Omaha daily bee., 1909-01-09

impression that the agents in the question
were being used for purposes not within
the line of their lawful duty.
ION the 18th of February, 1908 (see ex-
hibit AZ, Senator Tillman called the atten-
ton Of the enate to a circular of a syndi-
cate firm for the sale of lands in Oregon,
particularly in Coos and Douglas counties,
which had been granted to corporations by
the government, the circular stating that
the company in possession OF the lands was
bound to sell them for $3.50 an acre or upon
their refusal would be prosecuted by the
government, and that among those who
have spoken for a part of this land is SEN
ator T1llman of South Carolina, the leader
of the democratic party in the senate, a
man who usually gets what he goes after.
Senator TiIlman denied the statements OF
this circular and expressed a wish for an
investigation. and upon his request the
Postofflce department. through it's inspec-
tors. made such an investigation. He stated
In reference to this circular:
have not bought any land anywhere in
the west, nor undertaken to buy any. /
have made some inquiries, as one naturally
would, in roaming through the west. l
simply want the people OF the country to
put on notice that this swindler at Port
land has no warrant whatever for endeav-
oring to inveigle others into his game.
TiIIman Wants Nine Quarters.
II enclose the circular referred TO as
exhibit b; the report of the postoffice
INSPECTORS, under date Of July 81 1908,
as exhibit c. This is a confidential re-
port OF a type usually not furnished, but
in this case the matter is so serious that
l feel / should put IT, before you. 1 en-
close you also, as exhibits D1, Do, D3,
d. and DIS, Photographic facsimiles of
letters and envelopes and kilograms from
Senator Tillman and his agent, William
E.. Lee. 1t appears that on October 10,
1907, Senator Tillman wrote a letter Eek
hibit DID TO Messrs. Reeder and Wat
kins of Marshfield, Ore, who were at
tcrnCys representing people who were
applicants for the purchase of certain
wagon road land grant land; Dorr was a
lani agent. making his filings through
Reeder and Watkins. Senator Tillman's
letter runs, in part. as follows:
Il wired you from Wausau, Wis, as
follows. and wrote to confirm 1t:
you about land. / want nine quarters re-
served Will forward signed applications
, and money at once. Members of my fam
fly are entrymen. Letter follows,
IT write now to say I wired Mr.. Lee.
who resides at Moscow, Ida, to go at
onca TO Marshfield and see you about the
members of my family, who are Of age
nAA bAN y ~ - y - -
Knight, whom / desire TO let into the
deal, and of course he wants a quarter
TO- himself"
Lee Calls IL Good Gamble.
The letter continued, stating in de
tail what was to be done In order to en-.
able the senator to get the land. Tit
William T.. Lee, to whom Senator TillmaT
thus referred as his agent. wrote 70
Reeder and Watkins. under date of De
cember I, a letter. Photographic copy OF
which Is herewith submitted. marked
exhibit DA.' In this letter Mr.. Lee eN-
/ plains that he had written Senator Till
maa fully as TO the status of the lanc
matter, advising him that Il was "a gooC
r gamble but that the senator was lee
, turing. so that he did not get Mr.. Lee
Z letter Until a week and a half previously
The letter continues:
In case Senator Tillman goes on thi,
deal will some good land In the RICH
quarters we want / am satisfied that HI
can be OF great help In getting natter