Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-01-09

d. In this letter Mr.. Lee explains
that he had written Senator Tillman
fully as 10 the status Of the land mat
ter. advising him that 1t was good
gamble" but that the senator was lee
turing, so that he did not get Mr..
Lees letter until q week and q half
later"
The letter continues:
IN case Senator Tillman gets In
on this deal with some good land IN
the eight quarters We want. ] am
satisfied that he can be OF great help
In getting matters starter from
Washington and cause the govern
ment TO get busy and do something
along the line you desire.
viii Set UP Howl.
"'He will set up such a howl that
it will be impossible to do otherwise.
This will be very important for your
whole scheme to have a man OF his
influence here to aid you at this
end OF the line. By all means save
lot OF good land for US. as we intehi
to be OF more value than any one OF
the others In this matter.
Then Is quoted Senator Tillmans
resolution providing for the institu-
lion OF the land suits. after which
the President quotes from the sena-
tors letter OF February Is to Messrs
Reeder & Watkins.
Says the President:
He stated that what he
has done in stirring up the
question OF the Oregon land grants
to the railroads has been done en-
tirely apart from any personal inter
est he has in the matter and adds
Although I never would have mad
my attention called to it but for the
investigation as set on foot in connec-
ton with the proposed purchase by
ne OF some Of the land in question.
or course II | decide to make the ten
der and go into the lawsuit, l VIII
bear your proposition in mind. but
would have you understand that
nothing I do here in the Senate Will
be done because of any personal
purchase ot any VI thc 'oh"' -
can succeed in causing the govern
ment 20 institute suit for the recovery
OF the land and make 1t easier for
O, hers as we'll as myself rhe Italics
are mine) to obtain some Of 1t. snail
do 1t without any regard to the deal
ings with your firm
Wanted Some of Land.
81 still waat 10 get some or the
timber land If Z. IS possible and as
it is possible that Mr.. Lee or some
other representative OF mine will be
in your country in the next t"'
months. we will lave the matter &
payment 70: t.r initiatory steps ana
subsequent proceedings in allegiance
for the present. Any contract we
might make will be entirely apart
from, and independent Of my work
here. will be glad for you to hold
In reserve eight Of the best quarter
sections CT which you have definite
information and I will in the mean
time press the investigation and
other work here. which will facilitate
the final purchases. and in enect
obviate the necessity for your max
ing any case in the courts at all
Sent in Franked Envelope.
This letter. purely pertaining 10
Mr.. Tillman's personal and private
business. was sent in a franked enve'
lope OF which I attach Photographic
COPY marked Exhibit D5.'
Il call your attention to the letter
Of Mr.. Door to the postmaster gen.
eral. under date Of November p.
1905. Exhibit E. in which he asks
for relief from the charges which
Senator Tillman had brought against
him. saying that he had no knowledge
that Senator Tillman desired MS
operations to be kept hidden and
secret from general public knowl-
edge.
The postmaster general seems to
indicate that this young man. Mr..
Door. acted in good faith. but that
he used Senator Tillman's applica-
ton for land as an advertisement