Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-01-09
PRESIDENTS LETTER TO HALE REGARDING 7ILLMAN

tail What was to be done In order to
enable the senator to get the land.
The William E. Lee to whom Senator
Tillman thus referred as his agent,
wrote to Roder and Watkins under
date of Dec. {, letter. Photographic
copy of which is herewith submitted,
marked Exhibit D A." In this letter
Mr.. Lee explains that he had written
Senator Tillman fully as to the status
of the land matter, advising him that
it was "a good gamble" but that the
senator was lecturing, SO that he did
not get Mr.. Lees letter until week
and a half previous. The letter con-
tines:
in case Senator Tillman gets in on
this deal with some good land in the
eight quarters We want, ! am satisfied
that he can be of great help in getting
matters started from Washington and
cause the government to get busy and
do something along the line you desire:>
He will set UP such howl that it will
be impossible to do otherwise. This
will be very important for your whole
scheme to have man of his influence
here to aid you at this end of the line.
BY all means save a lot of good land
for us, as we intend to be of more
value than any one of the others in
this matter.
TilIman's Land Resolution.
On the 31st of January, 1908, Sena-
tor Tillman introduced in the senate
the following resolution:
,, Whereas, at divers times, various
railroads and other corporations have
received large grants of public lands
Of the United States. under and by vir-
tue of acts of the congress, contain
ing conditions that such lands
should be sold to actual settlers only
or in quantities not exceeding for one
purchaser a limit fixed by the act re-
lating thereto, or at a price per acre
not greater than an amount mentioned
in the act authorizing such graut, to
! the end that such lands might prompt
ly become the homes of citizens of the
! United States; and
! Whereas, it is currently reported
I and widely believed that the depart
ment of justice has information to the
aforesaid, or their alleged successors
in title, having obtained colorado tiIls
to large tracts of land within a stat.
or states OF the Pacific slope by vir
tue of the grants above mentioned, ant
still holding considerable portion.
thereof. have violated or evaded thu
equitable and salutary conditions so q:
aforesaid imposed by the congress:
upon such grants 70 rthe public good
yet the senate is not advised that an.
action has been taken by the depart
ment of justice to enforce the said con
ditions Oh restore the said lands TO thu
public domain: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, etc, That the presiden
be requested, if not incompatible witt
the public interest, to inform the sen
ate what information, if any. has bee
received, and what action, if any. ha
been taken by the department of jus
tice with respect to the matters AM
things in the preamble to this resolJ
ton set forth, and pressed vigorousl
for immediate action"
i, introduced Joint Resolution.
| nc UetllS idiu 'Jfc', SCH
: ator 1iilman introduced the same da
=. further and joint resolution contain
I ing the same recitals, but concludin
r as follows:
t Resolved, etc, That the attorae
S general be, and heels hereby directed
!. authorized and empowered to TAX
1 such proceedings or institute such SUI
nhoI Of ha Ctot re
!. as may be necessary. appropriate, {
i expedient to insure a compliance wit
t the above mentioned conditions or I
f restore the said lands to the public d.
:. main, or to report TO the congress VIII
}. such action as aforesaid has not bee
Il or should not be taken"
a On Feb Is, Senator Tillman wro
h to Messrs. Roder and Watkins. A PIT
/ tograph of this letter is also attache
as exhibit D 5. In it l call your after
s ton to the fact that he speaks agai
! of Mr.. Lee as his agent and of the co
u respondence carried on through M
= Lee. He states that what he has dol
l. in stirring up the question of the Or
If gon land grants to railroads has bee
uone eHlHciS apart iioii any pSiooi
W interest he has in the matter, al
1t adds:
i Wanted Some Timber Land.
"Although | never would have h;
. my attention called to 1t but for t
= investigation as set on foot in come
ton with the proposed purchase by r
Of some of the timber land in Questio
OF course, if I decide to make the tie
der and go into the lawsuit, will be
your proposition in mind. but | won
have you understand that nothing
: do here in the senate will be done b
!. cause of any personal purchase of a
hi of the land If I can succeed in cat