Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-11

Company should convey the title and
they knew that one could compel
this conveyance except the United states
government. because Il similar case had
been decided in the United States couru
so declaring. ,See Nichols V. southern
Oregon Co. Federal Reporter, vol. $50,
p. 234.)
Il commenced to investigate on the 9Th
of October and | made direct applica-
ton 10 Reeder & Watkins. by telegram
and by letter. on the Goth of October
Dorr did not appear until early in 1905.
as shown by the report OF the post office
was brief. as | exposed the whole thing
in the Senate on February 10. The Presi-
dent had the papers and knew all this
"Reeder e. Watkins were receiving 81
for the insignificant work OF making
tender to the holding company and fling
a notice with the clerk of the court, Dorr
was to share in this commission. or what
ever You term il. for whatever business
he brought. and yet the President would
convey the impression that these filings
were merely such as are usual in pur-
chasing government land. when he knew
or could have easily found out from the
Attorney General. that all such proposed
purchasers could not thus bring any suit,
In the light of the evidence as presented
TO the President himself the scheme was
swindle to obtain ST. in cash. as must
be apparent to all Bat the President &C
quilted Dorr and convicted me.
Had Backed Out.
BY this time I had found out the legal
status. and decided I would not sign a
contract. file an application, or pay any
money. and my only reason for writing
TO Reeder & Watkins on February II was
to have them und .rstand that Lee mis-
conceived my attitude in the Senate. and
that | was not 10 be considered as a tool
but acting III the interest of the public.
Remember. | knew nothing of Mr..
Lees letter till sent in by the President
At the same time | was willing to use
them in locating desira bic quarter sec
tons. if later on 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 Feb
ruary in q letter to Recder e. Watkins.
He italicizes the words as we'll my
self as though it were unlawful. I'M
moral. or improper for a senator to buy
any land or to act in this chamber on
any question affecting his personal in
terest | fail to see any sense or reason
in this position. but | must submit that
to the judgment of the Senate and the
country. I had not become a party to
any litigation; I was not interested eX-
cept as private individual wanting to
purchase and as a senator desiring to
enable others to have the opportunity to
that I have done something very dis
creditable and outrageous He hates me,
and would destroy me if he could
= The President sloats over the fact
that my letter was written just four days
before he announced in the Senate that
he had not undertaken to buy any land
in the West as cinchng his contention
that [ have lied to the Senate. The
records show that in the interim the Dorr
circular had been sent to me, for on
Lob, -hn,, Ia t1,o ,r1
of Dorr. l said in the Senate:
- In the last day or two | have had
my attention called to a scheme OF SWIM
ding etc.
Convicted on Flimsy Evidence.
1t is easy for those who are them
selves vulnerable to convict others on the
most fimsy evidence. and the President
seems TO work on that theory.
con reading DORIS circular the whole
scheme and combination of swindlers-
Reeder & Watkins. in Marshfield, and
Dorr. in Portland: / did not know any
thing about Como and Schaefer-flashed
on my mind: and remembering Lees
somewhat dubious report as to the char
acter and qualifications of the firm of
Reeder & Watkins, | decided at once to
see TO 1t that my name should not be
used to invegle others into their game.
The President dismisses with a wave
of the hand any possibility of my hon
esty by saying:
.. 1t is unnecossa to comment on his
proposal made in this letter to use
his influence as a senator to force the
government to institute suit which
would make it easy for him personal
ly to obtain some of the land.
1T might be well OF inquire whether
or not the Attorney General has been or
dered not to obey the law of Congress
passed last April-which ! will call the
be instituted for the recovery of these
lands. My culpability is of such magni-
tude in contemplating the purchase OF
/ ,44O acres Of land at $50 an acre in the
eyes of this stickler for official rectitude
in others that it may be found that he
is determined to block my so-called ne
farious transactions
1.-THE man who announces to Congress
that he, Theodore Roosevelt. assumed the
right to permit the steel trust to absorb
its greatest rival contrary to law would
doubtless not hesitate to help his dear
friend Hartman in holding 100000 acres
of the public domain because Ben Tillman
has contemplated and wanted to buy
40 acres.
The President having convicted Till
man, proceeded to clear Dorr in both
cases contrary to the facts. and smilingly
retires from the center of the stage, which
it is his greatest delight to occupy. and
looks to have the American
people and the Senate give their approval
to his verdict. l await that verdict calmly
and without fear, and will gladly abide
by it.
Investigation Is Demanded.
In conclusion. Mr.. President, I court
the most searching investigation-nay /
demand it.
Il declare most emphatically l have
never sought to conceal my effort to buy
lands-I spoke to the Attorney General
about it; l explained TO the agent of the
secret service the whole transaction when
/ gave him the Dorr circular and the let
tiers which had been sent me concern
ing it.
THE question of motive Will at last con-
troll and it cannot be shown that l had
any reason to conceal anything.
Il invite comparison of my private life
and my public work as man and a SELL
ator with Theodore Roosevelt or any
other man. and feel absolutely sure of the
ground upon which l stand
TED SULLIVAN'S
ruocr ora1u