The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-06-15
AND THE SCR|BES ENTER
Reporters Visit Mr.. Vanderbilt's
House With Mckinley.
WEREN'T TO Be ADMITTED
But When the President Declared That
He'd Remain Away II Newspaper
Men Were Excluded. Things
Changed Color.

Asheville. n. c., June 1i.-An unex-
pected incident Of President McKin-
ley's tour developed this afternoon,
when IL became known to the newspa-
per men accompanying the party that
permission 10 enter Biltmore house.
George w. Nanderbilt's splendid man
sion, had been refused To- them, while
extended To other members of the
party. Vanderbilt is abroad and his
representative, Charles A. &. McNa-
NEE, Is with him. In the absence of
both the estate is governed by r. j.
Harding. said to be an Englshman by
birth. When waited on by the local
committee OF arrangements day or
TWO ago for permission for the president
and party To enter Bitmore, he object
ed 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
Manager A. G. Kissick of the Battery
Park hotel. in charge of the party here.
and IN the course of conversation had
with y members of the COMMITTEES, said:
Mr.. Vanderbilt spits on newspaper no.
toriety. 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
Porter. his secretary. was told of the
incident. He must have informed the
president, for later. Mr. Harding was
called up on the telephone by Porter
and asked IL IL was true that newspa-
per men would not I've admitted to the
mansion. Porter was told that il was.
and hl tbp.l infnrnltA HARDING n hat H..
president considered that the newspa-
per men were his invited guests on the
trip and that they were as much a
contingent of the party as members of
the cabinet Furthermore. Porter noti-
fled Harding that the president had
authorized him to say that II the news
paper men were barred from the man
sion he would not step his foot inside
the estate. This brought things to a
crisis, and Harding capitulated with
the best grace possible and the news
paper men were admitted 10 The man
sion or the same footing as the presi-
dent and his cabinet.
Before going to Biltmore. Repre-
sentative Pearson persuaded Mckinley
to attend meeting at the Young Mems
Institute hall OF colored people, the gift
of George W. Vanderbilt. The hall was
filed to the utmost capacity with col
ored people. comprising the laboring
classes, as well as local colored politi-
clans, and their wives and children.
With Congressman Pearson on one side
for 10 minutes he shook hands at a rap
id rate with all who were presented to
him. IL was very warm work. Present
ly the president called for air and seven
colOred men famed him while the hand :
shaking went on. Al Biltmore the lux
uries of the library were fingered over
with especial delight. Mrs. Mckinley
was given handsome bouquet from
Nanderbilt's Conservatives as she left
the house. The drive continued over
the French Broad boundaries of the
estate from the river cottage TO the en-
trance lodge. and the Blltmorc incident
was closed
The train was taken at Biltmore sta
tion and the journey to Washington
resumed at O'Clock.