The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1902-02-28

" ashlngton, February 2l.-The
President has withdrawn hi., invita-
ton extended to Senator Tillman. of
South Carolina, to attend tho dinncr
to be given tonight in honor of Prince
Henry, Of Prussia, at the White
House. 1t il stated that this action
on tho part Of tho President WAS
made necessary from tho fact that,
owing to occurrences on tho floor OF
the Senate last Saturday, the Soma,
tor from South Carolina was declared
in contempt of tho Senate. Senator
Martin, of Virginia, accepted an in
vitation in Senator TilImnn's place.
The invitation was extended to Sena
tor Tillman, owing to the fact that
he is the ranking minority mombor
Of the naval affairs committee.
Ihore was Il sensational sequel to
the decision Of the President to elm
mate Senator Tillmun's name from
the list of dinner gucsts. Tho Presi
dent sent for Senator Crockrel, of
Missouri, and asked him, us Il friend
and Democratic collouguo of Senator
Illlman, to suggest to tho latter the
proprioty of withdrawing his accept
ance of the dinner invitation. The
PRESIDENT explained his attitude in
the matter and said that, in view of
tho contempt proceedings, Senator
1lllmah'a presence would not only
be an atfront to the Senate, but dis,
courtesy to Prince Horny. Senator
Cockrell accepted tho commission
and later telephonod TO tho President
that Senator Tillman absolutely re-
fused to withdraw hia acceptance in
response ia tho prosidonts sug.
gestion. The President then i'm
mediately cancelled the invitation in
a note he dispatched directly to Son
ator Tillman shortly before noon to.
day. In this note, which WAS very
brief and formal, the President stated
be regretted he WIS obliged to with.
draw the invitation. simultaneously
Senator Martin, of Virginia, WAS in
vitod to take Senator Tlllmnn's place
at tho dinner as Tho next ranking
Democratic memhor of tho Senate
naval atfairs committoe.
THE PRESIDENTS LETTER.
The following is tho lotter from
the White House withdrawing Senu-
tor Illlman's invitation to dine there
tonight;
| "White House, February 81.
"The President regrets that he ia
compelled to withdraw the invitation
to you to dine tonight at tho White
House.
| "Very truly yours,
"Georgo Is. Cortelyou,
| "Secretary TO the President"
SENATOR TIII.MAN's COMMENT.
| Commenting npon tho letter Sona.
tor Tillman says: E.
"The President, Of course, has the
right to invite any one he chooses tc
dine with him, officially or otherwise
and also has tho right to Withdraw
such invitation. As | am not con
scious OF having done anything, por
sonal or official, which gives th,
President tho right to insult mo,
am surprised at his action. Tho in
vitation to this dinner came to IN,
unsought and unexpected, and 30 fa
rs the withdrawal is concerned it is
matter Of absolute Indifference to me
1t is the motive behind it which seek
to put me in the condition of unwor
, thiness to meet tho President ant
his guest before final action by th'
Senate. Prince Henry, tho Presi
:, dents guest, comes from countr,
whose custom makes 1T obligator,
, upon any man who regards himself
gentleman to promptly resent an in
suit, and the method is by challeng
to duel. That WAS once the Gus
tom, but it is now obsolete in tn
t United States, and we have beer
= forced as a people here to cling t
, the old Anglo Saxon rule of consid
ering the lie direct as the first blow
and no man could hold up his hea
y in decent society should he, bein
. near enough to answer tho lie with
blow, not give it.