The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-01-09

BY the government, and that among
those who have spoken for a part of
this land is Senator Tillman of South
Carolina, the leader of the Democratic
party in the senate. a man who usually
gets what he goes after
Senator Tillman denied the state
ments of this circular and expressed a
wish for an investigation and, upon his
request, the postoffice department
through its inspectors. made such an
investigation. He stated IN reference
to this circular:
What Tiliman Said.
u have not bought any land any
where in the west, nor undertaken TO
buy any. 1 have made some inquiries.
as one naturally would in roaming
| through the west. 1 IMPLY want the
people of tile country TO be put on no.
tice that this swiudier at Portland has
no warrant whatever for endeavoring
to inveigie others into his game
81 enclose the circular referred to. as
exhibit Il; the report of the postoffice
inspectors under date of JULY q, 1908,
as exhibit {. This Is a confidential re-
port of a type usually not furnished,
but in this case the matter is so serious
that l feel that / should put it before
you. I enclose you also. as exhibits D1,
Do, Dc, D4 and Dc. Photographic fac
SMILES Of letters and envelopes and
kilograms from Senator Tillman and
his agent, William r. Lee. It appears
that on Oct. 10, 1907. Senator Tillman
wrote a letter exhibit D3) TO Messrs.
Reedor & Watkins of Marshfield,
Ore, who were attorneys representing
people who were applicants, for the
purpose of obtaining certain wagon
road land grant land; Dorr was a land
az oErs4- Il Sc
dor & Watkins. Ss-ator Tillman's
letter runs, in part. as follows:
Letter From TiIIman.
I wired you from wausau Wis,
as follows and write to confirm il.
William 4. Lee, my agent, viii see
YOU about the land. / want nine quar-
tiers reserved. VIII forward signed ap-
plications and money at once. Mem
bers of my family are entrymen. Let
ter follows.
(Signed b. r T.
- write now to say 1 wired MIR.
Lee, VINO resides at Moscow. Ida, to go
at once to Marshfield and see YOU
/ about the land TO locate quarters for
the seven members OF my family who
are of age, and one for my private sec
rotary, ]. B. Knight, whom desire to
let into the deal and. of course. he
wants a quarter for himself
The letter continued, stating in de-
tail what was TO be done in order TO
enable the senator to get the land. The
| Mr.. Lee to whom Senator Tillman thus
referred as his agent, wrote to Reedor
and Watkins under date of Dec. Z,
| letter, Photographic c. of which is
! herewith submitted ked exhibit
d.
Action of Senator's Agent.
In this letter Mr.. Lee explains that
he had written Senator Tillman fully
as 20 the status Of the land matter. adj
wishing him that it was "A good gam
ble,' but that the senator was lecturing,
so that he did not get Lees letter until
a week and half previously. The let
| ter continues:
g In case Senator Tillman goes in on
| this deal with some good land in the
eight quarters we want. I am satisfied
that he can be Of great help in getting
matters started from Washington and
cause the government to get busy and
do something along the line you desire.
/ He VIII set up such a howl that il will
| be impossible TO do otherwise. This
1 viii be very important for your whole
| scheme to have a man of his influence
! here to aid you at this end of the line.
| By all means save a lot Of good land
!
value than anyone Of the others in this
matter
TilIman's Resolution.
on the 3lst Of January, 1905. Sen
atOr Tillman introduced IN the senate
the following resolution:
=" Whereas. at divers times. various
/ railroads and other corporations have
received large grants of public lands
| OF the United States. under and by vir-
tue of acts of the congress. containing
conditions 10 the effect that such lands
should be sold TO actual settlers only,
or III quantities not exceeding for anv
one purchaser a limit fixed by the act
relating thereto. or at a price per acre
not greater than an amount mentioned
IN the act authorizing such grant. to
the end that such lands might prompt
| ~ become the homes OF the citizens of
the United states; and.
Whereas, 1t is currently reported
and widely believed that the depart
ment of justice has information to the
effect that certain Of the corporations
aforesaid, or their alleged successors I'm
title, having obtained colorado title
TO tracts of land within a state or
states of the Pacific slope by virtue of
the grants above mentioned, and still
holding considerable portions thereof.
violated or evsded the equitable and
I sanitary EOHQtltUHS d. dipIeEdiL
/ posed by tine congress upon such
grants for the public good; yet the sem
ate is not advised that any action has
been taken by the department of JUS
/ tice 70 enforce the said conditions or
/ restore the said lands TO the public do
main; now. therefore.
President Asked for Information.
Resolved. etc. That the president
be requested. if not incompatible with
the public interest. to inform the sem
nate what information. il any. has been
received, and what action. if any, has
been taken by the department of JUS
tice with respect to the matters and
things in TIE preamble to the resolU-
ton set forth and pressed vigorously
for immediate action. The resolution
/ being laid over. Senator Tillman iu-
troduced the same day a further ana
Joint resolution containing the same re-
citals. but concluding as follows:
q" Resolved, etc, That the attorney
general be and is hereby directed. au-
thorized and empowered. to take such
! proceedings or institute such suit or