The record-union., 1897-06-15
NEWSPAPER MEN NOT WELCOME.
AN INCIDENT OF PRESIDENT Nc
KINLEY'S TOUR.
The Manager of George Vanderbiit's
Mansion Hostile to Members
of the Press.

ASHEVILLE On. c.. June 14.-An
UNEXPECTED incident of President Nc
Kinley's tour developed this afternoon,
when it became known to newspaper
men accompanying the party thatsper-
mission to enter Biltmore House,
George w. Vanderbilt's splendid man
sion. had been refused to them, while
extended to other members of the par
ty. 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 COM
mittee of arrangements a day or two
ago for permission for the President
and party to enter Biltmore, he objected
strongly to receiving any members of
the party other than the President and
his Cabinet and the ladies with them
He even refused permission to Mana
ger McKiSsick of the Battery Park Ho-
tel 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 no
toriety, and so do L"
After this there was nothing for the
local committee to do but withdraw. So
the matter rested until to-day, when the
President arrived, and J. Addison POr-
ter, his Secretary, was told of the in
cident He must have informed the
President, for later Mr.. Harding was
telephoned to by Mr.. Porter, and
asked if it was true that newspaper
men would not be admitted to the man
sion. Porter was told that it was and
he then informed Harding that the
President considered the newspaper
men his invited guests on the trip, and
they were as much contingent of the
party as members of the Cabinet
Furthermore, Mr. Porter notified
Harding that the President had author
lied him to say that if the newspaper
men We're barred from the
mansion he would not step his foot in
side the estate. This brought things
to a crisis and Mr.. Harding capitulat-
ed with the best grace possible, and the
newspapermen We're admitted to the
mansion on the same footing as the
President and his Cabinet
Before going to Biltmore. Represen-
tative Pearson persuaded Mr.. McKin-
ley to attend a meeting at the Young
-f1CAA AAASlAtNNC HAL VI COIOISu people.
the gift of George w. Vanderbilt. The
hall was filled to its utmost capacity
with colored people, comprising labor
ing classes as we'll as the local coIored
politicians and their wives and chill
dren. With Congressman Pearson on
one side, for ten minutes he shook
hands at a rapid rate with all who
were presented to him. 1t was very
warm work. Presently the President
called for air, and seven colored men
famed him While the handshaking
went on.
At Biltmore the luxury of the library
was fingered over with special delight.
Mrs. Mckinley was given a handsome
bouquet from Mr.. Vanderbilt's conserv
atory as she left the house. The drive
continued over the entrench broad
bound arches of the estate from the
River Cottage to the entrance. and
the Biltmore incident was closed.
The train was taken at Biltmore sta
ton, and the journey to Washington
resumed about o'clock.
Secretary Alger was indisposed from
the extreme heat of the past two days
but left somewhat recuperated.