The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-12
Reads His Reply to President Roosevelt on the Oregon
 Land Deal Charges
MAKES COUNTER CHARGES
 AGAINST CHIEF EXECUTIVE
While Speech Is Not As Snappy As Was Expected From the Senator It Has Singers That
 Prod Deeply.

l Washington, January I.-(Special )-- Senator Tillman of South Carolina made 1 bis reply to the President today. With the i declaration that he had been guilty of no crime, that he had thought to deceive no one, that he had told no falsehoods. had broken no laws and was guilty of no im- moral conduct, the South Carolina senator was the principal in a sensational day at the capitol.
 Reading his remarks from manuscript, l the senator, with deliberation and calm ness so unusual for him, denounced the 1 President for his letter to Senator Hale, l told of the glass house in which the 1 President resides by reason of his con 1 tnued lawless acts, reciting especially ] the Steel trusts absorption of the Ten nessee Coal, Iron and Railroad company and referring to the manner in which Mrs. Minor Morris was ejected from the White l House.
 l In addition to this Senator Tilman made 1 the direct charge that papers of import ance to the pending controversy had been stolen from his desk probably by some of the secret service seuths." He explained the seeming contradiction in the speech he made in the Senate last February in which he had ''undertakenp to buy no western land and his letter un- covered by the inspectors of four days earlier, by saying that everything hinged l on his use of the word undertaken" He explained that he meant to convey the idea that he had contracted for no land and had made no preliminary payment l on it. He admitted the authenticity of the l letters quoted by the President; he admit
 ted that he had sought to get some of the military-road land grant lands, but he 1 stated that when he became satisfied of 1 what he believed the doubtful nature of the proposition he dropped it.
 Was Gala Day. 1 The day was a gala one at the capitol, and Senator Tillman at least has the sat l isfaction of knowing that he was the biggest drawing card on record. Thou | sands of people were turned away unable l even to get inside the building. Nearly | every member was in his seat while mem l bers of the House stood behind the desks | Senator Tillman was on hand early. and :, with the manuscript of his speech sat at l his desk on the center aisle of the Senate l chamber. He lost no time in beginning l the show. for as soon as the chaplain had finished his prayer. MT. Tillman was on his feet and began his speech. Before the senator had spoke long the people in the l galleries began to show their disappoint- 1 ment He did not show the fire or snap of his usual speeches delivered on the 1 spur of the moment
 l For one hour to the minute Senator Till man continued the reading of his speech, 1 and upon its conclusion a number of the l democratic senators came over to con- l graduate him.
 The senator's connection with the at- | tempted acquisition of Oregon lands will | be fully investigated by the Senate In 1 connection with this a Senate committee will probe the deal which resulted in the absorption of the Tennessee Coal. Iron and Railroad company.
 The speaker appointed the Tawney com- mittee on the secret service, so the legis- lative branch had it's inning today with the President to hear from at an early date.
 TiIlman Speaks.
 Senator Tillman replied to charges made against him by the President of hav- ing exerted his official influence as sen- stor for his personal benefit. to se- cure the passage of a resolution, and to have the department of justice bring suit against railroads of the northwest, in order that he might be able to pur- chase land held by the South Oregon Land Company and granted to the state of Oregon in 1866 for the construction of a military road.
 Tn my public work here" said Senator Tillman "I have not hesitated to crit icise and comment on the official ac- tions and utterances of President Roose- welt, and I have doubtless given him good cause to seek revenge. have, at various times, arraigned him in the Sem ate for tyrannical invasion of the rights of Congress, for usurpation of authority not given him by the constitution, for dsobedience of the law and the neg lect of duty, and particularly in the case of Mrs. Morris for brutal and cruel conduct toward helpless woman. l was not aware that these darts of mine had quivered in the executive hide and stung him so, but the eagerness and intensity with which he has presented his case against me, his making prece- dent when none has existed before, his taking from the committee to which he has forwarded the papers and giving them to the press before that commit tee had considered them indicates that Theodore Roosevelt enjoys to the limit the feeling of getting even with Ben Tillman and lays on the big stick with the keenest relish doubtless believing that the .pitchfork' has gone out of bus iness.'
 In addressing the Senate today Mir. Tillman arose to question of personal -~~~---~----------> -~>->->---~->----~-
 lCONTNUED ON PA0D n