The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1909-01-10
T|LLMkN THE TARGET.
In Lengthy Document President
Makes Charges OF


SENSATIONAL CHARACTER.
Communication, Which Is Composed Of
Three Thousand Words, the PAImet-
to State Senator Said He Would Re-
ply to In Written Speech.
Washington, JAN 9.-President
Roosevelt Friday night made public
the details of an investigation by post
i office inspectors and secret service
agents of Senator Tillman's connection
with an alleged land grab" in Oregon.
AS he presents the evidence to Sena-
cor Hale, in response to the latter's
request to the heads of various exec
utive departments for the statement
OF operations, it appears that it was
ut his instigation that the inquiry was
begun.
In his communication the president
says:
My Dear Senator Hale: l have re-
quested the different departments of
the government, not only those to
whom you sent requests, but to those
| whom you did not, to give me all the
information about the use of special
attorneys. special agents, inspectors,
ETC., In their departments which viii,
enable nae to put before you all the
facts which, as understand it, your
committee desires to have l transmit
these reports herewith l call especial
attention to the reports of the secre-
tary of state, the secretary of the
treasury and the attorney general.
Let me, at the outset, most earnest
~ express my most cordial agreement
| that 1t is not only the right, but the
| duty, OF congress to investigate the
workings of the secret service or de-
tective agents, by which alone the gov
eminent can effectually safeguard it.
self against wrongdoing. punish crime
and bring to Justice criminals l am
we'll aware of the liability to abuse, in
herent in any effective detective sys-
TEN or secret service system, for the
measure of the efficiency of the sys-
tenn Is also the measure of the seri-
BUSINESS of the abuses of the system if
It. be applied to wrong purposes or di-
rected in an improper manner. It is
eminently to the public interest that
there should be vigilant inquiry into
the workings of this agency, both by
the heads of the executive depart.
ments and by congress
1T nevertheless remains, though.
that this system is absolutely indensi-
BILE If the popular interest is to ad-
equately safeguard and wrong doors
taught to fear the law"
The chief executive dwells on the
Importance of detectives and con-
tinues:
| "On the 10Th of February, 1908, Sen
atOr Tillman called the attention of
the senate to a circular of syndicate
| firm for the sale of lands in Oregon,
particularly in Cooke and Douglass
counties, which had been granted to
corporations by the government. the
circular stating that the company in
possession of the lands were bound to
sell them for $3.50 an acre, or upon
their refusal, would be prosecuted by
the government, and that among those
who lad spoken for a part of this
! land is Senator Tillman of South Car.
o!;ra. the leader of the Democratic
party n the senate. a man who usually
gets what he goes after Senator Till
man denied the statements of this cir.
cular, and expressed a wish for an in.
vestis alton and, upon his request, the
post office department, through its
inspectors, made such an investiga-
ton. He stated in reference to this
circular.
! have not bought any land any.
where in the west, nor undertaken to
buy airy. l have made some inquiries,
as any one naturally would in roaming
through the west. l simply want the
people of the country to be put on no.
tice that this swindler at Portland has
no warrant whatever to inveigle 9th.
!, ers into this game
| Il enclose the circular referred to
as exhibit 3, the report of the postof.
flee inspector under date of July q,
1908. as exhibit c. This is a confiden.
tial report of tyne usually not fur.
nished me, but in this case the matter
Is SO serious that feel / should put
1t before you. l enclose you, also, as
exhibits D 1, D 2. D 3. D and D s.
Photographic facsimiles of letters and
envelopes and kilograms from Cenator
Tfllman and his agent, William E.
Lee. It appears that on Dec. 9. 1907,
Senator Tillnan wrote a letter to
Messrs. Reede- and Watkins of Marsh.
field. Ore. who were attorneys repre-
senting people who were applicants
for the purocse Of obtaining certain
wagon road land grant land. Dorr was
Q land agent.
Substance of charges is:
THAT Mr.. Tillman used his influ
ence as senator in an effort to force
the government to compel a railroad
corporation to relinquish it's control
Of land grants from the United States
in order that he and his family and
his secretary, ]. B. Knight. might prof
1t through the purchase of some Of
the land; that the senator used hfs
Thanking privileges in numerous in