The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-01-11
PRESIDENT'S
LAST MESSAGE
UNCALLED FOR
Senator Hale Would Not Make
1t Public, So the Presi-
dent Printed 1t.
ACTION OF TILLMAN
IN NO WISE CRIMINAL
SENATORS INCLINED TO STAND
BY coLLEAeUE-ExPLANA-
TON WILL BE MADE TODAY.

Washington, Jan. I0.-No subject has
been discussed recently at the capitol
with such fervor as President ROose-
veit's disclosure of Senator Tillmsn's
alleged connection with an Oregon land
deal, but the colleagues of the South
Carolinian are inclined to withhold
judgment until he has an opportunity
to explain. He viii address the senate
tomorrow.
Many expressions of dissatisfaction
are heard because of the manner in
which the president made public the
material gathered by postoffice inspect
ors about Senator Tillman. 1t is point
ed out by senators that the matter sent
to Senator Hale was not in response to
the latter's request to the heads Of the
executive departments for a statement
Of the operations of the secret service,
as the investigation of Senator Till
mans alleged efforts to obtain Oregon
lands was wholly under the postoffice
department and was prosecuted by the
inspectors of that department. One
senate leader expressed the opinion
that as the president had had in his
possession for several months the in
formation gathered about Senator Till
man it was his duty to instigate pros
ecution if he believed the facts war
ranted action.
Hale Would Not Publish II.
1t was rumored today that the presi-
dent had told a friend that an effort
was made by Senators Hale and AID
rich to suppress the facts about Sena-
tor Tillman. Undoubtedly this impress
sion was gained at the White house
by visit tO the president by Mr. Hale.
who suggested that the matter relating
to Mr.. Tillman should be withdrawn.
1t is said that the Maine senator did
not base the request upon the ground
that it was not properly a reply to the
demand for information about the Sec
ret service, but because of the fact that
senator Tillman is in poor health and
the charge was liable to rouse him 10
a pitch of excitement dangerous to his
life.
President Roosevelt declined to with
draw the reference to Mr.. Tillman. and
when Senator Hale would not make it
public he decided to do so himself.
TiIlman j Sick Man.
There is no question that the
condition Of Senator Tillman's
health is serious. When he weSt
a highly nervous state. The trip re-
friends have noticed that his nervous
ness was returning. Some of the SEN
stors who have examined the evidence
say the offense was one of Improperly
and indiscretiOn, but that 10 criminal
ity is involved. 1t was said tb=1 MI
Tillman might have introduced his
resolution calling upon the department:
of justice TO begin proceedings to com
pei the sale of the oregon lands at $3.50
per acre in accordance with the orig
inai land grant and at the same time
apply for some Of the land without
making himself a target for criticism.
Where the Senator Erred.
The feature of the disclosure
most deplOIed by Tillman's col
leagues is the appearance of an effort
to hide the fact that he was an appli-
cant for nine quarter sections under
the terms of the original grant III his
statement last February the senator
said he had not bought any western
land, nor had he undertaken to buy
any
The evidence submitted by the pTesi-
dent shows that prior to this statement
Mr.. Tillman had made application for
nine quarter sections. Defending him
self against the appearance of having
made a misleading statement. Senator
Tniman told his friends today that he
should have said on the floor that he
has not contracted" to buy any land
and that the whole case against him
had been built upon the Interpretation
placed upon the word undertaken"