The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-04-08
HAI%O TIME FOR FASHIONABLE
FRU.IIS AND FRINOIITIES.
SO ne STUCK 20 TIE FROCk
Mr.. Bailey Gives His seasons For sol
Aitiring Himself AS do
Other Men.
(\ew York JournalD

Representa- tive Bailey. of Texas,
the leader of the Democratic forces in
the House of Representatives. was
recently invited To attend dinner
given by President Mckinley. at the
White House. Mr.. Bailey declined
the invitation, and later gave as his
only reason the fact that he is not
the possessor Of dress suit, does not
Ike that form of evening attire, and
objects to being the only person pre-
sent without one. Mr.. Bailey has at
tended other dinners at the National
capital, but at all of them has re-
ligiously adhered to the frock coat.
Washington, April 4.-One of the first
public men of national reputation, if not
the first in the United States, to rebel
against the wearing of dress suit was
Attorney General Garland, head of the
Department of Justice during Mr.. Cleve-
lands first term.
Cabinet circles, as well as Washington
social circles in general were amazed
when it became known that one of the
reasons why Attorney General Garland
refused to attend the usual functions Of
the administration was because of the
fact that he was expected to appear in a
dress suit. Asked this evening for his
reasons, if he still held any, for his OBJ
jections to the dress suit, Mr. Garland
said:
GARLAND GIVES HIS VIEWS.
ITO begin with, am not any more pre-
JUDGED against what is known as the
dress suit than / am against any other
special style of dress. My contention is
that a man who invites me to dine with
him has NO right to prescribe how /
shall dress. I claim that the convention
aities of society have no right to invade
my personal privileges, which are to dress
as deem proper, provided I am clothed
like an ordinary decent American citi-
zen.
81 am well aware that my views on
the subject of dress during Mr.. Cleve-
lands first administration were a fruitful
theme Of gossip on the part Of the cor
respondents at this point, as well as the
fact that l remained away from all Pres
idential and Cabinet functions. Why,
did not even attend Mr. Clevelands
wedding which was held at the White
House, simply because / would not 60
dressed in the plain, everyday garb
of the American Citizen without inviting
more comment and criticism than l wish
ed to draw upon myself
But it was not alone because the
mandates of society demanded that when
| attended a public function l should be
clothed in a conventional suit that I re-
manned away. When l came to Wash
ington it was with the firm determination
to devote myself to the public service.
There was much to do. The entente cor
dale between the State had been in a
great measure restored, and there was
much important legislation for the South
ern States to be looked after / found
that if | did my duty l could not spend
seven or eight hours twice or three times
a week at the dinner table When /
first arrived in Washington l was in
ylted by Senator David Davis to "a din
ner at his house, which / did not attend.
Senator Davis was quite offended because
L was not present, and demanded an
explanation, which l gave. His reply
was that if l ever attended a dinner
within his knowledge he should take it as
a personal slight, and in all my public
life l never violated the rule"
BAILEY DISLIKES DRESS SUITS.
The views Of Representative Joseph
w. Bailey, the Democratic leader in the
House, who is responsible for the pre-
sent agitation ON the subject of dress
suits, are similar to these Of Mr.. Gar
land in great part. He says:
'"The fact Of my not wearing a dress
suit is of too little Importance to be dis
cussed. Since the knowledge Of that
fact, though, has started a discussion,
can only say with the old Latins that
there is no disputing tastes. With my
self it is more than prejudice. do not
like dress suits, and have never worn one
do not say that never shall.
II believe, socially, in the adage that
when in Rome you must do as the Ro-
mans do. 1t is a custom at all social
affairs of prominence to wear dress
suits. AS l do not wear one. I there
fore decline all such invitations as that
extended by President Mckinley. My
declining such an invitation means moth
ing else than my dislike to a dress suit"
Friends Of Mr.. Bailey say there is more
method than prejudice in his refusal to
wear a dress suit. They intimate that he
finds in this an excuse for avoiding the
inroads social duties would make on
his personal conduct.