Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-02-27
.INVI'T 4 7 10 n
To TILLMAN
RECALLED
SENATOR FROM SOUTH CAROLINA
COULD NOT ATTEND DINNER
TO PRINCE HENRY AT
WHITE HOUSE.

WASHINGTON, Feb 24-The president
has withdrawn his invitation extended
to Senator Tillman, of South Carolina,
to attend the dinner to be given tonight
in honor of Prince Henry, of Prussia, at
the White House.
1t is stated that this action on the
part of the president was made neces-
sary from the fact that it was due to the
occurrences on the floor of the senate last
Saturday when the senator from South
Carolina was declared in contempt of the
senate.
Senator Martin of Virginia, member
of the committee on naval affairs, has
accepted an invitation in Mr. Tillman's
place.
The invitation was extened originally to
Mr.. Tillman owing to the fact that he
is the ranking minority member of the
naval affairs committee.
Senator Frye. president pro tenn. of the
senate, gave directions to the clerks OF
the senate today that the names of Sensr
tors Tillman and McLaurin, of South Carr
DINA, must not be called on roll calls until
further notice.
This fixes the status of the senators,
who are practically suspended from all
senatorial functions.
The president sent for Senator Cockrell,
of Missouri, and asked him as a friend
and democratic colleague of Mr.. Tillman
to suggest to the latter the propriety of
withdrawing his acceptance of the din
ner invitation.
Mr.. Cockrell accepted the commission
and later telephoned to the president that
Mr.. Tillman absolutely refused to with
draw his acceptance, in response to the
presidents suggestion.
The president Immediately cancelled the
invitation in a note he dispatched d.
rectly to Mr.. Tillman.
Commenting on the letter Mr.. Tillman
says:
1.-THE president. of course, has the right
to invite any one he chooses to dine with
him officially or otherwise and also has
the right to withdraw such invitation. As
am not conscious of having done any
thing personal or official which gives the
president the right to insult, 1 am sur
prised at his action. The invitation to the
dinner came to me unsought and unex-
pectedly, and so far as the withdrawal is
| concerned, it is a matter of absolute In
difference to me.
cit is the motive behind It which seeks
to put me in the condition of unworthiness
to meet the president and his guest before
final action by the senate comes from
country where custom makes II obligatory
upon any man who regards himself a gen.
tleman to promptly resent an insult and
the method is by challenge to duel.
THAT was once the custom, but it is
now obsolete In the United States. and we
1
to the old Anglo-Saxon rule of consider
ing the lie direct as the first blow and no
man could hold up his head in decent So
ciety should he, being near enough to an
swer the lie with blow, not to give it.
LAS for. my being in contempt of the
| senate which presume is the excuse for
this insult at the hands of the president
| that I deny. 1 have been guilty of a
breach of the rules and the privileges of
the senate. The senate was not sitting
as a court but as legislative assembly.
at has the right to expel me II II sees
At and 1 am ready to abide by fits judg-
ment and action. 1t has the right to ar
rest me and hold me in custody until it
makes disposition of my case, but it has
no right 20 gag me, and the president has
no right to judge me guilty of conduct
unbecoming a gentleman until he bellies
all his antecedents, which lead one to
believe that he would have done just as
I did under the circumstances.
"As to which of us is the gentleman in
this matter. in view of the unsought in
vitation to dinner, at the white house, and
its indecent withdrawal, I am willing
to abide by the judgment of all brave and
self respecting men,
The first roll call in the senate on the
Philippines bill was on an amendment
presented by Mr.. Patterson repeating the
Philippines commission seditionNlaw
When the place was reached where Mr..
McLaurin's name should have been called
Mr.. Patterson rose and protested against
the skipping of McLaurin's name.
There were cries of Regular order on
the Republican side and the chair direct
ed the roll call to proceed.
Mr.. Turner continued to discuss the
matter, although many points of order
were sustained, Mr.. Turner appealing each
time and insisting on his right to be
heard. Efforts were made to prevent him
from proceeding. Finally Mr.. Turner rose
to a question of personal privilege and
Mr.. Frye said he felt bound to recognize
any senator who rose to question or
privilege, and Mr.. Turner proceeded ques-
tioning the right of the senate or presi-
dent pro tenn. to deprive member of the
senate of the right to vote.