Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-01-12

IT had not become party to any lit
igation was not interested except as a
private individual wanting to purchase,
and as a senator desiring to enable others
to have the opportunity to DO so. OF
course, the president is sure that I have
done something very discreditable and
outrageous He hates me and would de-
stroy me If he could.
THE president gloats over the fact that
my letter was written just four days be-
fore he announced in the senate that he
ID had not undertaken to buy any land
in the west as clinching his contention
that I have lied to the senate. The rec
ords show that in the interim, the Dorr
circular had been sent to me, for on
February 10, when I made the exposure
of Dorr, said in the senate, In tho
last day or two, have had my attention
called to a scheme of swindling, etc. 1t
is easy for those who are themselves vul-
nerable, to convict others on the most
himsy evidence. and the president seems
to work on that theory.
ION reading DORIS circular, the whole
scheme and combination of swindlers,
Reeder & Watkins in Marshfield, and
Dorr in Portland q did not know any
thing about Como & Schaefer), flashed on
my mind, and remembering Lees some
what dubious report as to the character
and qualifications of the firm of Reeder
& Watkins, declined at once to see to
It that my name should not be used to
inveigle others into their game. Hence
my action in the senate.
THE president dismisses with a wave
of the hand any possibility of my hon
esty, by saying: 1T is unnecessary to
comment on his proposal made in this
letter TO use his influence as a senator
to force the government to institute
suit which would make 1t easy for him
personally to obtain some OF the land
1t might be well to inquire whether or
not the attorney general has been order
ed not to obey the law of congress pass
ed last April, which 1 Will call the Till
man-Bonaparte law, ordering suit to be
instituted for the recovery of these lands.
MY culpability is of such magnitude
in contemplating the purchase OF LAO
acres of land at $3.50 an acre in the
eyes of a sticlxler for official rectitude-
in others-that it may be found that he
is determined to block my so-called ne
farious transactions.
Waves Pitchfork
THE man who announces to congress
that he, Theodore Roosevelt, assumed
the right to permit the Steel trust to
absorb its greatest rival. contrary to law,
would doubtless not hesitate to help his
dear friend Hartman in holding two
million acres of the public domain be-
cause Ben Tillman has contemplated and
wanted to buy LAO acres. 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 occupy, and compla-
Gently looks to have the American peo-
pie and the senate give their approval
to his verdict 1 await that verdict
calmly and without fear, and will glad
ly abide by 1t.
I'm conclusion, Mr.. President, court
the most searching investigation. Nay.
I demand 1t. 1 declare most emphati-
cally have never sought to conceal my
effort to buy land; 1 spoke to the at
torney general about it; explained TO
the agent of the secret service the whole
transaction when 1 gave him the Dorr
circular and the letter which had been
sent me concerning 1t. The question ul
motive will at last control and 1t can
not be shown that have any reason 20
conceal anything. I 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 I stand"