Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-10-14
A VIOLATION OF COURTESY.
Mr.. Wiman's Dinner at Niagara Over.
stepped the Limits.

BUFFALO. Oct 14-During the early breakfast
at the hotel the members Of the international
American congress indulged in some gossip
over the proceedings at the Clifton house din
ner last night and the committee feel satisfied
that the representatives who had been called
upon to speak had responded with dignity and
had acquitted themselves well from q diplo-
matte point Of view. Mr.. William E. Curtis,
the manager OF the excursion, however, seemed
conversation with Mr.. Wiman. who had given
the dinner, he spoke 20 an Associated Press
representative follows:
Mr.. wiman is one Of the members OF the
committee OF business men in New York ap-
pointed to look after the reception and enter
talnment OF the delegates IN that city. As such
he met us on our way from West Point and
told me he intended 10 be in Niagara when We
were there and would like TO entertain us at
dinner. told him my instructions from Mr..
Blaine we're to accept no hospitallties on Sum-
day. There was q great deal Of confu-
sion in the party at the time, and I
asked him to be good enough to
put his invitation in writing, which he did and
received II at Boston. /; was that we should
dine with him at the Clifton hotel on the Cam
adian side at the end Of our drive, instead Of
going 70 our own hotel for dinner. and he said
that the affair would be entirely informal i
then wrote back, accepting the invitation, but
telling him that il was not certain that all OF
L saw by the newspapers that he had in
vited some Canadian officials TO meet
us. L at once reminded him by telegraph Of
our agreement and told him the invitation had
been accepted upon the understanding that the
affair was to be entirely informal and that no
speecher were TO be delivered. Yesterday
morning upon our arrival in Niagara Falls he
came to see ME and rode with him in q car
riage in the morning. We talked matters over
and 1 explained fully to him Mr.. Blaine's
wishes and instructions, which were that We
should not have any formalities Sun
day, but that we shonld entirely abb
stain from travel and formalities, at
the same time leaving our guests absolutely
free In their engagements on that day. he
understood this fully. / told him il had been
suggested that Doctor Min should recite Q
Spanish poem descriptive of Niagara Falls, and
that this would be entirely approriate and
proper, which he assented TO and agreed that
Doctor Min should be called upon between the
courses and not at the close of the dinner. I
did not attend the dinner myself because felt
that II would be better not to do SO; but noti-
lied MIR. Cornelius Bliss of my agreement
with Mr.. Wiman and Mr. Bliss reminded him
OF that agreement. L was. however. much sur
prlsed of course when learned what had "a ken
place at the dinner. and this morning when
met Mr.. Niman in the station L told him was
very sorry to be compelled to telegraph Mr..
Blaine that our agreement had been violated
by him. reminded him of his promise that
no speeches would be made, whereupon he
repli, d:
There were no speeches. only little talk .
II have informed Mr.. Blaine of the clrcum.
stances and also that understand that before
Mr.. Wiman left New York he placed copies Of
the speech he intended to deliver in the offices
of the newspapers"
The party left Niagara Falls at about $50
O'Clock and at 9:l5 the train drew mp at Buffalo
The excursionists were Immediately driven in
carriages to the city hall, where they we're re-
ceived by the mayor and other notables altar
which they proceeded on q round Of sight-sss-
ing.