The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-06-15
'KINLEYS FOOT
Was Set Down Hard on the
Proposed Arrangement
To Exclude Newspaper COrre-
spOndents From BiItmOre.
WOULDN'T GO A STEP
Unless the Reporters Were Al
lowed to Accompany Him.
George VanderbiIt's Man Con-
cluded to Yield.

Asheville, N. c., June 15.-An unexpect-
ed incident of President McKin1ey's tour
developed yesterday afternoon, when it
became known to newspaper men accom-
panying the party that permission to en-
ter Bntmore house, George W. Wander
bits splendid mansion. had been refused
them while extended to other IaSzn-
bers of the party. Mr.. Vanderbilt is
abroad, and his representative, Charles
NIcNamee is with him. The estate is gov
erned by E. J. Harding.
When waited on by the local committee
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 re-
fused permission to Manager McKissick,
of the Battery Park hotel. in charge Of
the party, and in course of converse ton
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 To-
cal committee to do but withdraw. So
the matter rested until the president ar
rived and J. Addison Porter, his secretary
was told of the incident. He must have
Harding was called up on the telephone
by Mr. Porter and asked if it was true
that newspaper men would not be admit
ted to the mansion. Porter was told
that it was and he then Informed Hard
ing that the president considered the
newspaper men We're his invited guests
on the trip and that they were as much a
contingent of the party as members of
the cabinet. Furthermore. Mr.. Porter no.
i
thorized him to say that if the newspaper
men We're barred from the mansion he
would not step his foot inside the estate.
This brought things to crisis and Mr..
Harding capitulated with the best grace
possible and the newspaper men were adj
mitted to the mansion on the same foot
ing as the president and his cabinet
Before going to Bntmore, Representa-
tive Pearson persuaded Mr.. Mckinley to
attend a meeting a the young mems in
stitute hall of colored people. the gift OF
George W. Vanderbilt. The hall was
filed to its utmost capacity with colored
people, comprising the 1aboring classes,
as well the local colored politicians
and their wives and children. With Con-
gresham Pearson on one side for ten
minutes he shook hands at a rapid rate
with all who were presented to him. It
was very warm work. Presently the
president called for air and seven cOlored
men famed him while the handwriting
went on.
At Biltmore, the luxuries of the library
were fingered over. Mrs. Mckinley was
given a handsome bouquet from Mr.. Van
derbilt's Conservatives as she left the
chateau. The drive continued over the
French Road to the boundaries of the es-
tate, from the river cottage to the en-
trance lodge, and the BfItmore incident
was closed. The train was taken at Bilt-
more station and the journey to Washing
ton resumed at o'clock.
Secretary Alger was indisposed from
the extreme heat of the past two days.
but left Asheville somewhat recuperated.