Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-03-04
58TH CONGRESS.
Letter Read in House from
Grover Cleveland,
Saying He Never Entertained Negro
at White House.
Discussion in Senate of Naval Appro.
rriation Bill.

Washington, March Sin the House.
today, IL letter WAS read from Grover
Cleveland to Representative Webb of
North Carolina, denying that c. H. j.
Taylor. q negro. had dired with him in
the White House while he was Presi-
dent, as charged by Representative
Scott of Kansas, Il few days ago. Mr.
Scott promptly offered his apology to
the former President saying he never
before had heard the statement which
he had made denied. A discussion of
the race question followed. during
which Williams. the minority leader
criticised President Roosevelt for hav-
ing invited Booker r. Washington to Il
seat at his table. REPRESENTATIVE Webb
SAID Mr.. Cleveland had been a friend
of the negro, but never had held out to
him the nope of social equality Will
liams said that objection to the APP
rOintinenJ of Il negro 10 Il position was
met with the statement that there
could he no discrimination. but as
serted that Chinamau would not be
appointed a postmaster on the Pacific
coast.
Ht t1OlISt passed. llle ltSlilcI OF CO.
lumbia appropriations lii and took up
the Indian appropriation bill.
Tho House. today, assumed consider
alton Of the Columbia appropriation
bill III committee Of the whole. Law
renee (MassD in the chair.
Webb On. O. calling attention to tho
statement made few Gays ago by
Scott Q\asD that Il negro mad dincd i'll
the " hte House while Mr.. Cleveland
W3s President. announced that he had
| written the former President. sending
! him an extract from the record and
asking if the statements made by Scott
were true. This morning." he said.
TT received the following reply which
| he read amid applause Oh the Demo-
cratic side:
I Princeton, y. j.. March >. 1854.
Hon T. Y. Webb, House o. Repre-
| scntativcs.
| Dear .;ir.-It i; = small concern to
No that 4 Mr.. Scott has seen Ii to use
my Eame in i display Of his evil pro-
psnsitics on the floor Of the House O.,
! Representatives..
! In answer to Your inquiry. however.
I nave 10 SdN tj niS statement INIT
coIored nan. G. H. G.. Taylur took
lunch with ii" at til" White House
thrt il is Il deliberate f2bricItion out
ii whole cloth.
AS far rs Mr.. Taylor l.; concerned.
J understand. prior to his appointment
rs register o. deeds at Washington
that he had served rs an assistant i'll
Inc office Of the city attorney 1T Kan
| Sas City. His nomination rs registrar
was confirmed by the Senate and he
lservcd in that place with intelligence
and efficiency He ms since died.
Sore people restrain themselves from
abusing tn" dead.
My inquiries concerning Mr.. Taylor
before his appointment my ohserva-
ton of him during his incumbency and
the little ! have known Of him since,
,satisfy me that his character is very
uniustly attacked III the diatribc of Mr..
Scott.
One charge is against Mr.. Taylor
by Mir. Scott. which he doubly clinchcs
with truth when he declares 'he was
, y black negro / am led. however. 20
doubt his familiarity with his subject
when lie adds, us black as you eve"
saw'
II '-Yulus very truly.
"GI;ONF.R CLEVELAND"
) Webb said he wanted this denial to
r travel that the statement OF Scott
might hn ovcrtaken.
MIR. cleveland was the friend of the
negro but not a fool friend" said
, Webb. "IIc never by word or act en-
, c0urased the dream of social equality
| l. ~
? This was greeted with applause by
, the Democrats.
again" he continued. ''he was the
friend of the colored man. but he also
wag the friend Of the Southern white
man and sympathized with US in gu"
race problems and race burdens. and
that. sir. is more than Mr.. Roosevelt
seeins ever to have DONE
Scott said he accepted the statement
tof Mr.. Cleveland as true and offered
an apology to the former President. In
Justice to himself. said Scott. he de-
sired to say that he never before heard
the report denied.
Swanson CNal asked Scott where he
had heard the report. to which Scott
replied that he had seen it in the news-
! paners. Swanson asked for a copy rf
the newspaper lHt SN.itt-
, lment. Vcott explained that these state
lments were made several years age
and thd papers might not he easily
1 procured. He said that he had made
t full apology to Mr. Cleveland. Scott
e added that he had brought to Mr.
/, Cleveland for the first time in -four
r years applause from the Democratic
Y side. This was loudly applauded uroi
: the majority side Of the chamber.
Williams bald the whole incident
" showed the underlying Hypocrisy o
: the contention that all men are social
e ly equal. regardless of color, race trait
and tendencies.
The minority leader said he was no
ouarreling with Mr.. Roosevelt. adding
;. rHe has a perfect right to invite ;
4 coIored man AZ he chooses. but as far a.