The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-01-08
PRESIDENT HAS SECRET SERVICE
MEN INVESTIGATE SEN
ATOR'S AFFAIRS.
INFORMATION LEAKS OUT
Communication From Executive to
Senate Contains Startling News That
mans Possible Interest in Extensive
Land Grab" in Oregon.

Washington, Jan. by direction OF
| President Roosevelt, secret service
men shadowed Senator Tillman
of South Carolina on the theory that
he possibly was interested in an Ore
gon LAND grab" and the report of
that investigation is now before the
| senate. The information was con-
| tained in a communication from Presi-
| dent Roosevelt sent in response to a
request made by Senator Hale for a
statement of the activities of secret
service operatives. Exhaustive re-
plies We're made by the various de-
partnents and all of these were for
! warded to Senator Hale by the presi-
dent. They have not been made pub
| lie, and Senator Hale announced that
| they would not be given out until after
| they had been considered by a sub
committee of the committee on ap-
propriations, which will be charged
with the duty of acting, on that por-
| tion OF the presidents annual mes
sage relating to the secret service.
Much Curiosity.
Soon after President Roosevelts
communication to Senator Hale was
read it was said that it contained a
reflection on a senator from a south
ern state. The name of the senator in
question was not divulged at the time
and as result the senate was sur
charged with curiosity. When it final
ly became known that Senator Tillman
was the member named further efforts
were made to procure information
concerning the character of the
charges, but they were unavailing.
Through the fact that several SEN
| ators had advance information of the
character of the report, it was learned
that the investigation of Senator Till
man followed an attack he made in
the senate nearly year ago on an
Oregon land company, which had used
his name as one of the persons in
terested in the concern.
Tillman Implicated.
Previous to that attack Tillman had
introduced resolution directing the
attorney general to prosecute suits
against an oregon railroad corpora
tion that had received land grants for
line from California points to Port
land, Ore. Mr.. Tillman had said the
use Of his name was without au-
thority, and as result, it is declared
that several persons interested in the
land grants became angered. Some of
the interested parties are reported to
have sent to President Roosevelt
copies of letters alleged to have been
written by Senator Tillman indicating
that he had an interest in one of the
land companies or Would be benefited
through land companies obtaining pos
session of the grants in question. After
receiving this inormation, it is said,
the president directed a secret service
operative to Investigate the part
Senator Tillman was alleged to have
in the land cases.
Photographs.
The report is understood to contain
an account Of the investigation. 1t is
known that the secret service pre-
pared Photographic copies of Senator
Tillman's correspondence, but whether
these exhibits We're sent to Senator
Hale is not known.
Senator Tillman was not aware that
his name figured in the reports until
late in the day. He then assured
himself that the reports were we'll
founded, but said he would not make
any statement until the fact of the
use of his name had been officially
promulgated, when he would discuss
the matter in the senate.
1t is known, however that Mr.. Till |
man regards the mention of his name |
(Cnnfinnnd Do