The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-01-11
Hot Times Expected in
 Senate Today.
EXPLAIN OREGON LAND DEAL
Democratic Colleagues Anxious Over South Caroliaian's Health.
sasy Expressions sf Dissatisfaction Are Heard Because of Roosevelt's
 Manner fn Making Public
 Evidence Against Till-

Washington. Jan., 1o-No subject has been gossiped about recently at the capital with such fervor as President Roosevelt's disclosure of Senator Till, mans alleged connection with an Oregon land deal, but the colleagues of the South Carolinan are inclined to withhold Judgment until he has had an opportunity to explain.
 ? It is likely that when the doors of the Senate open tomorrow, there will be crowd awaiting admittance suf- ficient to fill the galleries many times. The fact that the Senator will read his explanation. probably will rob 1t of some of the sharp and homely epigrams usual to his speeches. and the effort therefore may be somewhat of a disappointment to his audience.
 Many expressions -of dissatisfaction are heard because of the manner in which the President made public the material gathered by post office in- spectors about Senator TilIman. It is pointed out by Senators that the mat ter sent to Senator Hale was not In response to the later's request to tke heads of the executive departments for a statement of the operations of the secret service, as the Investigation Of Senator Tillman's alleged effort to obtain Oregon lands was wholly under the post office department and was prosecuted by the inspectors of that department.
 One Senate leader was heard to ex- press the opinion that as the Prest- dent has had in his possession for several months the information gather ed about Senator TilIman. it was his duty to instigate prosecution If hr believed the facts warranted action ip the courts.
 1t was srnnofed at the capitol to- day that the President hrd told a friend, who repeated the remark. that an effort was made by Senators Hale and Aldrich to suppress the facts about Senator Tiiiman. Undoubtedly this im- .pression was gained at the Waite House by visit to the President by MT. Hale, who suggested that the mat ter relating to MT. Tillman should be withdrawn. It is said that the Maine Senator did not base the request upon the ground that 1t was not properly a reply to the demand for Information about the secret service. but because of the fact that Senator TiIlman is in poor health and the charge was liable to rouse him to a pitch of ex- citement dangerous to his life,
 President Roosevelt declinedA to withdraw the reference to Mir Tillman ands when Senator Hale would not make it public. he decided to do so himself.
 There is no question that the condl. tion of Senator Tillman's health is serious. When he went to Europe last March he was in a highly nervous state. The trip resulted in a marked improvement. but for some time his friends have noticed that his nervous. ness was returning. Close friends on the Democratic side of the Senate , Chamber. admit their anxiety over the effect the Presidents charges may have upon MT. Tillman.
 Some of the Senators who have ex- amined all the evidence produced by the President and the post office fn- spectors. say that if the facts are as reported, the offense was one of inl- propriety and indiscretion, but that no crimina1ity Is involved. It was said that MT. Tillman might have intro duced his resolution calling upon the department of justice to begin pro- ceedings to compel the sale of the Oregon land at 32.50 an acre, in ac- cordance with the original grant. and at the same time apply for some of the land without making himself the target for severe criticism. -
 The feature of the disclosure most deplored by the colleagues of Senator Tillman is the appearance of an effort to hide the fact that he was an applt- cant for nine quarter sections under the terms of the original grant. In his statement in February last. the Sena- tor said that ha had not bought any wester Inland. nor had undertaken" to buy any.
 The evidence submitted by the Pres- dent shows that prior to this state ment, MT. Tillman had made applica- tien for nine quarter sections. De- tending himself against the appear ance of having made a misleading statement. Senator -Tillman told his friends today that he should have said on the floor that he had not con tracted" to buy any land and that the whole case against him had been built upon the interpretation placed upon the word undertaken"
 CritIcizes Roosevelt.