Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1906-05-16
WEDNESDAY EVENING. MAY le. 1906.
WITH 4 final charge OF bad faith against

that he had never sought nor authorized
anyone TO seek for him "any conference
with Theodore Roosevelt" Senator Till
man. on hehalf of the democrats of the
Senate, yesterday afternoon closed Tor
the present the eSstroversy over the
Presidents discreditable conduct in the
rate bill negotiations. The final state
of the South Carolina Senator had been
carefully prepared in advance and was
read TO the Senate slowly and dispassion-
ately, 10 the presence of packed galleries
and a crowded floor. 1t WAS expected
there would be renewal of the exciting
debates of the past few days IS result OF
the letter of the President TO Senator
Allison and of Attorney General Moody
TO the President published yesterday.
But the Senate was weary of the con-
troyersy and the democrats we're satisfied
Ia let the case rest with the declaration
ofMr. Tillman reiterating the charge OF
had faith against the President and sbso-
luteIy denying the truth of the President
statement that the suggestion OF an alliance
between democratic Senators and the
administration came from the former
This denial was supported by the tesii-
mony of ex-senator Chandler, an Othcer
of the administration, and by strong
chain of circumslancisl evidence, faml-
liar to all who have followed the rate bill
contest. The assertion rested on the
word of the President slone. The evil
dence in the case WAS clear and ample
1t WAS useless to pursue the controversy
further. II am willing to leave the
whole question to the truthful and hon
orsble men of the country" Senator
Tillman said in conclusion.
There are only two points 10 the Presi-
DENTS letter which | deem worthy of
notice. His attempted explanation is in
oenious but not ingenious. DE calls In
question the integrity of purpose and
ulterance of Mr.. Chandler by declaring
oHe was asked to see ex-senator Chan
der as representing Mr.. Tillman, who
wss in charge of the bill. He stated to
me the views of Mr.. Tillman with SEEM
ing authority" Mr.. Chandler has de-
clared most positively in a written state
ment that the President cent tor him Tor
the purpose of getting into eommunlca,
tion with Senator Bailey and myself, and
ne has produced the letter of Mr.. Loeb.
now declare most emphatically that to
no human being have | ever given
authority or even expressed a wish to
have any conference with Theodore
Roosevelt in regard to the bill now I'M
der consideration. On the contrary. |
have expressed the opinion in more than
one published interview that ne had
nothing TO do with it, and that it was
che business of the Senate, s0d while |
did, at his request. enter into negotis-
lions with the Attorney General, 1t ls
we'll known TO every Senator on this
floor what my attitude and feelings have
been. aud il is most remarkable, while
the President sent for democrat after
democrat to confer with him about this
measure, that he should undertake un-
der the circumstances to assert that
sent an agent to him to begin negoiia-
lions. The statement is absurd on It's
face.
As though to emphasize the absurdity
of such an action 90 his own part, the
South Carolina Senator at this luncture
halted in his prepared address "This
is Tillman speaking now" he exclaimed,
aud a wave of laughter went over the
floor and galleries as his point was made
clear. "The charge | now make" he
added, ''is that theIPresident is guilty Of
bad faith"
The other point to which | shall refer is
the cavalier way in which Mr.. Moody dis
cusses the idea Of the President not being
bound, While cOntradicting in no instance,
however slight my statement OF what occurred
the Attorney General seems TO think that the
code of honor among gentlemen is not bind
lug upon the Executive aud his Cabinet The
President asked him TO see Mr.. Bailey and
myself We met by appointment made by
senator Chandler and talked over the vital
question. He wrote aud sent TO Mr.. Bailey
his understanding Of our views sad when
We met subsequently We reached absolute
agreement, both "a TO the form aud the sub
stance of a proposed amendment 10 which he
said the President would assent aud hell get
votes for. OF course, the President was not
bound to change, but he was bound under
such circumstances 10 give notice, and this
was not done. Even the Attorney General
himself was not notified. The charge made
aud still make is that the PRECEDENT is guilty
Of bad faith and that the rate bill, which
will be, when enacted into law, much better
and stronger measure than we hal hoped for,
has been emaseulated of Ons Of its most val
liable and essential features by the President S
sctiOn. am ready to leave the whole
question to the thoughtful and honorable H1en
fhe country.
THE ecclesiastical court which tried
DR.. Crspsey, of Rochester, n. Y, has