Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-01-12
PRESIDENTS LETTER ANSWER
ING sENATE's DEMAND FOR IN
FORMATION SHOWED PITCH
FoRkn4 IN A DOUBLE ROLE.
ACCUSED CLAIMS
PAPERS ARE LOST
DOCUMENTS BEARING ON THE
CASE, HE SAYS, WERE TAKEN
FROM HIS pEsK--lNslsTs HE
CAN MAKE SHOWING.

Washington, d. c.. Jan. 9.-ln
the preparation OF his speech in
reply to the presidents charges,
Senator Tillman has failed to find
a number OF papers bearing upon
the Oregon land case in connec-
ton with which the present contro-
versy arose. The papers were,
he says, enclosed in large en-
velope and left in his private desk
In a committee room at the capi-
toll when he left Washington last
March on account OF his illness.
but they cannot now be found.
The papers. he says, are very inn
portant in the preparation OF his
case and would go far to substan-
tjate his defense. Notwithstand.
Ing the loss Of this data, Tillman
expresses confidence in his ability
to make a satisfactory reply to
the president.
Washington, D. C.. Jan. 9.-United
States Senator Benjamin r. Tilman
of South Carolina is fatty charged
with using his official position to
further his private interests in a
senatorial document that was given
out al the White house late yester-
day afternoon
President Roosevelt himself is the
senator's accuser.
With the text of the senator's own
letters. facsimile envelopes and photo
graphic reproductions, the president
sets out these allegations of fact:
That Senator Tillman opened nego-
tiations for the purchase of lands in
Oregon.
That to acquire the lands at the
i price agreed ons2.50 per acre--it
y was necessary that the United States
government bring action against the
corporation holding title to the land
That Senator Tillruan tbereupon be-
gan an agitation in the senate by res
ollItion and otherwise to force the
government to institute these suits.
Denounced Associate When Exposed.
That when innocent revelation OF
the senator's connection with the
deal was made he used his position
in the senate to denounce as hal
and swindler the man with whom nc
entered into the bargain.
The charges are more ethical thar
criminal. hut they are none the less
crushing to a man of Tillnan's repu
tation for rugged honesty.
It is shown in the correspondence
for instance, that the senator, II
writing to the Oregon land agents
specially pointed out that any actor
he might take as senator would
have no reference to the private in
terest he had in the enterprise.
This. the president insists, has NJ
hearing on the issue. and one OF hi:
most effective points is made on thu
following extract from sillman's cor
respondence touching on this point
Would Make Purchase Easy
q "Of course, if I decided to make thu
ES tender and go into the lawsuit viii
q bear. your proposition in mind" wrote
Tillman. .but ! would have you TN
derstani that nothing do here in Til
senate will be done because of any pei
sonaI purchase of any Of the land.
/ can succeed in causing the govern
ment to institute suit for the recover.
of the land and make it easier 70
others as well as my self, 10 obtail
some of it, shall do it without an
regard to the dealings with your firm,
II still want to get some Of the tin
her land if it is possible. and 1t !
probable that Mr.. Lee or some othe
representative of mine will be in you
country in the next two months. "
will leave the matter Of payment 10
the initiatory steps and subseouen
proceedings in allowance for the pre-:
ny fco r,f ieyhr a 20 wi
he entirely apart from and indepeI
dent of my work in the senate.
Wanted Eight Quarter Sections.
will be glad for you to hold i
reserve eight OF the hest quarter sec
lions of which you have definite in
formation, and ! will in the mAantinl
press the investigation and other wor
here which viii facilitate the fin:
purchase and in effect obviate tn
necessity Of your making any case
the courts at ALL
This interesting sdmiSture Of nei
soral interests with senatorial activit
the president points out. was write
iuit four days after the senator l1a
declared with great deliberations Q
the floor of the senate that he had nt
undertaken to buy any land in tt
west.
Senator Tillman. it is announce
will reply to the president on Monda:
speaking ON a pGint Of personal priv
lege. He said that he had not "
seen the charges OF the president. b,
he had a general idea. Of their natur
Texans Help Prepare Defense.
1T is q serious thing for presider
of the United States to attack I'll
character of a senator, he said grave
~. and ! shall therefore proceed wit
caution. ! Think ] know what ii
nresident is aiming at and he probab
Believes in bis own mind that ] a
guilty. But I have the consciousnei