The Topeka state journal., 1906-05-12
TILLMAN JOINS IN
Takes Part in Attack on the
President.
An Exciting COlIoquy Follows
His Speech.
ROOSEYELT'S APPEAL.
Asked Democrats to Join Him
in Crusade.
Accuses President of Change of
Front.

Washington, May 12.-Senator Till
man in a lengthy statement made dur
ing thee consideration of the railroad
rate bill accused the president of wav-
ering on the rate bill He referred
specifically to the long amendment, say
ing that he did so with the purpose of
making an explanation. He said the
senators would be surprised to know
that he had been in conference with the
president.
On March 81, said Mr.. Tillman, Sena-
tor Chandler told Senator TiIIman that
the president desired to get into COM
munication with Mr.. Tillman for the
purpose Of getting sufficient Democrats
lined up together to defeat obnoxious
amendments to the railroad rate bill.
Mr.. Chandler quoted the president as
being entirely at outs with the sena-
torial lawyers, including Knox as we'll
as SpOoner and Foraker; and that the
chief executive deliberately and with
care stated that he thought there should
be cooperation on the following basis,
namely, an amendment expressly
granting court review but limiting it
to two points: (one) an inquiry Wheth-
er the commission had acted beyond its
authority ultra wires and (two) wheth-
er it had violated the constitutional
rights of the carrier. Mr.. Chandler sta
ted that the president repeated that he
had reached a final decision that the
right of review should be thus limited;
that thus far he would go and no fur
ther; that his decision would be unal-
terable.
Proceeding, he said that Mr. Chand-
Ter had said that the president had
assured him that he would be in favor
of a restriction against the issuance
of exparte injunctions to meet the
wishes of Senators .Tillman and Bailey.
After informing Mr.. Bailey of the
| purport of the Chandler interview. Mr.
Tilman said that on the next day he
had told Mr.. Chandler in his and Mr..
! Bailey's opinion there would be no diff
| hculty in coming to an understanding
on the basis proposed by the president
"On the evening of Monday, Mr..
! Chandler told me he had SO assured
| the president and asked him not to be
/ disturbed by the newspaper items
growing out of the talk about Senator
/ Longs amendment published in the
newspapers as one agreed upon at the
/ White House conference on Saturday"
He then said that he and Mr.. Chand-
! Ter had continued the conferences and
on April the ex-senator had gone to
4 the White House to make a faVorabl
/ report to the president. On April 8,
Mr.. Chandler told him that he had
! conferred with Senator Allison, asking
/ him to intervene in the conference
| then in progress and that the Iowa
senator had agreed TO do so.
Later Mr.. Allison had seen the
president
on April 1s Mr. Chandler had ad-
vised that he (Mr. Tillman) and Mr.
! Bailey see the attorney genera. Con-
seouently they had met that official on
! the 18th finding themselves in perfect
accord with him except as to a small
| difference in the matter of injunction
There was absolute accord from the
! first on the proposition that the court
! 11o 10 Tr
| whether the commission had exceeded
/ its authority or violated the carriers
4 constitutional rights.
Mr.. Moody had then agreed to sup
/ ply the senators with a memorandum of
| his views and had done SO, "and we
have the original of it, said Mr.. Till
Mr.. Tillman said he had seen Mr.,
Moody and had assured him that TWEEN
| ty-six Democratic votes could be Sc
| cured for the compromise proposed
and had told him that it would be
necessary to get twenty Republican
votes. TT was understood that we
| should work together to get the votes
necessary to pass the compromise.
The attorney general had expressed
doubt of getting enough Republican votes
non suspension proyisO. but had said that
he felt sure of Overman amendment Mr..
Moody had, he said. assured him that Il
was the fixed purpose to insist upon the
Long amendment and he lMr: Tillman)
had no suspicion of a change of front un-
til May l. when the president had his in
| terview with the assembled newspaper
men The reading of the statement evok-
ed many smiles and soon laughter from
senators. There was especial merrfment
over a statement of assurances by the
south Sarolina senator that the president
need not be alarmed over newspaper re-
ports. He had, he said, told the attorney
general that there was no danger of the
result as to the bill IL the president should
adhere to his plans He then had the
clerk read the Moody memorandum COW
ering the points agreed upon as the basis
of amendments.