Evening star., 1902-02-24
Requested by Prominent Senators.

/ SeCIttd14 ~ the TTeSluenI.
Requested by Prominent Senators.
| It is understood that the President was
! requested by republican senators Of prom
| inence to withdraw the invitation as
| 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
| f1uences to secure votes for the ratification
| of treaty by the Senate.
There is a 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.
| 1t is said that the republican leaders have
| become tired of the insinuations which Mr..
| Tilman 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, 1t is
said, that Senator Tillman would recognize
| the embarrassing features of the situation
| re garding an acceptance of the invitation
| that had been sent him and would yolun-
| tarily withdraw his acceptance OF the in
vitation 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
| Tilman what he ought to do. This having
Senator Tillmans 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 / am not conscious of having done
anything personal or official which gives
the President the right to insult me, am
surprised at his action. The invitation to
this dinner came to me unsought and un-
eXpectedy, and SO far as the withdrawal
is concerned it Is a matter of absolute in
difference to me. SNs.-
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 coun-
try where custom makes it obligatory upon
any man who regards himself gentleman
to promptly resent an insult and the
method is by challenge to a duel. That
was once the custom but it 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 bow. not to give it.
"As for my being in contempt Of the Sen
ate which l presume is the excuse for this
| insult at the hands of the President-that
deny. have been guilty OF breach Of
the rules and the privileges Of the Senate.
The Senate was not sitting as court. but
as a legislative assembly.
1t has the right to expel me If 1t sees
fit and l am ready to abide its judgment
and action. 1t has the right to arrest me
and to hold me in custody until it makes
disposition OF my case; but it has no right
to gag 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 | 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, 1 am
willing to abide by the judgment OF all
brave and Self-respectfng men,
Some Of Today's Visitors.
President Roosevelt saw all Of his visit
ors today. Naturally, on 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 Presiaent 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. Cortelyou's 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
three days.
Young Roosevelt Improving.
Theodore Roosevelt, IT,. 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.
BELLvUE FARM.
The 100000 Dairy Plant Owned by
Chriof;on Hourich