The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1897-06-17
PRESIDENT At HOME.
The Mckinley Party Reached
Washington This Morning.
THE MAJOR REBUKED A CAD.
eanderbilts English Manager Denied the
Journalists Admittanoe to Biitmore
House--The President Refused to Enter
Until the Ban was Removed.

WASHINGTON, June 15.-The presi-
dent and party returned home from
Nashville this morning at z 80.
AsHEvILLE, N. c., June 15.-An un.
expected incident of President McKin-
ley's visit developed when it became
known to newspaper men accompany
ing the party that permission to enter
Biltmore house, George w. Vanderbilt's
splendid mansion, had been refused to
them while extended to other members
of the party. Mr.. Vanderbilt is abroad
and his representative, Charles McNa.
NEE, is with him. In the absnce of
both, the estate is governed by Il. j.
Harding, said to be an Englishman by
birth
When waited on by the local commit.
tee of arrangement day or two ago
for permission for the president and
party to enter Biltmore House he OBJ.
jected strongly to receiving any mem.
bers of the party other than the presi-
dent and his cabinet and the ladies
with them. He even refused permis.
sion to Manager Mckissick of Battery
Park hotel, in charge of the party here
and in the course of conversation had
with two members OF the committee
said:
"Mr. Vanderbilt spits on newspaper
notoriety and so do l."
After this there was nothing for the
local committee to do but withdraw.
So the matter rested until the president
arrived and j. Addison Porter, his Sec
retary, was told of the incident. He
must have informed the president, for
later Mr.. Harding was called up on the
telephone by Mr.. Porter and asked If 1t
were true that newspaper men would
not be admitted to the mansion. Por-
ter was told that it was, and he then
informed Mr.. Harding that the presi-
dent considered the newspaper men his
invited guests on the trip md that they
were as much a contingent of the party
as members of the cabinet.
Furthermore, Mr.. Porter notified Mr..
Harding that the president had author
lied him to say that if the newspaper
men were barred from the masion he
would not step his foot inside the
estate. This brought things to a crisis
and Mr.. Harding capitulated with the
best grace possible and the newspaper
men were admitted to the mansion on
the same footing as the president and
his cabinet.
Before going to Biltmore, Representa-
tive Pearson persuaded Mr.. Mckinley
to attend meeting at the Young Mems
Istitute hall for colored people, the gift
of George w. Vanderbilt. The hall
was filed to its utmost capacity with
colored people. comprising the laboring
classes as well as local colored politi-
clans and their wives and children.
With Congressman Pearson on one side
for ten minutes he shook hands at a
rapid rate with all who were presented
to him. Il was very warm work.
Presently the president called for air
and seven colored men famed him
while the hand shaking went on.
At Biltmore the luXuries of the IL
brary were fingered over with especial
delight. Mrs. Mckinley was given a
handsome bouquet from Mr.. Wander
bilt's conservatories as she left the cha.
teau. The drive continued over the
French broad boundaries of the estate
from the river cottage to the entrance
lodge, and the Biltmore incident was
closed.
The train was taken at Biltmore sta.
Jion and the journey to Washington
then rpSume6