The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-01-20
IMPEACHMENT TALK HEARD.
Breach Between the President And
Congress Widens-President's At
tack on Tillman Called Wanton AS
sault.

SHo'oA roidher' Oh OulO, was ScnS-
duled to speak tomorrow In connec-
ton with the use of private detectives
in the Brownsville matter. but has
postponed his remarks until Tuesday.
This speech will be one Of the most
striking Senator Foraker has ever de-
livered. 1t will be about $4,000 words
10 3. It Is known that Senator For
akef will make some sensational dis
closures in connection with the presi-
dents authorization Of the use of pri.
vate detectives, and 1t is understood
that the senate will be told that this
was done in violation of law, while
they were paid in violation of the con-
stitution Of the United States. The
effect Of Mr.. Foraker's speech, and
the two Investigations which are now
being made into secret service work
by committees in each branch OF con-
gress, will be followed with a great
deal of interest.
The disclosures Of the past three
days and those that are to come dur
ing the present week are certain to
still further estrange congress and the
president. Congress Is now on its
mettle and leaders in both branches
are proceeding with a determination
which is eliciting speculation as to
where 1t will end.
NO longer is there heard any ex-
preston Of belief that congress
fears" the president or that it will
'lay down" in it's present contest with
the executive. Just how serious It
will all be in the end is difficult to an
ticipate. Since the holidays the word
impeachment" has been often used.
Men who would have resented the
suggestion month ago are now ask
ing, Hwill the president be impeach-
ed?' Less than two months of the
Roosevelt administration remain, and
the question is whether it will be
worth while to make such a serious
fight. There are men Of character in
congress who declare that there are
sufficient grounds for warranting the
institution OF proceedings against the
president, but proceedings of this
character occupy great deal of time,
and if instituted could probably not
be completed before the fourth of
March. Whether they could be con-
tinued after the term Of Mr.. Roose-
velt's administration has expired is
another interesting constitutional
question that has been discussed in
the gossip around the capitol.
Many expressions of dissatisfaction
are heard because of the manner in
which the president made public the
material gathered by postoffice inspec-
tors about Senator Tillman. 1t is
pointed out by senators that the mat
ter sent to Senator Hale was not in
response to Mr. Hale's request to the
heads of the executive departments
for a sratemnt of the operations of the
secret service, as the investigation of
Senator Tillman's alleged effort to OBJ
tain Oregon lands was wholly under
the postoffice department and was
prosecuted by the inspectors of that
department.
One senate leader was heard to ex-
press the opinion that as the president
had had in his possession for several
months the information gathered
about Senator Tillman, it was his duty
to institute a prosecution if he be-
lieved the facts warranted action in
the courts.--Baltimore Sun.-Jan. 10.