The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1909-01-13
DONE FOR SPITE
Rooseyelt Links Senator ~TIIlman
With Land Grab Deal.
BATTLE HAS BEGUN

=
President Gives Out Result Of Secre
Investigation = Tilllnan Admit
Having Tried to Obtain Land i
the West-Wanted Sections 70
Himself, Family and Secretary.
Washington, D. c.. Jan. S.-Presi
dent Roosevelt tonight made publ
the details of an Investigation b,
postofice inspectors and secret se-
vice agents OF Senator Ti'iman's con
nection with an alleged land grab
IN Oregan. AS he presents the eyl
dence TO Senator Hale, in respons,
to the latter's request to the. head:
OF the various executive departments
for a statement Of the operations Of
the secret service, the President un'
dertakeS to snow:
That Mr.. Tiliman used his indu'
ence as a Senator in an effort tc
force the Government to compel
railroad corporation to rellnqulsh
its control Of land grants from tns
United States in order that he and
his family and his secretary, j. B.
knight, might profit through the
purchase Of some Of the land;
That the Senator used his Gov
ernment franking privilege in nu-
merous instances for the conduct OF
private business.
Comparatively few Senators were
favored with the opportunity D
reading the Presidents report to
Senator Hale, but those who did read
the report took serious view or IT,
although most Of the Senators re-
fused to believe that Mr.. T!llman mad
ever done anything in violation Oh
his oath as Senator.
Senator Tillman does not perml-
the fact that the President was glVlns
out the charges against him TO alter
his determination TO make no s1ate-
ment until Monday. He said tnat
he could not make his reply SO com
olete as ne would desire for TO-
morrow's papers, and that he woul2
therefore withhold whatever remarks
he might have to make until MONDAY
when he would make q statement 70
the Senate. No effort was mace oy
him to conceal the fact that when ne
had learned the facts concerning tne
railroad grant he had made an ell
fort to obtain portions of the lana
in the names OF himself and members
OF his family, but declared that as.
at most, he could have gotten pos
session of only a few hundred acres
his efforts were, after all, in behal'
OF the public and not especially II
his own interest"
Will Reply Monday.
Immediately after the conclusion
of the chaplain's prayer Monday Mf
Tilluan will ask the recognition Oh
the Chair on a question Of personal
privilege. Departing from his Gus
tom OF extemperaneous speaking ne
will read his statement, thus 1nsur-
ing more careful adherence to what
he desires to say than he would be
able to give in an ofhand speech.
The communication to Senator.
Hale is nearly 5000 words long, ana
in addition there are appended nu-
merous exhibits including copies
of letters written by Senator Till
man and his agent, William E. Lee.
showing that they did make an Ell
fort to secure several quarter Sec
tions of the oregan land, and tue
renorts Of the postohce inspectors
who investigated the transactions OF
the land agents. 1t was throug1
this investigation that the allege1
interest OF Senator Tillman was
brought to light, and fate1uily' !.
annears. that it was at his lnsti-
cation that the inquiry was begun.
The Presidents communication 20
Senator Hale opens with the state
menc that he had secured for the
Senator information touching tn
emolovment of special attorneys.
snec;al agents. inspectors. ETC., and
tho rerort conveying this informea
ton he was transmitting. Then hS
saws that it is not only the right
hnt the duty Of Congress TO investi-
gate the workings of the secret serV-
ice or detective agents by which
alone the Government can effectual!S
safeguard itself against wrong 40
ing. punish crime. and bring TO JUS,
tice Grimm nails.
The President continues:
would like to state. here taa'
worry Frequently accusations have
heen maSe TO me privately by mem
hers of the two houses to the e.
feet that the secret service has been
nsed as police cf morals, or &c
shadow Senator's, Congressman ano
other public officials. Hitherto ehs
effort 20 discover the basis for sucr
allegations has always been frul%
loss ! should be greatly obliged i
anv information could be furnished
me tending to show any lnstanc'
where this has been done N time
past -.
The President enters upon a ols
cussion of operations Of the specla
agents and inspectors, SAYING ina
in the investigation of specific frauo
the operators some times com
across wholly unexpected phases Q
misconduct. Often. says the Pres'
dent, the abuse Of the franklng PRIV
ilege is unknown 10 the Congress
men themselves.
-la TiIlran Matter.