Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-08
T|LLMAN IS WAITING
Not Ready to Answer Land
Grabbing Charges.
HAS NOTHING TO CONCEAL
Desires to See the Documents Before
Making Reply.
WANTS FACTS BROUGHT OUT
Expects to Examine Papers in Time
to Make His Answer
on Monday.
HAS NOTHING TO CONCEAL
WANTS FACTS BROUGHT OUT

DDS, Senator Tillman of South Carolina
is preparing to answer the charges that
he has been connected with land grab
bing' in the west which are contained
in the mass of secret service material
sent by the President to Senator Hale of
Maine, acting chairman of the appropri-
atoms committee.
The South Carolinian was willing to dis
cuss the matter this morning.
II know the substance of the charges
against me-" said he to Star reporter.
II know that the President mentions me
by name and seeks to connect me with the
land frauds in the west. But what !
don't know is exactly what the evidence
is that he has sent to the appropriations
committee. Until 1 learn that by care
full perusal of the documents / cannot
make complete and exhaustive reply.
expect to see the documents in question in
time to make reply next Monday.
Il have nothing to conceal and I shall
do all in my power to bring out every pos
sible fact that may throw any light on the
matter.
: while 1 was out in that country a
2 year or two ago 1 heard that certain
law firm had some land which it wanted
; TO sell. Like any other citizen might have
done, had some correspondence with this
firm with reference to the purchase of
s this land. / wrote several letters, and Il
suppose it is these that the President has
succeeded in unearthing. 1. am sure L
don't see what objection any one could
take to such thing rs that.
e Matter Serious One.
The senator thought minute, and a
{ grave expression came over his face. :.
1t Is very serious NATTER he went
on, for the President Of the United
States to attempt to hurt the honor of "a
senator; of the United States, and therefore
j suppose he must have secured some EVIL
dence which in his own mind convicts
me: am going to proceed slowly and
carefully SO that the whole matter may
\ be handled in as grave a manner at 1T
deserves.
or course. 1 know that I have not done
anything that is unlawful. and therefore
have no fear of the outcome, but z
cannot afford to be too hasty.''
Mr.. Tfllman expects that the. committee
on appropriations will have q meeting
tomorrow and after loking over. the ma
terial submitted by the President give
1t out for publication, or, at least let
other senators have a chance to study it
in detail.
The rumor that President Roosevelt in
tends to make the charges against Mr.
Tiliman public Monday, I'm case the SEN
ate committee does not do it Iby, that
time. has also reached the South CARO-
.iinfar. He, therefore. feels certain that
1t Will net be long before he will get the
opportunity he is after
J Ominous Quiet in Senate.
IT Is exceedingly interesting, and also
very significant in the minds of many
senators, that an unusual quiet reigns at
their end OF the Capitol following the
T. charges made by the President against
one of their number. Everybody thinks
this silence is the prelude to a mighty
storm that will break against the Presi-
dent, and be worse than any that has
yet emanated from beneath the white
dome and blown White Houseward.
If 1t becomes perfectly plain, as prac-
fically every senator thinks it will that
there is no foundation whatever for the
charges of ''land-grabbing'' against Mr.
Tillman, then the action of the President
In attacking that senator's public and
private character will be looked upon as
an insult, and even something worse. II
Will be the last straw.
Tillman's Connection With Case.
I. The history of Senator Tillman's con-
g nection with the Oregon land cases. so
far as it is known to the Senate, is very
simple. Last winter the South Carolinian
introduced a resolution, the purpose Of
the government to investigate Land
grabs in that state He had heard of
the conditions out there, he explained,
while on a pleasure trip. The resolution
went TO the committee on the judiciary.
and then to a subcommittee of which
Senator Fulton of Oregon was the chair
\ man.
!, Mr.. Fulton consulted with the Attorney
General and substitute resolution was
drawn by that official. and that is the
one that finally passed the Senate After
extended hearings before the public lands
committee OF the House IL passed there
II is in pursuance Of this resolution that
special assistant of the Attorney Cen
eral. named Townsend, is now preparing
to institute suit against one of the Pa
cific railroad companies to compel il to
comply with the land grant" act in con-
nection with the disposition of certain
lands.
1t was after he hs d introduced the reso-
luton referred to a d on the 18th of Feb
ruary that MI. 2I1lbhan rose in the Senate
10 question of personal privilege and
said that his attention had been called to
a scheme of swindling in which his name
had been used rather unpleasantiy and
without the slightest warrant. The SEN
ator held in his hand IL circular headed
How to Make 5000 OFT of $500" This
circular called attention to certain land
grants in Oregon and 20 the activity of
vestigate them 1t sits ted that Senator
Tillman takes eleven quarters" and that
the lawsuits to be Instituted in order to
recover these lands, were promised to be
pressed with greatyvigor, because Senator
Tilfnan was beltind them. Commenting
upon this situation Senator Tillman at
that time said:
Bought No Western Lands.
las O matter of fact, l have not bought
any lands anywhere in the west nor I'M
dertak On To buy any. l have made some
inquiries, as one naturally would in roam
ing through the west / simply want the
people of the country to be put on notice
that this swindler at Portland has no war
rant whatever for endeavoring TO in
veigle others into his game"
Senator Tilman said further that he
had asked the Post Office Department to
" take cognizance OF the circular. In the
debate which followed an order to print
the circular in the Congressional Record
company issuing the circular was 1.-The
st. Paul and Pacific Timber Syndicate,
q J2J Chamber OF Commerce building. Port
land. Ore" Senator Fulton said that he
had read the circular and that the scheme
very evidently lis for the company issu-
ing the circular to accumulate vast fund
OF money by dupes throughout the coun-
try sending II to them"
Senators say that Mr.. Tillman's activity
brought down upon him the ire of GER