The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-01-12

of Senator Tillman to Oregon attor-
neys is quoted as follows:
II wired you from Wausau, Wis,
as follows, and write to confirm it:
William E. Lee, my agent, Will
see you about land. I want nine
quarters reserved. Will forward
signed applications and money at
once. Members of my family are en-
trymen. Letter follows.
(Signed) "'B. R. T.
II write now t6say I wired Mr..
Lee, who resides at Moscow, Idaho, to
go ait once to Marshfield and see you
about the land, to locate quarters for
the several members of my family
who are Of age and one for my pri-
vate secretary, J. B. Knight, whom I
desire to let into the deal, and Of
course he wants quarter fer HIM
self.''
Copies of Correspondence.
"The letter eontinued,'' writes the
president, "sbating in detail what
was to be done in order to enable the
senator to get the land. The Will
liam E. Lee to whom Senator Till
man thus referred as his agent wrote
to Reeder and Watkins, under date
of December 7, a letter, Photographic
copy Of which is herewith submitted,
marked Exhibit D. In this letter Mr..
Lee explains that he had writer Sen
ator Tillman fully as ITO the status
Of the land matter, advising him that
it was "a good gamble bpt that the
senator was lecturing, 50 that he did
not get Mr.. Lees letter until a week
and a half previously. The letter
continues:
+ "'In case Senator Tillman gets in
on this deal with good land in the
right quarters we want, am salts
fled he can be Of great help in get
ting matters started from Washing
ton and cause the government to get
busy and do something along the line
YOU desire. He will set up such a
howl THAT it Will be impossible TO do
otherwise. This Will be very import
ant for your while scheme 10 have
"a man of his influence here to aid
YOU at this end of the line. By all
means save lot of good land for us,
as We intend to be of more value than
any one of the Others in this mat
ter.'''
Then Is quoted Senator Tillman's s
resolution providing for the insttu-
tion of the land suits, after which the
president quotes from the senator s
letter of February IS to Messrs. Reed
er and Watkins. Says the president: ::
Personal Interest Disclaimed.
''He STATES that what he had done
in stirring up the question of the Ore
gon land grants to railroads has been
done entirely apart from any person
al interest he has, in the matter and
adds 'although I never would have
had any attention called to it but for
the investigation as set on foot IN
connection with the proposed pur-
chase by. me Of some Of the timber
lands in question. Of course, if l de-
eide to make the tender and 60 into
the law suit I will bear your PROPOSE
tion in mind, but I would have you
understood that nothing [ do here IN
the senate Will be done because OF
any personal purchase of any Of the
land. If I can succeed in causing the
government to institute suit for the
recovery of the land and make It cas-
ier for others as well as myself (the
italics ara mine) to obtain some OF IT.,
[ shall do it without regard to the
dealings with your firm. [ shall
want to get some of the timber. land,
If it is possible, and as it is prob
able that Mr.. Lee or/some other re-
preventative of mine will be in your
country in the next two months we
will leave the matter of payment for
the initiary steps and subsequent
proceedings in abeya1fce for the pres
ent. Any contract we might make
will be entirely apart from, and in
dependent of, my work here in the
senate. I Will be glad for you to
hold in reserve eight Of the best quar-
ter sections of which you have def
mite information and Will IN the
meantime press the investigation and
other work here which will facih-
tate the final purchase. and In effect
obviate the necessity Of your making
any case in the courts at aH'
F'This leater, purely pertaining to