The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-06-15
PRESIDENT SAID s'NO.''
Diseonrtesy to Newspaper Men Re.
sented.
INTERESTING INCIDENT OF PRESI.
DENTS VISIT TO ASHEVILLE.

Mr.. Mckinley Invited to Visit the Wander
bilt Estate Biltmore But Refused to
Enter Until Invitation Was Extended
TO Newspaper Representatives in His
Party.
Asheville, N. G., June 14.-An unex-
pected incident of President Mckinley S
visit here while on his way home from
Nashville, developed this afternoon when
it became known to newspaper men ac-
comparing the party that permission to
enter Biltnore house, George W. Wander
bilt's splendid mansion, had been refused
to them while extended to other members
Of the party. Mr.. Vanderbilt is abroad
and his representative, Charles McNamee
is with him. In the absence of both, the
estate is governed by E. j. Harding, said
to be an Englishman by birth. When
waited on by the local committee of ar
rangements day or two ago for permits
sion for the President and party to enter
Biltmore house, he objected strongly to
receiving any member of the party other
than the President and his cabinet and
Ull6 ldulGS WluA UAClll III GN6n refused
permission to Manager Nick issick of the
Battery Park hotel. in charge of the party
here, and in the course of conversation
with two members of the committee said
"Mr. Vanderbilt spits ON newspaper
notoriety and SO do l."
| After this there was nothing for the 10
cals.committee to do but withdraw. So the
matter rested till today when the Presi-
| dent arrived and J. Addison Porter, his
secretary, was told of the incident. He
must have informed President Mckinley,
| for later Mr.. Harding was called up on
the telephone by Mr.. Porter and asked il
| it were true that newspaper men would
not be admitted to the mansion. Mr.
Porter was told that it was true, ano
when he informed Mr.. Harding that the
| President considered the newspaper men
were his invited guests on the trip, and
that they were as much contingent of the
party as members of the cabinet. Mr.
Porter notified Mr.. Harding that tht
President had authorized him to say that
| if the newspaper men were barred from
the mansion, he would not put his foo
inside the establishment. This brough
things to a crisis; Mr.. Harding capitulate(
with the best grace possible and the news
paper men were admitted to the mansion
on the same footing as the President ant
his cabinet.
Before going to Biltmore, Representa-
tive Pearson persuaded Mr.. Mckinley t.
attend a meeting at the Young Mem
Institute hall for colored people, the gif
of George W. Vanderbilt. The hall wa
filled to its utmost capacity with coloret
people, comprising the laboring classes a
well as local colored politicians and thei
wives and children. With Congressman
Pearson on one side, for ten minutes, the
President shook hands at a rapid rate
with all who were presented to him
Presently the President called for a chat
and seven colored men famed him whilt
the handshaking w ent on. At Biltlnore
the luxuries of The library were fingered
over with special delight. Mrs. McKin
ley was given handsome bouquet from
Mr.. Vanderbilt's conservatory as she lef
the chateau. The drive continued owe
the French Broad boundaries of the estat
| from the river cottage to the extranc
lodge and the Biltmore incident was
closed The train was taken at Biltmore
station and the journey to Washington re
| sumed at six O'Clock.