The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-01-13

'"o oPciatoIs soInetlmeS come across
wholly unexpected phases of miscon-
duct"
Often, says the president, the abuse
OF the franking privilege is unknown
to the congressman themselves. Then.
leading up to the Tillman matter. he
says:
But a case has just arisen of a
different kind, which, 1t seems to me.
l should put before you as illustrating
In striking fashion the way in which
investigation begun by any Of the va
rious agencies in the strict line OF
their duty may develop facts Of high
Importance, which the Investigators
would not in the frst instance have
sought to discover. which. when dis
covered. ought not to be hidden or
suppressed. but the development of
which may tend to create an erro-
neous impression that the agents in
question were being used for pur-
poses not within the line of their law
full duty"
The communication then recites
that Senator Tillman, on February 1s
last, called the attention of the sem
ate to the circular Of the Oregon land
syndicate. which alleged that Senator
Tillman was among those who had
spoken for part Of the land to be
disposed Of and quotes Senator Till
mans denial as follows:
II have not bought any land any
where in the West, nor undertaken to
buy any. have made some inquiries
as one naturally would. in osmins
through the West. 1 simply want the
people Of the country to be put on no.
tice that this swindler at Portland
has no warrant whatever for endeav-
oring to inveigle others into his
game"
Enclosed, the president says. Mr..
Hale would find Photographic similes
OF letters and envelopes from Senator
Tillman and his agent. William e.
Lee, bearing on the matter. A letter
| OF Senator Tillman to Oregon attor-
neys Is quoted as fellows:
II wired you from Wausau, Wis.
as follows. and write to confirm it:
William e. Lee, my agent will see
you about land. I want nine quarters
reserved. Will forward signed appli-
cation and money at once. Members
Of my family are entrymen. Letter
follows.
(Signed) "'B. r. t.
II write now to say I wired Mr.
Lee, who resides at Moscow, Idaho, tc
60 at once to Harshalfield and see you
about the land. to locate quarters 70,
tho several members Of my family
| who are Of age and one for my pri.
vate secretary. ]. b. Knight. whom
desire to let into the deal. and o,
course he wants a quarter for him.
SELF
'The letter continued" writes tn
president. stating in detail what wa,
to be done in order to enable the sen,
ator to get the land. The William e
Lee to whom Senator Tillman thu.
referred as his agent wrote to Reedsl
and Watkins under date Of December
:. a letter, photographic copy of whict
IS herewith submitted. marked Tx.
hibit d. In this letter Mr.. Lee ex.
plains that he had written Senator
Tillman fully as to the status OF tn,
land matter. advising him that 1t wa.
a good gamble but that the senator
was lecturing. so that he did not gel
Mr.. Lees letter until q week and 9
half previously. The letter continues
"In case Senator Tillman gets ir
on this deal with good land in the
right quarters we want, I am satisfied
he can be of great help in getting
matters started from Washington and
| cause the government to get busy AM
do something along the line you de.
sire. He will set up such q howl that
1t will be impossible to do otherwise
This Will be very important for you,
whole scheme to have a man Of his
! influence here to aid you at this end
Of the line. BY all means save a 10,
OF good land for us, as we intend to
be Of more value than any one OF the
others In this matter
Then is. quoted Senator Tillman's
resolution providing for the institution
Of the land suits. after which the
president quotes from the senator's
letter of February Is to Nessrs. Reed
er and Watkins. Says the president:
HE states that what he had done