The Washington herald., 1909-01-09

Inc President Unexpectedly made pub
lie yesterday the letter which on Tuesday
last he addressed 10 Senator Eugene Hale.
chairman Of the Senate Committee on
Appropriations. relating to the employ
ment Of special attorneys, special agents.
inspectors. and other secret investigators
by the several executive departments.
The letter consists almost entirely Of a
highly sensational exposition OF z certain
transaction involving a deal in public
lands in which Senator Benjamin RYAN
TiIiman- Of South Carolina, was engaged
last winter. It is accompanied By sew
eral private letters and telegrams. some
Of them signed BY Mr. Tillmsn. which
we're brought TO light BY an inspector OF
the Post-ofice Department.
Senator TIllman admitted last night
that he wrote the letters and declared
that he would take the opportunity to
defend himself against the charge OF in
proper conduct IN the Senate on Monday.
He viii make a public explanation of
MS side Of the matter tomorrow.
Speech Is Recalled.
IN his letter TO Senator Hale. the Pres
ident recalls that Senator TTIman on
February 1s. 19os. in a speech on the floor
OF the Senate. Genouncea the statements
-eents'ned n circular issued 5ya syn
ticats. for the saIs Of lands IN Oregon.
This circular represented that the lands
had -Seen granted 10 corporations who
had no right saying that the grantees
would be compelled By the government
to relinquish them. and that the lands
would then be for sale at $50 per acre.
The circular added that the timber
lands were worth from 500 10 S5ea0
a quarter section. that among those who
had spoken for . part Of this land was
Senator Tillman- In denouncing the cIr-
cular then. Mr.. Tillman called for an
investigation, and Al his request post
Office inspectors were assigned TO the
case.
The inspectors obtained a lot Of pri-
vate correspondence that passed between
Senator Tillman and persons who were
representing him IN the proposed land
deal. and copies OF the correspondence
are inclOsed by the President in his let
ter 10 Senator Hale.
The correspondence seems to show that
Mr. TiIlman was making arrangements
to buy the land at the same time hs
was urging the Senate 10 pass a resO-
luton requiring the restoration OF the
lands in question TO the public domain.
so that they might be available for pur-
chase
Yet it Is alleged that although Mr..
Tillmsn denied in the Senate or Feb
ruary 70. 1905 that he had undertaken
to buy any Of the land, he had. on Feb
rusry Is (four days hefore) written q let
ter 10 a firm in MarshfeId. Greg. ex-
pressing a desire 10 purchase land and
asking that several sections be reserved
for him. In other communications he
said that members Of his family were
also to be entrymen.
After President Roosevelt sent his let
ter containing the Tillman episode to
Senator Hale on Thursday. Mr. Hale de-
clined to let It be published. but II be-
came known Thursday that Senator TIL
man was involved. The President ap-
parently was eager that the matter
be given 10 the public. and he arranged
to have it published in the newspapers
on next Monday.
He suddenly changed his mind yester-
day and gave out the letter and copies
OF the TfIlman correspondence for pub
Hcstion The general belief IS that the
Presidents decision in favor Of early pub
ncation was caused by the knowledge
that the House would pass yesterday
afternoon its resolution condemning his
reference 10 members Of Congress and
the Secret Service matter in his last
annual message.
II Is presumed that he wished to
anticipate the speech which Senator TIL
man will deliver in the Senate on Mon
day.
VIII Speak Monday.
Senator TflImsn declined to make any
statement last night. except to say that he
had done nothing wrong and that ne viii
make speech in his own defense Mon
day. No idea Is entertained that the
transaction in which Mr. TfIlman Is
charged with having taken part forms an
offense against the Federal or State laws.
The Aldrich resolution. which caused the
Senate Committee on Appropriations TO
can on the President for information In
regard to the employment Of secret