Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-01-11

cussion. Just what law did l break,
what wrong did / do or contemplate?
Hartman is Guilty.
According to the, report of the at
torney general in answer to the reso-
tuition which | introduced and which
passed the senate, Hartman, the pres
ident's dear friend. still holds in de-
fiance of law upwards of 100000
acres of the best lands of Oregon and
California. refused to sell them at any
price. | never expected and could not
under the terms of the law, as ] con-
strued it, get more than seven quarter
sections for myself and family, one for
my private secretary, and one for Mr..
Lee. making nine in all. This in the
aggregate would mean that would OBJ
tain through my activity here. as the
president charges, nine quarter sec.
tons or LAO acres at a cost of $4,000
Will the president undertake to say
have lost my right to buy land because
am senator?"
Allowed 1t to Drop.
The senator said in December he let
the land matter d1op, he believing it
to be "a very doubtful proposition and
continued: Il therefore felt it incum-
bent on me to expose the swindle in
the senate which | did on Feb. 10 and
asked the postoffice department to is
sue fraud order. l pressed the pass
age ofSthe joint resolution in the SEN
ate and on April 80 it became law"
In conclusion the senator said: 'The
president having convicted Tillman
proceeded to clear Dorr in both cases
contrary to the facts and smilingly
stares from the center of the stage
which it is his greatest delight to Oc-
'cupy and complacently looks to have
the American people and the senate
give their approval to his verdict. i
await that verdict calmly without fear
and will gladly abide by it.
Told of Attempt to Buy.
81 court the most searching investi-
CATION. Nay, | demand it, l declare
most emphatically have never sought
to conceal my effort to buy land;
spoke to the attorney general about
it; | explained to the agent of the
secret service the whole transaction
when I gave him DORIS circular and
corning it. Question of motive will
at least control and it cannot be
shown have any reason to conceal
anything
Il invite comparison of my private
life and my public work as man and
senator with Theodore Roosevelt or
any other man and feel absolutely sure
of the ground upon which l stand"
Went Out of Way to Use Ii.
Washington. Jan. 11.-Many express
sions of dissatisfaction are heard at
the manner in which the president
made public the material gathered by
postoffice inspectors about Senator
Tillman. 1t was pointed out by sena-
tors that the matter sent to Senator
Hale was not in response to the lat
operations of the secret service men,
as the investigation of Senator Till
mans alleged effort to obtain Oregon
lands was wholly under the postoffice
department.
1t was rumored at the capital that
the president had told a friend that
an effort was made by Senators Hale
! and Aldrich to suppress the facts
about Senator Tillman Undoubtedly
this impression was gained at the
| NV ,yicit tn tho rnrnci
dent by Mr. Hale, who suggested that
the matter relating to Mr.. Tillman
should be withdrawn.
Senator in Poor Health.
1t is said that the Maine senator
did not base the request upon the
ground that it was not properly re
lply to the demand for information
about the secret service, but because
of the fact that Senator Tillman is il
poor health and the charge was liza
BILE to rouse him to a pitch of excite
Iment dangerous to his life.
| President Roosevelt declined to with
draw the refernce to Mr.. Tillman, ant
when Senator Hale would not make il
Ipublic he decided to do so himself.
There is no question that the condi
ton of Senator Tillmans health i:
serious. When he went to Europe
Hast. March he was in highly nerv
Gus state, The trip resulted in ;
marked improvement, but for some
time his friends have noticed that hi
nervousness was returning.