Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1909-01-11
TOday's Telegraphic News
MIR. TllIman's Reply.

Washington, JaD.. ll.-Ihe unpre-
cedented spectacle of a senator OF the
United States defending his horror be-
fore his collesgues against al attack by
the president Was presented here today.
Arising to a question OF personal pri-
ilege, sad addressing az sudience that
filed every SCAT on the floor Of the SEN
ate and packed the lalleries, Senator
Benjamin. r. Tillnaa denied President
RoOseVelt's charge that he bad used his
official position for his private benefit,
OF that be had made q fa'se statement
to his fellow members regarding western
land transactions.
The tines OF the pitehfork hsd been
sbarpened anew, aud the recent on.
slaught of the big stick was returned
with the South Carolina Senator's old
time skill.
He accused the president of personal
malice, Misrepresentation, Justification,
cowsrdice, Uniting below the belt"
contempt Of the Senate, and violation
of the law in the use OF the secret service.
Incidentally he gave official utterauce
to the charge be mSie Informally to a
United Press representative on Saturday
that important papers BEARING on the
case a. issue had been stolen from bis
desk 10 bis room at the Capitol, "prob-
ably by some OF the secret service
sleuths." He also arraigned the presi.
dent for permitting the so-called steel
trust to absorb the Tennessee Goal and
Iron Company, aud for helping "his
dear friend Hartman to hold two mill
lion acres of the public domain, because
Ben Tillnsn wanted to buy /. 44O
acres.
The senator demanded the nest search.
ing investigation of his conduct, and in
vited comparison of hia ''privste life
and public work with that of Theodore
Roosevelt or any other man."
He admitted that be was ''perhaps
disingenuous" 10 tbs statement which
be made to the Senate declaring that be
had not bought or undertaken to buy"
any of the lands in question. Every
thing, be declared, hinged on the mean
Ing of the word "undertaken," as he
used it. He had not paid any money,
nor had he taken snyone's receipt, "the
usual processes by which one under.
takes to buy land"
For the frat time 10 bis senatorial
career, Mr.. Tillmau read his entire
speech. Evidently sppreciating tbs
gravity OF the situation, he did not care
to trust himself to an exteDporaueous adj
dress
There vas intense silence as he arose,
and throughout the delivery Of his re.
marks be was given the closest attention
by his colleagues, many of whom had
expressed the hope that he would be
able to convince the Senate aud the
country of his innocence.
Mr.. Tillmsn gave an exhaustive his
tory of his connection with the land 10
question, and said:
az was not interested except as pri-
vate individual wanting to purchase, and
IS a senator desiring to enable others to
Rave the opportunity to do 30. OF
course. the president is sure that have
done something very discreditable and
outrageous. He hates me, and would
destroy me If he could" n n
"The man who announces to Congress
that he, Theodore Roosevelt, assumed
the right to permit the steel trust to abb
serb it's greatest rival contrary to law
would doubtless not hesitate to help bis
dear friend Hartman In holding 2, 0O0,-
900 acres Of the public domsiD, because
Ben Tlllna1 has contemplated and
wanted to buy l, 440 acres. The presl-
dent having convicted TillmaD, proceed
ed to clear Dorr 10 both cases contrary
to the facts and smilingly retires from
the center Of the stage, which it is his
greatest delight to occupy, aud COM
placently looks to have the American
people and the Senate give their APP
proval to his verdict. l await that ver-
dict calmly and without fear, and will
gladly abide by it,"
In conclusion Mr.. TiIlman said; "Mr.
president, court the most searching TO-
vestigation. Nay, demand 1t. | de-
clare most empbaticallY l have never
sought to conceal my effort to buy land;
l spoke to the attorney general about 1t;
l explained to the agent Of the secret
service the whole transaction when |
gave him the Dorr circular and the
letters which had been sent me concern
ing 1t. The question Of motive will at
last control, and 1t cannot be shown that
have any reason to concesl anything.
l invite comparison Of my private life
and my public work az mao and sem
ator with Theodore Roosevelt or auy
other msn, and fell absolutely sure Of
the ground upon which l stand" Mr..
TilImsn did not deny the authenticity
of the letter or the telegram, Of which
photographs we're made.
Senator Tillmsn declared he had been
guilty of no crime, that he had not
sought to deceive anybody, that he had
told no fslsehoods, that he had broken
no law, that he bad been guilty OF no
immoral conduct.