The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-09-18
SIR THOMAS SIGHTED
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT SEEMS TO
BE DISCOURTEOUS.


Oyster Bay. Sept. IAN unpleasant
episode. with a phase of international
interest, has been the outgrowth of a
dinner to be given next Friday night,
the 18th inst, by the S~eawanhaka
Corinthian Yacht Club. Through a
series Of misapprehensions on the part
seemingly of some members of the
club, an apparent slight has been put
upon Sir Thomas Upton and the pres
ident has been placed in the attitude
of being discourteous to the British
yachtsman. President Roosevelt is an
active member of the S~eaWanhaka
Club, as are many OF the best known
yachtsmen of the east, and Sir Thomas
Upton holds an honorary membership
in the club. Colgate Hoyt, of New
York chairman of the board of trus-
tees of the Seawanhaka Club, rendered
the president an invitation to attend
the annual dinner Of the organization
mex Friday night and at the same
time he extended to him an invitation
to be a guest of the Ohio Society of
New York, at a Inner to be given by
the society some time during the ap-
] preaching winter.
With expressions of appreciation OF
the courtesy shown him by the invita-
tons, the president informed Mr.. Hoyt
that he felt obliged to decline them.
He had declined many other similar
invitations and felt, therefore that it
would not be fair to all Of his friends
to accept those rendered by Mr.. Hoyt.
Mr.. Hoyt was insistent, however,
that he should attend the yacht club
dinner and the president, AFTER beng
assured that it was to be purely a
"~neighborly affair."" consented to be
present for a short time. He expressly
stipulated that it was not to be a
formal function to be attended by
guests outside of the club, that it was
to be Simply a dinner of the club men,
bers. Mr.. Hcyt readily acquiesced in
the presidents suggestion.
Subsequently Secretary Loeb. nav
ing learned that Sir Thomas Upton
and members Of his party o So
journing the United States probably
would be guests at the dinner, in
quired of Mr. Hoyt if they were to
be in attendance. He told Mr.. Hoyt
that, under The agreement made, if
there were to be other guests, the
president would feel obliged to de-
cline the invitation extended to him.
He informed Mr.. Hoyt that the pres
III was oDllSSQ 10 lIlSlSl ludC lIlS
dinner be what he was assured it
would be, purely a neighborly af-
fair
Last Friday, Secretary Loeb receiv-
ed a letter from Mr.. Hoyt assuring
him that the dinner would be con
Quoted in accordance with the pres1-
dent's desires.
Secretary Francis Stewart, of the
Seawanhaka Club, is inclined to as
$780, -o-& - 49, L1.-~o g.
pleasantnesS which has developed. He
had extended an invitation to Sir
Thomas to attend the invitation being
extended as a member and not on be-
half of the club, the rule of the club
permitting this. Mr.. Hoyt declared
that any sensation made out of the
matter must be "cut from the whole
CLOTH" He said that President Roose-
welt was to be the only guest of honor
at the dinner and that there a been
no thought of having any other.
A STATEMENT FROM THE PRESI-
DENT.
Oyster Bay, L. l., September 14-B1
authority of the president, the state
ment was mad today that the compli.
cation which arose over the Seawanha-
ka-Corinthian Yacht Club dinner had
developed from a misunderstanding
IHe pTtSluelI explained 10 COlOLeI bdle
Hoyt, chairman of the board of trustees
: of the club, la he could not attend
a large formal dinner as by so doing he
would be unjust to many friends and
organizations whose invitations to sim
! liar affairs he had been obliged to de-
cline.
The president further wishes it to be
known that he did not in the remoteS
way object to the presence OF Si1
Thomas Upton at the dinner. Mr.
Hoyt after seeing the president today
gave out a statement quoting a letter
from Secretary Loeb, saying it would
be a particular pleasure to the president
if Sir Thomas Upton could come to the
dinner, that he has a high regard fol
Sir Thomas and earnestly desires that
he be present at the dinner Mr.. Hoy
says nothing was farther from the pres
ident's thought than to bar Sir Thomas
or any n else from the dinner.
SATVASTIRN CAVALRY