The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1909-01-08
DETECTIVES rRAILEo TlLLMAN
Southern Senator Made Object Of In
Vestigation.

Washington. Jan. S.--By direction
Of President Roosevelt secret service
men Swallowed Senator Tillman OF
South Carolina, on the theory that he
possibly was interested in the Oregon
land grab and the result of that in
vestigation is now before the Senate.
The information collected was furnish
ed in communication from Mr..
Roosevelt sent in response to re-
quest made by Mr.. Hale to the heads
of the executive departments for a
statement of the activities of secret
service operatives Exhaustive re
plies were made by the various de
partments and all of these were for
warded to Senator Hale by the presi-
dent. They have not been made pub.
lie and will not be until after they
have been considered by a sub com
mittee on appropriations, which will
act upon that portion of the presi'
dents annual message relating TO the
secret service and criticising members
ofecongress for their restriction Of its
use.
When it became known that Senator
Tillman was the member named In
the presidents communication, efforts
10 procure information concerning the
character Of the charges were made
but without avail.
Through the fact that several sena.
tors had advanced information of the
character of the report which was to
be sent to the Senate, It was learned
that the Investigation of Tillman fol
lowed an attack which he made in
the Senate nearly year ago upon an
Oregon land company which had used
his name as one of the persons inter
ested in the concern. Previous 10
that attack Senator Tillman had intro
duced a resolution directing the attor
ney general to prosecute suits against
an Oregon railroad corporation which
had received land grants in the late
sixties. Mr.. Tillman had said that the
use of his name was without authority
and as result it is declared several
persons interested in the land grants
became angered. Some Of the inter
ested parties are reported to have
sent to President Roosevelt copies OF
letters alleged to have been written
by Senator Tillman, indicating that he
had an interest in one of the land com
panies or would be benefited through
| the land companies obtaining possess
ion of the grants in question.
After receiving this information II
is said President Roosevelt directed
secret service operative to inyestl
gate the part Mr.. Tillman was alleged
TO have in the land cases. The report
sent to the Senate is understood &c
contain an account of the investiga
ton made by Senator Tillman 1t Ii
! known that the secret service prepar
ed PHOTOGRAPHIC copies of Senator
Tilman's correspondence but whether
these exhibits were sent to Senator
Hale is not known.
Senator Tillman was not aware o.
the fact that his name figured in tho
reports until late in the day. He theT
| took pains to assure himself that The
reports concerning the mention of hin
self were well founded, but he re
fused TO comment upon the facts fur
Their than to say that he would no
make a statement Just now. II II
known, however, that Mr.. Tillman re
CARDS the mention of his name as al
attack upon himself by the President
and has indicated to friends that HI
will not mince matters in his reply
He also has declared to those will
whom he conversed that he would wei
come the opportunity TO express hi
views and explain the situation.
Senator Hale probably will lay thu
entire matter before the committee OF
appropriations at meeting to be hell
next Saturday, and in that event 1t /
probable that Mr. Tillman will b.
heard on Monday next.