The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1902-02-27
TILLMAN IS BARRED
President Withdraws Invitation
to PRICE Henry Di"ner.
SENATE FRACAS THE CAUSE
South CaroIinan Defies Request OF
President and Declares He Has
Been lnsulted-Salty
Comment.

invitation extended to Senator Till
nan, of South Carolina, to attend the
dinner given last Monday night in
honor Of Prince Henry, of Prussia, at
the white house.
It 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 SEN
ate Saturday, when the senator from
South Carolina was declared in con-
tempt Of the senate.
Senator Martin, OF Virginia, mem
| ber of the committee on naval affairs,
refused an invitation in Mr.. Tillman's
place.
The invitation was extended origi-
nally to Mr.. Tillman owing to the fact
that he Is the ranking minority men,
ber of the naval affairs committee.
Senator Frye, president pro TEN, OF
the senate, gave directions to the
clerks of the senate Monday morning
that the names Of Senators Tillman
and McLaurin, Of South Carolina, must
not be called on roll calls until fur
ther notice.
There was a sensational sequel to
the decision of the president to elimi-
nate Senator Tillman from the list OF
dinner guests. The president sent for
Senator Cockrell, Of Missouri, and
asked him as friend and democratic
colleague of Mr.. Tillman to suggest to
the latter the propriety OF withdrawing
his acceptance of the dinner invitation.
Mr.. Tillman absolutely refused to
withdraw his acceptance, in response
to the presidents suggestion. The
president Immediately cancelled the
invitation in a note he dispatched d.
rectly to Mr.. Tillman.
Curt Note to Tillman.
The following is the letter from the
white house withdrawing Mr.. Till
mans invitation to dine there Monday
night:
white House, Feb. 24-The presi.
dent regrets that he is compelled to
withdraw the invitation to you to dine
tonight at the white house.
Very truly yours,
GEORGE B. CORTELYOU,
Secretary to the President"
Commenting on the letter, Mr.. Till
man 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 I am not con-
scious of having done anything person
al or official which gives the president
the right to insule, l am surprised
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
Indifference to me.
ut is the motive behind it which
seeks to put me in the condition OF un.
worthiness to meet the president and
his guest before final cction by the
senate comes from country where
customs makes it obligatory upon any
man who regards himself gentle.
man to promptly resent an insult and
the method IS by challenge to duel.
THAT was once the custom, but it is
obsolete in the United States, and we
have been forced as a 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 give 1t.
"As for my being in contempt Of the
senate which l presume is the excuse
for this insult at the hands Of the
president, that l deny. have been
guilty of a breach Of the rules and the
privileges of the senate. The senate
was not sitting as court, but as leg
islative assembly.
1T has the right to expel me If it
sees fit, and I am ready to abide by
it's Judgment and action. 1t has the
right to arrest me and hold me in Gus
tody until it makes disposition Of my
case. but 1t has no right to gag me,
and the president has no right to judge
me guilty of conduct unbecoming
gentleman until 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, am
willing to abide by the judgment OF