the Postmaster General
says that he is unwilling to believe that
man elected to the United States SEN
ate would willingly lend himself as a
slanders, hence am forced to believe that
some contemplate creature has shame
fully deceived you"
Postmaster General Burieson's letter
follows:
II have Just read Of the attack on me
made by you in the Senate on Septem-
ber 7th.. To me, It Is inconceivable that
a man who has been elected to the Uni
ted States Senate would willingly lend
himself as tool for the dissemination of
baseless ISLANDERS, hence I am forced to
be" We that some contemplate creature
has shamefully deceived you.
Convict Labor in Texas.
For years the State of Texas, in an
effort to solve the vexatious convict prob
lem in the most humane way, has en-
ployed the unfortunates who have been
convicted in her courts Of felonies, in the
plantations owned by the State.
When the policy was first adopted,
Texas did not own cultivated land suf-
ficient for this purpose. 1 was part owner
OF an isoloted plantation which the State
authorities deemed desirable to use in car
rytng out this policy. The owners Of this
plantation leased 1t to the State and for
years It was so used. The plantation was
leased, just as other landlords leased their
lands to tenants, for a fractional part
OF the corn and cotton grown thereon,
with this difference, namely: In ordinary
cases, the landlord has some voice about
the work done in cultivating his land,
whereas in the lease OF the plantation re-
ferred to the State authorities reserved
the exclusive right to manage, control and
discipline the labor used in its cultiva-
ton. Thus, you see, by no process OF
reasoning can you reach the conclusion
that I either hired convict labor or was
responsible for its management Neither
have I ever been charged with unfriend-
linessto labor nor a wanton slander oi
| their leaders.
Mai. Durham Encient.
MdJ. 4nOInaS 4. Durnar1, Jne super1n-
tendent Of the plantation referred to-
was employed by the State. He was ar
honest, efficient, capable servant OF his
State. He was indicted, as you charge
but 1t was believed by those in a posi-
| ton to know, that this indictment was
secured in order to embarrass the then
governor of Texas who was distantly
related to Maj. Durham. The testimony
relied on for his conviction was that OF
convicts, and in order for them to quail
! ity as witnesses the governor was called
| on to pardon them. This he refused to
do. Afterward, while another was gov.
ernor, the case was disposed OF and Maj
Durham was speedily acquitted. He was
| an applicant for a small post office ap.
pointment and, with the acquiescence OF
his Representative IN Congress, recon-
mended his appointment. He made q
popular and efficient officer. He is now
dead and cannot speak for himself, but
either Senator from Texas can tell you
that he was a good citizen.
These are the facts.
Elected to Congress.
Desperate indeed must be the political
situation. when men are driven to the
adoption of such foul methods of fght-
ing Eight times I was unanimously
nominated for Congress in the district
where I was born and reared Eight
tfrnes WAS eIectad-dvA tir,as 1r-{th ~,