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

| AAANS
Henry, of Prussia, at the White
House. It is stated that this action
on the part of the President was
made necessary from the fact that,
owing to occurrences on the floor of
the Senate last Saturday, the Sena-
tor from South Carolina was declared
in contempt of the Senate. Senator
Martin, of Virginia, accepted an in
vitation in Senator Tillman's place.
The invitation was extended to Sena-
tor Tillman, owing to the fact that
he is the ranking minority member
of the naval affairs committee.
There was sensational sequel to
the decision of the President to elm
mate Senator Tillman's name from
the list of dinner guests. The Presi-
| dent sent for Senator Crockrell, of
Missouri, and asked him, as a friend
and Democratic colleague of Senator
Tillman, to suggest to the latter the
propriety of withdrawing his accept
ance of the dinner invitation. The
President explained his attitude in
the matter and said that, in view of
the contempt proceedings, Senator
Tillmau's presence would not only
be an affront to the Senate, but dis
| courtesy to Prince Henry. Senator
Cockrell accepted the commission
and later telephoned to the President
that Senator Tillman absolutely re-
| fused to withdraw his acceptance in
response to the Presidents sug-
gestion. The President then i'm
mediately cancelled the invitation in
note he dispatched directly to Sen
ator Tillman shortly before noon to-
! day. In this note, which was very
brief and formal, the President stated
he regretted be was obliged to with
draw the invitation. simultaneously
Senator Martin, of Virginia, WAS in
vited to take Senator Tillman's place
at the dinner as the next ranking
Democratic member Of the Senate
| naval affairs committee.
FHE PRESIDENTS LETTER.
The following is the letter from
the White House withdrawing Sena-
| tor Tlllman's invitation to dine there
tonight:
"White House, February "a.
s'The President regrets that he is
compelled to withdraw the invitation
Il
to you to dine tonight at the White
House,
Every truly yours,
"George B. Cortelyou,
"Secretary to the President"
SENATOR TILLMAN's COMMENT.
Commenting upon the letter Sena-
tor 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 I am not con-
scious of having done anything, per-
sonal or official, which gives the
President the right to insult me,
am surprised at his action. The in
vitation to this dinner came to me
unsought and unexpected, and so fa1
as the withdrawal is concerned it is
matter of absolute Indifference to me-
It is the motive behind it which seeks
to put me in the condition of unwor,
thiness to meet the President and
his guest before final action by the
Senate. Prince Henry, the Presi
dents guest, comes from country
whose custom makes 1t obligatory
upon any man who regards himself
gentleman to promptly resent an IN
suit, and the method is by challenge
to q duel. That was once the Gus
tom. but it is now obsolete in tht
United States, and we have beer
forced as a people here to cling tt
the old Anglo Saxon rule of consld
ering the lie direct as the first blow
and no man could hold up his heac
in decent society should he, being
near enough to answer the lie with
blow, not give it.