Evening star., 1902-02-24
At THE WHITE HOUSE
rlos IL!
Senator Tillman's Invitation
to Dinner Cancelled.
DECLINED :: TO RETIRE
TEXT OF THE, PRESIDENTS LET
TER TO HIM.
Many Republican Senator'S Requested
the Action-secretary Cortel-
you Convalescing.


In view OF Saturdays occurrence in the
Senate. 1t was intinated to Senator Tillman
that he should withdraw his acceptance Of
the Presidents invitation to the dinner to
Prince Henry, the President hoping that
under the circumstances the propriety Of
such course would be apparent to Senator
Tillman Senator THlman refused to adopt
the course suggested by his colleague and
fatty declined to withdraw his acceptance
The President was therefore compelled to
notify him that the invitation to the dinner
was withdrawn. An invitation was then
sent to Senator Martin, the next ranking
democratic member of the committee on
naval affairs.
The letter to Senator Tlllman was as fol-
lows:
my Dear Sir: The President regrets that
he is compelled to withdraw the invitation
to you to dine at the White House.
"GEORGE b. CORTELYOU,
Secretary to the President"
Requested by Prominent Senator's.
It Is understood that the President was
requested by republican senator's Of prom
inence to withdraw the invitation as a
mark of resentment at the charges made
in the Senate by Mr.. Tfllman, in effect that
President Mckinney and the republican
leaders in the Senate had used corrupt in
of treaty by the Senate.
There is disposition among some SEN
ators who regard that feature Of the TILL
man episode in the Senate as almost equal
in Importance to the diSreSpect paid the
body by his attack upon Senator McLaurin.
Ii is said that the republican leaders have
become tired of the insinuatons which Mr.
Tillman has from time to time thrown out
and have determined that there must be
an end to them that he must either spec
ify and make good his charges or have
them shown to be false.
This is the sequel to the unfortunate diff
Guilty in the Senate Saturday afternoon.
The President was under the belief, it is
said that Senator Tillman would recognize
the embarrassing features of the situation
regarding an acceptance of the invitation
that had been sent him and would yolun-
tarily withdraw his acceptance of the in
yitation to the dinner tonight. Inasmuch
as this was not done the next easiest course
was taken and that was, as stated, to have
a democratic senator intimate to Senator
Tillman what he ought to do This having
failed the last recourse was adopted
Senator Tillman's friends claim that he
would not have attended the dinner any
how and that he refused to withdraw his
acceptance because he believed that he
had done nothing to require such course.
Mr. Tillman's Statement
Commenting upon, the letter Mr.. Tillman
says: 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 l am hot conscious of having done
anything personal or official which gives
the President the right to insult me, l am
surprised at his action. The invitation to
this dinner came to me unsought and un-
expectedly, and so far as the withdrawal
is concerned it Is q matter of absolute in
difference to me.
1T 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. Prince Henry,
the Presidents guest. comes from a coun-
try where custom makes 1t obligatory upon
any man who regards himself gentleman
to promptly resent an insult and the
method is by challenge to duel. That
was once the custom, but 1t is now obsolete
in the United States and We have been
forced, as people here, to cling to the
Old Anglo-Saxon rule of considering the
lie direct as the first blow. and no man
could hold up his head in decent society
should he, being near enough to answer the
lie with blow, not to give it.
AS Tor my being in contempt Of the Sem
ate, which l presume is the excuse for this
insult at the hands of the President-that
l deny. l 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 a legislative assembly.
1t has the right to expel me If it sees
fit and I am ready to abide its judgment
and action. 1t has the right to arrest me
and to hold me In custody until 1t makes
disposition Of my case; but it has no right
to gag me and the President has no right
to judge me guilty of conduct unbecoming
a gentleman unless he bellies all his ante
cedents. which lead one to believe that he
would have done just as l did under the
circumstances. As to which Of us Is the
gentleman in this matter. in view Of the
unsought invitation to dinner at the White
House and it's indecent withdrawal. am
willing to abide by the Judgment OF all
brave and self-respecting men,
Some Of Today's Visitors.
President Roosevelt saw all Of his visit
ors today. Naturally, account of the
visit of Prince Henry. there were not as
many callers as usual. Senator Proctor
and Representative Cannon had confer
ences during the morning.
Senator Martin Of Virginia was among
those who saw the President during the
afternoon.
Secretary Cortelyou Convalescing.
Secretary Cortelyou. although convalesc-
ing from the severe cold he contracted.
did not go to the White House during the
day. Mr.. Cortelyous two little sons have
also been i'll with an attack Of the grip,
but are Improving
Secretary Cortelyou will probably not
attempt to resume his duties for TWO or
three days.
Young Roosevelt Improving.
Theodore Roosevelt. tr.. continues to i'm
prove. His condition was not changed by
the noise incident to the reception to Prince
Henry he probably knew That something
was going on. but he made no effort to see
anything.
RETI.urir FARM