Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1909-01-12
Benz. T11lman.


some of the outrageous charges
made by him against congress as a
whole, so he picked out Benz. Till
man, upon whom to vent his wrath.
For a year Senator Tillman has
been in very bad health and his
physicians have pronounced his
trouble hardening of the veins, and
persons thus affected are kept from
excitment and excess of exertion,
and to take tbs best of care of
themselves. The president placed
his special detectives to watch the
senator, and at last brought forth
this charge in a letter to Senator
Hale.
That Mr.. Tillman used his in
huence as a senator in an effort to
force the government to compel a
railroad corporation to relinquish
its control of land grants from the
United States in order that he and
his family and his secretary, ]. B.
Knight, might profit through the
purchase of some of the land.
That the senator used his govern
ment franking privilege in numer-
Gus instances for the conduct of
private business.
The presidents communication to
Senator Hale is almost 5000 words
long and exhibits are appended, in
clucing copies of letters written by
Senator Tillman and his agent,
William E. Lee, showing that they
did make an effort to secure several
manifestations of the Oregon
land, and the reports of the post
Office inspectors who investigated
the transactions of the land agents.
The president has even gone so
far, it is alleged, as to have his
secret service men rummage
Senator Tillman's private desk and
take therefrom valuable papers
which were important to substan-
tiate his defense Yesterday, SEN
ator Tillman replied to the presi-
dents charges and so riddled them
that it is doubtful whether any
thing further can be done than to
decently inter them in Roosevelts
cemetery of political mistakes.
Senator Tillman at the conclusion
of his remarks said
THE president, said Mr.. Tillman,
it alicizes the words AS well as my
self, as though it were unlawful,
immoral or improper for senator
to buy any land or to act in this
chamber on any question affecting
his personal interest. | fail to see
any sense or reason in this position;
but 1 must submit that to the
Judgment of the senate and the
country. I had not become a party
to any litigation; | was not in
terested except as a private indi-
vidual wanting to purchase, and as
a senator desiring to enable others
to have the opportunity to do so.
OF course, the president is sure
that I have done something very
discreditable and outrageous. He
hates me and would destroy me if
he could. The man who an
nounces to congress that he, Theo-
dore Roosevelt, assured the right
to permit the steel trust to absorb
its greatest rival contrary to law,
would doubtless not hesitate to help
his dear friend Hartman in holding
10000 600 acres of the public domain
because Ben Tillman has contem-
plated and wanted to buy LAO
acres. The president having con-
victed TiAman proceeded to clear
Dofr in both cases contrary to the
facts and smilingly states from the
center of the stage, which it is his
greatest delight to occupy, and
complacently looks to have the
American people and the senate
give their approval to his verdict.
| await that verdict calmly and
without fear and will gladly abide
by it.
I'm conclusion, Mr.. President,
court the most searching investiga-
ton. Nay, | demand it. declare
most enphatically l have never
sought to conceal my effort to buy
land. spoke to the attorney gen
eral about it; 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 concerning
it. The question of motive will, at
last cont-ol, and it cannot be shown
that have any reason to conceal
anything. invite comparison of
my private life and my public work
as man and a senator, with Theo-
dore Roosevelt or any other man,
and feel absolutely sure of the
ground upon which I stand.
THE presidential electors met in
Madison yesterday, cast their votes for
VIM. H. Taft for president and james