The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1909-01-21
TILLMAN IN ANSWER
Replies to Attorney General
BOnaparte,
STATEMENTS ARE RIDDlED
Suit for Recovery Of Oregon Land Was
Begun Promptly-Dfferen story
Of Senator's Interview with the
Cabinet officer.

Washington, Jan. 1i-Senator Till
man turned his batteries on Attorney
General Bonaparte this afternoon. He
arose to question of personal privi
lege and replied to the statement given
out by Mr.. Bonaparte. which seems to
raise a question OF veracity between
the attorney general and Mr.. Tillman.
Two points of difference were devel-
oped by Mr. Bonaparte's announce
ment One was that action had been
instituted on September T. 1908,
against the railroad company hold
ing the land which Mr.. Tillman sought
10 purchase. The other was decara-
ton that Mr.. Tillman did not make it
clear that he desired to purchase, and
was negotiating for some of the tim.
Der land, involved in the proposed
suit
Mr.. Tillman insisted that he did ex-
plain his personal interest 10 the at.
toney general and said he is willing
10 make such a statement under oath
Bacon Slaps at Roosevelt
Senator Bacon introduced in the
and every public document, paper or
record or copy thereof on the files of
any department OF the government re-
lating to any subject whatever over
which congress has any grant of pow
er, jurisdiction or control under the
constitution, and any information rela.
tive thereto within the possession OF
the officers of the department. is sub.
iact to the call or inspection OF the
senate for its use in the exercise OF it's
constitutional powers and jurisdiction"
Taking the floor to speak to his
resolution, Senator Bacon said that il
was of especial importance because
OF the recent message of the president.
in which he stated he had directed
ihe attorney general not to give in.
formation as to what he had done in
the bringing of a suit against the
United States Steel Corporation for its
absorption Of the Tennessee Coal aud
IRON Company.
Mr.. Bacon said the president had
5ut one royal power and that was the
power of pardon All other powers.
he said, he exercised in conjunction
With congress.
Washington, Jan 13.--Attorney Gen.
"ral Bonaparte last night issued
statement replying 10 tha, part of The
speech of Senator Tilmau. delivered
Monday, I'm which he declared that the
Uesolution in regard to the Oregon land
grants, introduced by him in the sen.
A,e ON January 3D. 1905. had been pre-.
nared by the attorney general and tha,
his interest I'm the matter had been |
first aroused by a desire to purchase |
some Of the timber land"
Mr.. Bonaparte also replies TO Sena- |
or Tillmans remark. made in the sen. |
ate last February, that he had not |
bought any land anywhere in the |
west or undertaken to buy any"
Mr.. 5onaparte's Statement.
The attorney generals statement in |
part is as follows:
Senator Tillman called upon me at |
Che department of justice a few days |
before the introduction by him of the |
resolution which | see, by the Record |
he presented to the senate on January |
81. 1908. Our interview occurred, there |
tore, a little less than three weeks be-
core his letter of February 10 to |
Messrs Reeder and Watkins in which |
ne requested them TO hold in reserve |
for him eight of the best quarter sec. |
ions; and probably little more than |
three weeks before his statement in
The senate that he had not bought any |
land anywhere I'm the west, or under |
taken TO buy any He told me he |
wished information as TO the status OF |
the lands embraced in these Oregon |
grants because he had heard so much |
complaint about the conduct of the
corporations claiming them during his
recent journey through the states of
the Pacific slope.
HE never told me 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 purchase. AS stated
by him his reason for making these in
,quirles was that he might better dis
charge his public duties; and | was
totally ignorant until l saw the docu-
ments transmitted by the president to
Senator Hale that Senator Tillman, az
the time of his conversation with me-
had any private interest, whether ac-
tual or in expectation, in connection
with the subject of our conversation"
Bloody Tragedy on Missouri Farm.
Modana Mo Ian 1k-IOhn RroOks