The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1909-01-13
THE TILLMAN SCANDAL.


should have been heartily glad had
Senator B. II. Tillman completely
cleared his skirts and freed himself
of the charges made by President
Roosevelt in his report on the secret
service to the Senate. Much as we
Tillman for the sake Of our repre-
scntation in the Council of the Ma
ton, we would that his reputation
might be without tarnish and his
name remain above reproach But
such can scarcely be. and even his
StauncheSt friends and lifelong adj
mirers must feel n keen disappoint-
mcnt at his weak defense before the
Senate on Monday.
\ complete review Of the case is
here impossible; but suffice it to say
that the President Of the United
States has brought charges against
South Carolina's senior Senator to
the effect that the latter lied to the
Senate and. as n senator has used
his influence for private gain in the
matter of the Oregon land grab,
submitting evidence in the form of
Photographic exhibits OF Senator
Tillman's letters and kilograms bear
ing on the deal, together with his
utterancCS in the Senate and his ci-
forts to secure Legislation which
would make possible his desired pur-
charged with amy criminal act, which
the Courts might handle-mcrely an
abuse Of his high and honorable Of
flee, together with uttering nefari-
Gus falschood, in disclaiming any cf-
fort to buy these lands in Oregon.
From careful reading of the evil
dencc submitted by the President. and
Il studied peruSal of Tillman'S reply,
the former and weakness Of the latter.
Tillman did denounce Dorr, the land
agent, as a liar and swindler, knowing
full we'll that the young man had not
lied in advertising the fact that he.
Tillman, had under taken" to pur-
chase some of the lands. Tillman
stated to the Senate that the use Of
his name was fraud, and that he
had mot undertaken to purchase" any
ot the lands in question. His own
kilograms and letters contradict that
utterance. AS to his efforts to buy
these tracts, there was nothing wrong
or criminal about il. But why did
Tillman wish to conceal his private
deals? Isn't a senator permitted TO
invest money lcgitimateiy for the pur-
pose Of increasing his wealth? No
one denies it. But on the heels of
his undertaking. the willy Senator
tries TO secure this legislation which
will make a property secured for
about $4,000, worth about $4,000. lie
used his Office for personal gain. and
by falSchOOd to the Senate. he ruined
the business reputation of land
agent causing the government to is
sue fraud order against Dorr, with
holding his mail.
As stated. while Senator Tilman
IlS not Dtcn convicted OF any ,crlmp.
he nevertheless has lost in large de
gree the msullicd reputation which
has heretofore hcen his throughout
the county He has handled the
truth recklcssly and abused the trust
repoScd in him. No matter what the
nature Of his accuscr, nor how prey
alcnt the practices OF this abuse
these do not bear upon the case TEut
rock-ribbed integrity in National af-
fairs has been broken that unQues-
toned honesty has been sulicd Sen
ator Tillman will henccforth appear
in different light to the people of
the United States; to the minds of
many in South Carolina he will re-
main the samc-wholly good or
wholly bad
"ALNOST IRREPARABLE."