The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1909-01-16
PRESIDENT SET WATCH ON
MEMBER FROM SOUTH
CAROLINA.
Land Fraud. Suspicious Given AS
ReasOn-Detectives' Work Due
to Attack in Senate on Oregon
COmpany-Tillman Welcomes
Chance to Be Heard.

vice men Swallowed Senator Tillman of
South Carolina on the theory that he
possibly was interested in an Oregon
land grab" and the result of that in
vestigation is now before the senate.
The information was contained in a
communication from President Roose-
welt sent in response to a request made
by Senator Hale for statement of the
activities of the secret service men.
extended replies were made by the
various departments, and all of these
we're forwarded to Senator Hale by
the president. They have not been
made public, and Senator Hale an
nounced that they would not be given
out until after they had been consid-
cred by a subcommittee of the COM
mittee on appropriations, which will
be charged with the duty of acting on
taat portion of the presidents annual
Message relating to the secret service.
Soon after President Roosevelt
communication to Senator Hale was
received at the capitol. it was said that
contained a reflection on a senator
rom a Southern state.
Curiosity Aroused.
The name of the senator in question
was not divulged at the time and, as ?
result. the senate was surcharged witt
curiosity. When it finally became
member named, further efforts wer
made to procure information concern
ing the character of the charges, but
they were unavailing.
Through the fact that several SEN
ators had advance information of the
character of the report, it was learned
that the investigation of Senator Till
man followed an attack he made in the
senate nearly year ago on an Oregon
land company which had used his
name as one of the persons interested
in the concern.
Previous to that attack Senator Till.
man had introduced resolution di.
recting the attorney general to prose.
cute suits against the Oregon railroad
corporation that had received land
grants for line from California points
to Portland, Ore. Mr.. Tillman had
said the use of his name was without
authority, and, as result, it is de.
clared, several persons interested in
the land grants became angered.
President Has Letters.
Some Of the interested parties are
reported to have sent to President
Roosevelt copies of letters alleged to
have been written by Senator Tillman
indicating either that he had an inter
est in one of the land companies or
would be benefited through land com
panies obtaining possession of the
grants in question. After receiving
this information, the president direct
ed secret service operative to inves
tigate the part Senator Tillman was al
legged to have taken in the land cases
The report is understood to contain
an account of the investigation. 1t is
known that the secret service prepared
Photographic copies of Senator Till
mans correspondence, but whether
these exhibits were sent to Senator
Hale is not known.
Senator Tillman was not aware that
his name figured in the reports until
late in the day. He then assured him
self that the reports were well found
ed, but said that he would not make
any statement until the fact of the use
of his name had been officially promul
gated, when he would discuss the mat
ter in the senate.
Promises Reply.
It is known, however, that Mr.. Till
man regards the mention of his name
as an attack on himself by the presi.
dent, and he has indicated to friends
that he will not mince matters in his
reply. He also has declared to those
with whom he conversed that he would
welcome the opportunity to express his
views and explain the situation.