The Washington times., 1909-01-11
ATOR TILMAN CHARGES THAT HATRED ON THE PART
OF THE PRESIDENT RESPONSIBLE FOR LATTERS CHARGES

dent would convey the impression thai
these filings were merely such as ara
usual i'm purchasing Government land
when he knew, or could have easily
found out from the Attorney General
that all such proposed purchasers cOuh
not thus bring any suit. In the hgH
Of the evidence as presented 10 tht
President himself, the scheme was
swindle 20 obtain 81 I'm cash. as mus
be apparent 10 all. But the PTesiden
acquitted D0rr and convicted me. B1
this time I had found out the legal stat
MS, and decided 4 would not sign con
tract, Tile an application or pay any
money and my only reason for WriTiuf
20 Reeder & Watkins on February ID
was TO nave them understand that Les
mlScOncelVed my attitude in the Senate
ana that ] was not to be considered
as a tool, but acting I'm the interest o.
the public. Remember, / knew uOthinf
of Mr. Lees letter til sent In by the
President At the same time / wal
"i!lnS 10 use them IN locating desip
able QuaTteE sections, IF later ON fOuut
that the action of Congress would maxi
II possible % restore the land 20 the
public domain by the cancellation o.
the patents.
The President lays great stress on tn
statement OF mine made the 18th o
February I'm a letter 20 Reeder & Wat
kns. He italicizes the words 'as We,
as myself as though IL were unlawful
immoral. or improper for a Senator d
buy any land or to act in this chambs
on any question affecting his persona
interest. / fail TO see any sense or rea
son IN this position but must submit
that to the Judgment OF he Senate ami
the country. / had not become part
to any litigation ] was rot interests
except as a private individual wantln
10 purchase, and as a Senator deslrlni
to enable others 10 have the OppOrtun
lty to do so. Of course. tire President !
sure that I have done something YER
discreditable and OutTag eOus- II
hates me, and would destroy me II ~
could.
The President gloats over the fac
that my letter was written Just IOu
DAYS before ne announced in the Senau
that he had not undertaken to Duy dni
land i'm the West as cLUcllng MS con
teution that ] have lied 10 the Senate
The records show that In the interim
the DOrr circular had 5eeu sent 20 me
for on February lg, when j made the eS
p0SuIe OF DOrr, I said In the Senate:
I'm the last day or two L have had mi
attention called to q scheme or SWIM
ding, etc
Rap at President.
1t is easy for those Who are them
selves vulnerable to convict others Of
the most himsy evidence, and the Presi
dent seems TO work on that theory
On reading DORIS circular the who'll
scheme and combination Of swindlers-
Reeder 6, Watkins, in Marshheld, an
Dorr. in Portland. 7 did rot know any
thing about Como and Sshaefer-fiasn
ed on my mind, and remembering Lee
somewhat dubious report as TO thu
character and qualifications Of the nfn
of Reeder & Watkins ] decided AT ono
to see to ii that my name should no
be used TO iuyeigle others into thet
game. Hence my action In the Senate
The President dismisses with WaV7
of the hand any possibility OF my hon
esty by saying.
1T is unnecessary to comment on ne
proposal made IN this letter to use nj
Influence as a Senator to force the Gov
erIment to institute suit Whicl
which would make il easy for hin
/ personally to obtain some Of the land.
Might Make Inquiry.
It might be we'll to inquire whethe
or not the Attorney General has beef
| ordered not 70 obey the law of Con
gress passed last ApTiI-which I VII
call the "TtlIman-B Onaparte' Iaw-or
/ dering suit 20 be instituted for the re-
COveTy of these lands. Ny culpabiliL,
is Of such magnitude in contemplating
Continued on Fifth Page)