New-York tribune., 1909-01-08
PRESIDENT ACCUSES
SENATOR TILLMAN
IMPLICATION IN LAND
FRAUDS CHARGED.
E5ideHcc Gathered By Secret SerJice
Incident Occurring Early Last
Year Recalled.
From tie Tribune Bureau. J


Washington Jan. The President in a COM
munication to Senator Hale as chairman OF tho
Committee on Appropriations. presents most
sensational charges against Benjamin r. Till
man. senior Senator from South Carolina ac-
cOmpanying them with facsimile reproductions
Of correspondence and other evidence which II
substantiated, will prove most damaging TO the
Senator. The case which il is sought TO make
through data gathered by Secret Service agents
OF the government. would involve the Senator
in Western land deals of a fraudulent character
Senator Tilnan was manifestIy Iaboring under
great excitement when seen this afternoon. but
restrained himself. saying. L viii reply 70 the
charges OF the President at the proper time
from my seat in the Senate
Senator Hale now expects to call the ApprO-
priations Committee together on Saturday and
lay before it the communication from the Pres
ident Mr.. Tillman will rise TO a question OF
personal privilege. presumably on Monday. and
Will give his version OF the affair in which the
executive communication duplicates him
Senator Hale has shown the Presidents COM
munication to number of Senator'S all OF
whom pronounce it to be Of a most sensational
character. and some who enjoy the confdencs
of the President insist that Re would never
have submitted the data had he not been pre-
pared 20 substantiate them in the most con-
elusive manner They say further that more
than one member OF Mr. Tillman's family ap-
pears 10 be involved. and they depIOre the fact
that another occurrence should have come 70
light which will have tendency to shatter the
public confidence in the integrity Of the Con-
gress.
1t il recalled that February 49, 1905 SEN
ator Tilman. rising to = question OF personal
privilege, sent to the desk some copies of a
circular OF the St Paul and Pacific Timber
Syndicate. OF Portland. Ore. in which an oppor-
tunity was offered TO it's correspondents to
make $500 per cent profit. and the name Of Sen
ator Tillman, 10 whom the circular referred as
the leader Of the Democratic party in the
United States Senate" and as "a man who usu-
ally sets what he goes after" was used as one
interested in the scheme.
TILLMAN DENOUNCED SCHEME.
The circular was headed How TO Make $4,000
out Of $500" It called attention to certain land
grants in Oregon and TO the activity Of Senator
TiIlman in having the Senate investigate them
1t stated that Senator Tillman takes eleven
quarters" and that the lawsuits TO be Instituted
in order 10 recover these lands we're to be
pressed with great vizor because Senator ~
man behind them Commenting upon this
situation Senator TfIIman at that time said.
AS matter OF fact. I have not bought any
lands anywhere in the West. nor undertaken 70
buy any. I have made some inquiries as one
naturally would in roaming through the West
simply want the people of the country 10 be
put notice that this swindler at Portland has
no warrant whatever for endeayorfng to i1veigls
others into his game"
Senator Tillman said further that he had
asked the POstofice Department. to take cog
nizance Of the circular In the debate which
followed an order 10 print the circular in The
Congressional Record. Senator Fulton said that
he had read the circular and that the scheme
very evidently lis for the company issuing the
circular TO accumulate vast fund OF money by
dupes throughout the country sending #
them"
It is now rumored that the promoters OF this
company sought revenge by disclosing to the
government the evidence which are based
the charges contained IN the Executive docu-
nent. A few Senators declared that they had
examined all the data and were convinced that
the President could make good" The affair so
completely absorbed the attention OF Senators
that the DAYS session lasted only an hour and
twenty minutes
II is regarded as something Of a coincidence
that when that part Of the Presidents messags
referring 10 the Secret Service was under dis
cussiOn on December I6 Mr. Tfllu1an should
have beer the Senator TO indulge IN the most
drastic condemnation OF the course OF the Ex-
ecutive. Mr. TiIman said on that occasion:
III we are accused Of dishonesty. OF shirkins
the appropriation OF money which Is necessary
for the public service because we are afraid
our shortcomings will be found out by this very
same instrumentality. il looks 70 me as though
we shall rest under the accusation OF being a
lot Of rascaIs and scoundreis who belong to the
rsnfteutiarv. unless we assert our manhood anf
selr-respect and say il is not true