The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-01-13
TILIIMAN's DEFENSE.
Continued from page /.

misconceived my attitude in the sem
ate, and that I was not to be consid-
cred as a tool, but acting in the in
terest OF the public. Remember, I,
knew nothing Of Mr.. Lees letter till
sent in by the president. At the same
time I was willing to use them in To-
eating desirable quarter sections, IL
later on I found that the action of
congress would make it possible to
restore the land to the public domain
by the cancellation of the patents.
The president lays great stress on
the statement of mine made the 18th
OF February In letter to Reeder &
Watkins. He italicizes the words
"as we'll as myself" as though it
were unlawful, immoral, or improper
for senator to buy any land or to
act In this chamber on any question
affecting his personal interest. I fail
to see any sense or reason in this
position, but ! must submit that to
the Judgment of the senate and the
country. / had not become a party to
any litigation; was not interested
except as a private individual wanting
to purchase. and as senator desir-
ing to enable others to have the op-
portunity to do so. or course, the
president Is sure that have done
something very discreditable and out
'rageous. He hates me. and would de-
stroy me II he could.
The president gloats over the fact
that my letter was written 'just four
days before he announced in the SEN
ate that he had not undertaken to buy
any lan6 in the West" as cliching his
contention that I have lied to the SEN
ate. The records show that in the in
terim the Dorr circular had been sent
to me, for on February 10, when ]
made the exposure of Dorr, I said in
the senate:
In the last day or two have had
my attention called to a scheme Of
swindling. etc.
1t Is easy for those who are them
selves vulnerable to convict others on
the most fiinsy evidence, and :ae
president seems to work on that
theory.
On reading DORIS circular, the
whole scheme and combination Of
swindler-Reeder & Watkins. in
Marshfield, and Dorr. in Portland; I
did not know anything about Conro
and Schaefer-fiashed on my mind;
and remembering Lees somewhat du-
bious report as to the character and
qualifications OF the Arm of Reeder &
Watkins. decided at once to see to It
that my name should not be used to
inveigle others into their game. Hence
my action In the senate.
The president dismisses with a
wave Of the hand any possibility of
my honesty by saying
1t Is unnecessary to coment on his
proposal made in this letter to use
his influence as a senator to force the
government to institute a suit which
would make it easy for him personal
~ to obtain some of the land.
1t might be- well to inquire whether
or not the encouragement has been
ordered not to obey the law of con-
Sress passed last April-which I will
call the 'Tillman- Bonaparte" law-or-
'er!rg suit to be instituted for the re-
.covery OF these lands. My culpability
> OF such magnitude in contemplating
the purchase Of LAO acres Of land
u $3.50 an acre in the eyes Of this
stickler for official rectitude in Others
that 1t may be found that he is de-
termined to block my so-called me
farious transactions"
The man who announces to con-
gress that he. Theodore Roosevelt. as
sumed the right to permit the Steel
trust to absorb its greatest rival con-
trary to law would doubtless not hesi-
tate to help his dear friend Hartman
In holding 100000 acres of the pub
lie domain, because Ben Tillman has
contemplated and wanted to buy L.
440 acres. The president having con-
victed Tillman, proceeded to clear Dorr
in both cases contrary to the facts
and smilingly retires from the centre
OF the stage. which it is his greatest
delight to occupy, and complacently
looks to have the American people
and the senate give their APPROVAL to
his verdict. l await that verdict calm
lv and without fear, and will gil ely
abide by 1t.