The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-02-28
DEWEY DEFENDED.
GDsvey, Day" committesmhn Takes
up the cudgels IN Behalf Of
'WHFfLNG'S RECENT GUEST.
BE Really Did More Than BE had
Promised the Local People to DO
During his Stay Hsre-critieism
Of the Hero Of Manila Is Certainly
nl-Timsd, and without FOunda-
tion-whssling Favored.

ul-Timed, and Without Founda-
tion-whesling Favored.
Since the departure OF Admiral Dewey
Thursday night for washington, there
has been more or less Of unfavorable
comment, principally because the adj
,mlral failed, to show himself at the
Mcclure Wednesday night, at the pro-
posed informal reception. and again
the following night at the banquet OF
the Society OF the Sons Of the Revoiu-
ton. Last night, a prominent Dewey
Day committeeman. in the course OF a
conversation with an Intelligencer re-
porter, took up the cudgeis in defense
Of lie admiral. II defense is neees-
sary, which the Intelligencer does not
believe to be true. Said the committee
man:
Admiral Dewey did more than the
committee requested him to do at the
time. they called on him in Washington
CITY. When he was invited to visit our
civ. It was with the understanding that
II was for the purpose of attending the
ceremonies. connected with presenting
the Fort Henry tablet to the city OF
wheeling and the presentation Of the
sword to Lieutenant Doddrldge. 1t was
the intention Of the committee in that
connection, however to have parade
and a public reception, In order to ena-
Bile our people TO see, and II possible
10 meet the admiral. At the time the
committee called upon the admiral in
washington a representative Of the Or
panlzatlon contemplating giving ban
1uet the evening Of the 22nd invited the
admiral to be It's guest. He promptly
accepted the invitation, thinking 1t was
given through the committee. The &C.
ceptance Of this Invitation made 1t I'M
possIble for the committee to hold
public reception on Thursday evening
"The committee, still being DESTROYS
OF holding n public reception, wrote the
admiral, Inqulring as to whether or not
II would be agreeable to him II we were
TO hold It early In the evening, SO as not
10 interfere with the banquet. he re-
nlIed as follows: IF the committee
should prefer to substitute a reception
70 the banquet, say between and 10
O'Clock, shall interpose no objection
From the wording OF his letter 1t can be
seen that he was Of the impression that
the committee had charge OF the ban
uuet. The committee did not wish TO
Inerfere with his attending the BAN
ouet consequently It was poweriess to
do anything in regard to holding n pub
lie reception.
mo arrangements were made to give
n reception at the Mcclure Wednesday
evening. Expecting the Admiral and
Mrs. Dewey to stop at the hotel, the
lady guests, with a few assistants, were
requested to be in the parlor upon their
arrival. to give them a welcome. but
not to detaIn them longer than about
ten minutes This arrangement caused
n rumor to be circulated that there was
to be a reception. No reception was
contemplated; and It is not just to the
Admiral to say he did not keep the
engagement ut that time, as he had
not even been consulted. He begged
TO be excused from, going into the ho-
fol. for tho reason that he was not suit
ablv dressed: did not have on his uni
form. and wished to rest, in order to
be In good condition for the exercises
the following day. He stated that he
would do anything the committee
wished him to do on Thursday and ne
kept his word to the very letter.
"He did not come here for the purpose
OF placing himself on exhibition in two
parades and at the Loan Exhibition,
given for charitable purposes, but when
requested by the committee to do he
promptly complied.
'He went stiIl further. He said he
would 20 in the parade In the snow and
rain. or he would attend a public recep-
ton in the afternoon, which ever the
committee agreed upon. The grand
marshal, with some Of the committee.
being anxious to do what was best for
ali. and to enable as many as possible
10 sec the Admiral, decided to hold a
public reception instead Of the parade.
But this met with dlsapproval by the
visiting organizations and hundreds In
sisted that the programme be carried
out, which was accordingly done.
"ais failure to attend the banquet Is
n matter concerning the Admiral and
the organization that invited him, and
not the public or the committee. That
was a matter over which the committee
had no control.
"The Admiral IS far from being fond
OF show. In fact. he dlslikes It. He
IL, like nIi great men, modest, warm
hearted and easily approached. He Is
exceedingly fond OF children. He would
embrace almost every opportunity
that presented itself to take the hand
or stroke the head Of n little tot. He
frequently requested the soldiers act
ing as guards Of honor to not treat the
spectators roughly or to injurc any one
with their hayonets and guns, which
they were using to keep back the surg
Ing crowds as the carriage passed along
the streets.
'I believe our people do not fully
realize the distinguished honor con-
ferred upon us by the Admiral's visit to
our city. Many are not aware Of the
fact that great pressure was brought
to bear by representatives OF other
cities TO induce him to break his en-
gaFement to visit US. He persistently
refused 10 break his promise, and has
declined hundreds Of invitations TO visit
larger cities, such rs Chicago st. Louis
and Philadelphia.
'AIrs. Dewey was not able to accom-
pany the Admiral, on account Of illness
caused by n cold contracted while In