The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1909-02-03
bRYAN'S VIEWS
About the Charges of Roosevelt
Against Senator Tll!maH.
THE GNAT AND lAhaE!

THE GNAT AND lAMIEl
The Great Conmoner Says the Sena-
tor Has Not Sinned At al, and
That RooseTelt Tried to Ruin Him
Because He Has Dared to Criti-
else Some Of His Acts.
Washington, Jan. 25.-The repu-
tation Of William J. Bryan for hon
est fidelity to convictions prevents
anyone, even Of his bitterest politi-
cal foes, from believing for q mo-
ment that he would defend dis
honest public man OF an set which
Is ininical. to the public welfare.
The following comment IN the Com
moner, Mr.. Bryan's paper, concern
ing the recent collision between
Senator Tillman and the president
are Of more than ordinary interest.
The Conmoner says:
The presidents attack on Senator
TillmaR forcibly recalls the graphic
language employed by the Nazarene.
recorded in Matthew 1924: Eye
blind guides which strain st gnat
and swallow camel" this little
verse is we0ged in between two YER
ses, both Of which begin, 'Woe unto
you scribes and Pharlsees, hypocri-
tes.'' OF what IS Senator Tillman
guilty? The president charges that
Mr.. Tillman denied that he had
undertaken" to purchase any land
connected with the tract which he
was endeavoring to have restored to
the public.
The correspondence shows that
Nj. Tillman had expressed desire
to have some land reserved for him
self and members Of his family. Mr..
Tillman declares and there is 10th
Ing to dispute it, that while he had
contemplated the purchase OF land,
he had not completed the transaction
and that he finally. decided not to do
so. It might have been better if,
instead OF using the word under
taken" ne had gone into detail and
told the senators what correspon-
deuce he had had.
But in view OF the fact that the
purchase Of the land, and even If
It had been made, would not have
been violation Of the law, and con-
sidering the further fact that moth
ing Mr.. Tillman could have said
would have affected the subject un-
der discussion, it is not fair 70 con-
denn him. He declared in his state-
nent before the senate that he had
told the attorney general that he
had considered the purchase Of some
Of the land The attorney general
does not remember the conversation
exactly as Senator Tillman does, but
even the attorney generals state
msnt, as it stands, is sufficient to
corroborate the testimony OF Senator
Tillman.
We may reach the time when
public sentiment viii condemn par
ticipation By any legislator in the de-
Gliding Of any matter in which he has
the slightest pecuniary interest, but
that is not the law today, neither IS
it public opinion A large number
of the senators and members OF COZ
g-ess are interested in national
banks as stockholders, directors or
officials and yet no question is raised
about their speaking and voting up
on measures affecting the national
bank.
Senator Platt, Of New York, is
interested in express companies, ano
vet he takes an active part in the
consideration and decision Of cues
tions affecting postal rate which
come into competition with express
rates. Many Of the senators and
members are interested in raj! way
companies, and yet they take an ac-
tive part in the consideration of rate
LEGISLATION and railroad regulation.
MANY of the senators and members
are interested IN manufacturing en-
terorises, and yet they speak and
vote upon the tariff laws which d.
rectly affect their business.
Senators and members are inter
ested in corporations known as
trusts, and yet they take part If the
consideration Of measures affecting
the trusts. Judges often hold STOCK
in railroads which have cases before
them. Why this singing out OF
Senator Tillman for anathena? II
no one could cast g stone unless be
hineslf was free from sin, Senator
Ttllnan would have few accusers
in either body.
Senator T:llnap was endeavori1e
TO recover for the public a large
tract OF territory winch q railroad
company was, in his opinion, unlaW'
fr,lv holding. It would have beer
better, as il now appears, If he hac
n+ve- thought Of purchasing, for th'
presidents criticism will 80 fsrthe'
than Senator Iillnan's defense cal
reach. and the senator Will be COZ
eemned by many who viii foreve
remain ignorant Of facts. But Is IN
senator's usefulness ended Decaus
Of this? He Immediately caiiec al
tention Of the misuse OF his name
this connection and protested agalas
the attempt Of spectators to use MI
to practice fraud upon the ppoa
Measured by the rules that al
applied to other senator's and sa men
hers of congress, he has not slnne
all; measured by the most eSac