Omaha daily bee., 1909-01-12
TILLMAB SCORES ROOSEVELT
Makes VitriOlio Speech in Senate in
Reply to Charges.
PASSES ANAN1As COMPLIMENT
Declares President Misauotes Inspec-
tore Report and is Animated by
Personal Hatred - COnsid-
cred Land Purchase.

plause from the galleries when he entered
the senate chamber today to reply to Presi-
dent Roosevelt's remarks in respect to his
connection with Oregon timber lands, SEN
ator Tillman read his prepared remarks
with little attempt at oratorical effect. He
was accorded careful attention by senators
on both sides of the chamber, the public
and private galleries being taxed to their
full capacity by visitors who occupied all
the seats and standing room, while with
out the entrances long lines of men and
women unable to gain admission stood for
nearly three hours vainly hoping to enter
the galleries.
In addition to his speech, which had been
printed in advance, Mr.. Tillman had pre-
pared other remarks which he read.
r. ut has been expected and desired" he
said, that having made my own defense
1 should turn my batteries on my assailant
1 do not feel that my strength is sufficient
for the task, for my physicians have warned
me against e~xerting myself. One of the
best sentiments I'm English literature is this
from Tennison:
" 'soiling anywhere will never make ones
self clean
Feels U~nscathed.
"The president lives in a glass house,
with even a glass floor in It, and should
remember the old adage. He has exerted
all the power OF the government to hurt
me, but 1 feel that 1 stand unscathed, be-
cause If all other arguments fail to con-
vince men the character. Of rectitude, truth
fulness and honesty which I have builded
In sixty-one years Of my life would at least
be my bulwark. Men who have always
been clean and honorable do not suddenly
become liars and hypocrites at 81 without
any necessity.
Later on in this session It is my purpose
to devote some time to bring Theodore
Roosevelt face to face with his true self
and let the people of the United States see
what character of man they have been so
bowed down to. For the present I content
myself with applying to him this quotation
from Spencer's Fairy Queen
He ranges throughout the whol world
neither is there any that can restrain him.
OF late he has grown especially presump-
tuous and pestilent, barking at and biting
all alike whether they be bEameworthy or
innocent. None are free from his attacks.
He spares neither the learned wit nor the
gentle poet, but rends and tears without
regard OF person, reason or time"
When Mr.. Tillman concluded his remarks
there was no more applause, the vice presi-
NN'AN h"N AAh6 oNllllOiiloiltu lIe occupants OIL
the galleries against making such demon
STATIONS. Mr.. Tillman was congratulated
by a number of senators.
p The senate then took a recess of ten min
ntes in order that the visitors might leave
the gallery without disturbing the proceed
ings, and on being called to order transacted
its routine business.
Tillman Begins ~Invective.
saIn mn rnth1f, u-,~lr IAuos - ia G-A
Tillman, II have not hesitated to criticlse
and comment on the. official actions and
u~tterances of President Roosevelt, and 1
have doubtless sive1s him good cause to
seek revenge 1 have, at various times, ar
raigned him in the senate for tyrannical
invasion Of the rights of congress, for
usurpation of authority not given him by
the constitution, for dlsobedience of the
law and the neglect of duty and particu-
larly In the case of Mrs. Morris, for brutal
and cruel conduct toward a helpless
woman. l was not aware that these darts
Of mine had quivered in the executive hide
and 'stung him So, but the eagerness and
intensity with which he has presented his
case against nv. his making a precedent,
when none has existed before, his taking
from the committee to which he has for
warded them the papers and giving them
to the press before the committee had con-
sidered them indicates that Theodore
Roosevelt enjoys to the limit the feeling
of getting even with Ben Tillman and lays
on the big stick with the keenest relish,
doubtless believing that 'pitchfork' has
gone out Of business"
Question of Privilege.
In addressing the senate, Mr.. Tillman
arose to a question of personal privileges,
declaring thai for the first time in the
history of this government, so far as he
had been able to learn. a member of the
senate had been brought to the bar of
public opinion, before the senate itself to
be judged under Indictment by no less a
person than the president of the United
States. The manner of doing it, he said, and
the aninNus and zeal displayed by the chief
executive were worth of consideration
Mr.. Tillman called attention to the publ
cation of the charges by the president be-
fore they had been considered by the com
mittee OF the senate to which they were
referred and declared hat in so doing the
president had treated the senate with
that contempt which has been his won't
He declared that the president was ar
adept at advertising and had used the
press with more skill than any man in
American politics.
Another probable reason for his grea.
haste said the senator, was that he sough
to distract attention from the action o.
the house OF representatives on Friday il
laying part of his message on the table
by the sensational accusation against {
man who has had long service in thu
senate.
Two Charges In Message.
IAN examination of the presidents lette
to Mr.. Hale, which might just as well hav,
been a special message of the type will
which we are so familiar, will show tina
the presidents charges boiled down amour
to two in number.
First he promotes me to membership
in the Ananias club and charges in effec
that 1 nave deliberately lied to the senate
Second he charges that l have exerte,
my official influence and work as
senator for my personal benefit alone t.
secure the passage of a resolution and L
press the Department OF Justice to brinl
suit against the corporation which holds 81
much of the public domain in the west
and will not sell II to settlers under tn,
terms of their grants from the government
He has prepared his indictment will