The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-01-09
TlLLMAN'S LETTERS ARE MISSING FROM
 DESK IN CAPITOL
Does not Charge That They Were Stolen
 But Says They are Gone.
Is Preparing His Reply to Charges Made by the President nt-Will not
 Talk Now.
Especial from United Press ]

Washington, Jan. 9.-Senator Till l man, whose transactions with refer ence to the distribution of certain lands in the west were mentioned by l the President in a letter to Senator documents bearing on the matter hal disappeared from his desk. "Certain letters and telegrams," saii the Senator, which were considered very useful to me in explaining the transaction, I find have disappeared from my desk at the capitol. They were left there last spring by my sec retary, who is a very reliable man. He assures me that he did not remove them. I do not charge that anyone broke into this room or my desk. simply state the fact that the papers were there and that they are now mis- sing"
 "Of course, | know" he remarked Some one who would be glad to get hold of these letters and documents. After this sly dig at President RoOse- Welt Senator Tillman said:
 CT am not afraid of the outcome O1 this matter. The President has throwr his bomb and I am not even jostled Before this thing comes to a head the President will find himself hoisted with his own petard."
 It is, however, plain that the South Carolinian is deeply perturbed. That he realizes the seriousness of the sit- uation is shown in the fact that he did not risk an extemporaneous ex- planation. His colleagues both in the House and Senate are intensely inter ested in what he will have to say. There is not one who does not believe that Tillman will be able to furnish a satisfactory explanation.
 The Senate Appropriations commit tee met today and turned over to MT. Tillman all of the documents in the Presidents message relating to him. The committee will take no action un- til after Tillman has made his reply.
 It was ascertained later that that the subcommittee consists of Senator Gallinger, (N. H.), Hemmenway, Gnd.), !, and Clay, (Ga.)
 On account of Gallinger's absence in New Hampshire and the pressure on his time because of Clay's chairrnan- ship of the District of Columbia com miitee, it is expected that much of ths work will devolve upon Hemmenway. The committee made no attempt today to examine any of the papers.
 Senator Tillman is to-day preparing
 
 ter to Senator Hale charging the South Carolinian with the use of his position for personal interests and with making false statement on the floor of the Senate. This reply will be in the from of a speech next Monday to the Senate on a question of personal priv ilege.
 MT. Tillman said to-day: 'It is a serious natter for the President of the United States to. attempt to hurt the honor of a Senator of the United States and therefore I am going to proceed slowly and carefully so that the whole matter may be handled in as grave manner as it deserves. Of course, I know that I have not done anything unlawful and therefore I have no. fear of the outcome. But I cannot afford to be hasty.''
 The Senator declined for the pres ent to go into details as to his appli- cation for land grants in the west. He did not deny however, the authenticity of the various letters and documents published by the President No one questions the right of Senator Tillman to apply for the lands which, under the original grant, were to be sold to the public. According to the evidence which the President produced he had not only pleaded for several quarter sections but had arranged tentative terms or payment therefOr.
 The President had two purposes in view. in making the Hale letter public to-day, instead of Monday as was orig inally intended. He wanted to "get in ahead of Tillman' and he also felt that publication of the letter and exhi- bition to-day would be a handy way to answer promptly and efficiently the rebuke administered late yesterday by the House. The President regards pfn1 ;,, Iii 1o4& Senator Hale as ample justification for the contentious he has been making the use of the secret ser vice.
 Senator Foraker will leave a clear field for MT. Tillman to answer the President Monday. He gave notice in the Senate to-day that he will post pone his speech on ''The Latest Phase in the Brownsville Affair." until Tues day.