The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-01-20
DONAPARTE TO THE RESCUE,
ATTORNEY GENERAL ALLEGES
THAT TILLNIAN LIES.
issues Statement COntradicting Till
mans Assertion That He Told
BOnaparte He Wanted to Purchase
Some of the Oregon Lands-Issue
Now Hinges On Veracity of Tillman
And BOnaparte.

<Ahu IbOuuIburtc.
washington, Jan. 12.-Attorney
General Bonaparte tonight issued
statement replying to that part of
the speech Of Senator Tillman, de-
livered yesterday, in which he declar-
ed the resolution In regard to the Ore
gon. land grants, introduced by him
In The senate on January 81, 1908, had
been prepared by the attorney general
and that his interest in the matter
had been first aroused by a desire to
purchase some Of the timber land"
Mr. Bonaparte also replies to Senator
Tillman's remark made in the senate
last February that he "had not bought
any land anywhere in the West or un-
dertaken to buy any,"
Mr.. Bonaparte sets forth that suits
against those holding the Oregon
lands involved in the case have been
Instituted, fact that could have been
ascertained by any one upon inquiry
OF his department. any time within the
past four months. Mr.. Tillman has
intimated that no steps had been TAX
en-, despite the resolution passed.
The attorney general disputes the
senator's statement that the latter had
Informed him in their conversation
that 1t was the senator's wish to ac-
quire some of the lands. Mr.. Bona
parte sets forth that he did not know
Senator Tillman had any personal in
terest In the matter. Says Mr.. Bona
parte:
HE never told me q word of any
connection on his part with an ar.
rangement to acquire some part Of
these lands. nor that he intended, ex-
pected or even desired, at that time, to
make any such purchases. AS stated
by him, his reason for making these
Inquiries was that he might better dis
charge his public duties; and was
totally ignorant until I saw the docu-
ments transmitted by the president to
Senator Hale that Senator Tillman,
at the time Of his conversation with
me, had any private interest, whether
actual or in expectation. In connection
with the subject Of our conversation.
gave him q full statement Of the
information which had been collected
by the department as the result of a
protracted investigation made by
Messrs. Townsend & McBlair as spe-
cial counsel, and which had continued
during considerable part Of the pre-
ceding year. told him also that We
deemed 1t advisable to secure con-
gressional action in the form of a res
olution empowering the attorney gen.
eral to claim q forfeiture of these
lands; and that felt some apprehen-
sion lest such action should be op-
posed by the large interest which it
would affect.
Senator Tillman then offered to in
~-O~~S ASSOAoSAoh vi Tic SUBJECT
L woud prepare one, and I did pre-
pare such resolution, which was in
troduced by him and subsequently,
adopted. During this interview I ex-
planned to him that it would be i'm
practicable to compel the corporations
claiming these lands to sell any par
ticular part Of them to any particular
person; although, Of course, if the
government could establish a forfeit
ure OF rights under the grant the
lands might become afterwards open
to entry on the same terms as any
other portion of the public domain.
OF course, If it was at the time his
purpose to secure some part of the
lands in question, through arrange
ment with Messrs. Reeder & Watkins
or otherwise, this forfeiture might
tend to promote his individual inter-
est; but l had no reason to credit
him with any such purpose, and 1
dealt with him throughout as asking
the information and advice 1 could
give, only that he might fulfill his
duty as public officer