Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1909-01-09
SENATOR TILLMAN
IN DRAG NET
Says Letters We're stolen From
His Desk, But will At
tack Roosevelt Monday

WASHINGTON, Jan, s,--PresIdent
Roosevelt last night made public 4
statement Of the details OF an lnveati-
cation BY postofice inspectors and &C.
cret service agents Of Senator TIL.
mans connection with an alleged
land grab" In Oregon. As he pre-
sents the evidence to Senator Hale. IN
response to the lAtter'A request TO the
heads OF the farious executive depart
ments for statement Of the opera
tiOns of the secret service. the preaI-
dent undertakes to show that Mr..
Tillman used his influence az a sena-
tor In an effort to force the govern
ment 20 compel a railroad corporation
TO relinquish les control over land
granted In order that be and his FAM
lily and his secretary. J. d. Knight.
might profit through the purchase OF
some OF the land; and that the sena-
tor used his government ranking
privilege In numerous instances for
the conduct OF private business.
Senator Tillman did not permit the
fact that President Roosevelt was Civ
Ing out the charges against him TO
alter his determination to make no
statement until Monday. No effort
was made by him to conceal that
when he had learned the facts con-
corning the railroad grant he had
tried to obtain portions OF the land
In the names Of himself and mem
bers OF his family. but he declared
that as at most he could have gotten
possession Of only q few hundred &C.
res, his eeorts were. after eli, in be-
half Of the public and not especially
In his own interest.
Immediately after the conclusion
Of the chaplIn's prayer Monday Mr..
Tillman will ask the recognition OF
the chair on question Of personal
privilege. Departing from his Gus
tom Of extemporaneous speaking. he
will read his statement.
The communication to Senator
Hale is nearly 5000 words long, and
ia addition there are appended num-
erous exhibits. including copies Of let
tiers written by Senator Tillman and
his agent. william r. Lee, showing
that they did make an effort 10 secure
several quarter sections OF Oregon
land, and the report OF the postoface
inspectors who investigated the trans
action Of the land agents. II was
through this Investigation that the al.
legged interest Of Mr.. Tillman was
brought TO light. fatefully, II ap-
pears that II was at his instigation
the inquiry was begun.
Tfllman Letters Missing.
WASHINGTON Jan. 9.-genator
Tillman announced today that the
letters which he intended to use to
show that President Roosevelt's
charges against him were untrue. are
missing from his desk. This IL the
latest sensation 10 the controversy
being waged between the senator and
the president which promises to
abound in q Hgmber OF sensations be-
fore the matter Is ended. The ssna-
tor today declared that It was 4 ser
iouS matter for the president to at
tack the honor Of a senator, and thar
he was preparing his answer to the
attack which he intends TO deliver on
the floor OF the senate Monday.
TiIlmAn Has Documents.
The senate appropriations commit
tee today presented Senator Tlllman
with ali documents in the presidents
message relating to him. Pending
Tillman's reply the committee win
take no action.