The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1904-03-09
GIVES 1T THE LIE
Grover Says He Did Not . Lunch
With Colored Man
BY 4 CONGRESSMAN.

Social Equality or the ROOseVeltlon
Variety Discussed in Very
Plain Manner in the
House Thursday.
In the house Thursday letter from
Grover Cleveland to Representative
Webb Of North Carolina was read de-
nying that C. H. J. Taylor, a negro,
had dined with him at the White
House while he was president, as
charged by Representative Scott Of
Kansas a few days ago. Mr.. Webb
said he had written the former preSi-
dent sending him an extract from
The Congressional Record and asking
if the statements rnade. by Mr.. Scott
were true.
"This morning." he said, II receiy-
ed the following reply" which he
read amid applause:
Princeton, N. j., March 2.
E. Y. Webb, House Of Representa-
tiveS
Dear Sir: 1t is a matter of small
concern to me that Mr.. Scott has
seen fit to use my name in a display
Of his evil propensities on the II ,ur Of
the house Of representatives. In an
swer to your inquiry, however, have
to say Of bis statement that the col
ored man, e. HI Taylor, took lunch
with me at the White House that it
is a deliberate fabrication out Of the
whole cloth.
As far as Mr.. Taylor is concerned, l
understand, prior to his appointment
as register Of deeds at Washington
that he had served as an assistant in
the office Of the city attorney at Kan
sas City. His nomination as register
was confirmed by the senate and he
served in that place with intelligence
and efficiency. He has since died.
Some people restrain themselves from
abusing the dead.
My inquiries concerning Mr.. Taylor
before his appointment, my observa-
tion Of him during his incumbency,
and the little 1 have known Of him
since satisfy me that his charactereis
very unjustly attacked in the diatribe
Of Mr.. Scott.
One charge is made against Mr..
Taylor by Mr.. Scott which he doubly
clinches with truth when he declares.
''He was a black negro" l am led,
however, to doubt his familiarity With
bis suggestion when he adds: AS
black as you ever saw"
Yours very truly,
GROVER CLEVELAND.
Mr.. Webb said he wanted this de-
NAL to travel that tie statement of
Mr.. Scott might be oyertaken.
Mr.. Cleveland was a friend Of the
negro, but not a fool friend" said Mr..
Webb. He never by word or action
encouraged the dream Of social equal
ity in the breast of the black man."
This was greeted with applause by.
the Democrats.
Again." he continued, "he was
the friend Of colored men, but he also
was the friend of the southern white
man and sympathized with US in our
race problems and race burdens, and
that, sir, is more than Mr.. Roosevelt
seems ever to have done"
Mr.. Scott said he accepted the
statement of Mr.. Cleveland as true
and offered his apology to the former
president. In justice to himself, said
Mr. Scott, he desired to say that he
never before heard the report denied.
Mr.. Swanson of Virginia asked Mr..
Scott where be had heard the report,
to which Mr.. Scott replied that he
had seen the statement in newSpa-
perS.
Mr.. Swanson asked further for a
copy of i newspaper containing the
statement. Mr.. Scott explained that
these statements were made several
years ago and the papers might not
be easily procured. He said that Re
had made full apology to Mr.. Cleve-
land.
Mr.. Scott added that he had
brought to Mr. Cleveland Tor the first
time in four years applause from the
Democratic side.
This was loudly applaudcd upon the
majority side Of the chamber.
Mr.. Williams, the minority leader,
charged that Mr.. Roosevelt had a!2ccd
Booker Washington to carry the light
OF example to the south which does not
believe In social equality. When a
question Is raised, be said, against the
appointment Of negro to positions In
the south the statement is made that
there can be no discrimination on &C
count OF color: but, continued MIR.
Williams, the administration would
not appoint Chinaman as postmas-
ter on the Pacific coast if he possessed
the ability of Ii Hung Chang. Mr..
Williams said the whole incident was
telling blow at the abstract theory
of general equality and that it is
discovery Of the underlying hypro-
crisy of the contention that all men
are socially equal, regardless Of color,
race. traits and tendencies"
Mr.. Scott desired 10 know who had
been asserting social equality.
Il have understood, replied Mr..
Williams, THAT The political theory
of your household political faith for
the last ~ years has been that men,
regardless of color. race, traits, ten