The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-03-03
Cleveland Indignantly Denies
Mr.. SeOtt's Statement
That the Ex-President Enter
tanned a Negro at Luncheon.
TRIBUTE TO TAYLOR
Says His Character Has Been
Unjustly Attacked.
Writes q Letter to Webb, of
North Carolina.

Washington, March 3.-The house to-
day in the committee of the whole re-
sumed consideration of the District of
Columbia appropriation bill.
Mr.. Webb IN. Co. calling attention to
the statement made a few days ago by
Mr.. Scott (Kan.) that a negro had
dined in the White House while Mr..
Cleveland was president, announced
that he had written the former presi-
dent, sending him an extract from the
record and asking if the statements
made by Mr.. Scott were true.
This morning." he said, 'I received
the following reply" which he read
amid applause on the Democratic side,
as follows:
Princeton. N. J., March 1.
Hon. E. Y. Webb.
Dear Sir:-It is a matter of small
concern that a Mr.. Scott has seen fit
to use my name in a display of his
evil prOpensitieS on the floor of the
house of representatives.
In answer to your inquiry, however,
I have to say of his statement that the
colored man. c. H. J. Taylor took lunch
with me at the White House, that it is
a deliberate Justification out of the
whole cloth.
LAS far as Mr.. Taylor is concerned,
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 ne
served in that place with intelligence
and with efficiency. He has since died.
Some people restrain themselves from
abusing the dead.
MY inquiries concerning Mr.. Taylor
before his appointment, my observation
little 1 have known of him since con-
vince me that his character is very
unjustly attacked in the dfatribe 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 I am led, however, to doubt
his familiarity with his subject when
he adds, AS black as you ever saw
Yours very truly,
GROVER CLEVELAND"
Mr.. Webb said he wanted this denial
to travel that the statement of Mr.
Scott be overtaken.
"Mr. Cleveland was friend of the
negro, but not a fool friend said Mr..
Webb. He never by word or action
ity in the breast of the black man.
This was greeted with applause by
the Democrats.
Again" he continued, che was the
ITlenQ OF In0 cOlOTeQ Hail. Oul A4S was
also the friend of the southern white
man and sympathized with us in our
race problem and race burdens and
that, sir, is more than Mr.. Roosevelt
seems to have DONE"
Mr.. Scott said he accepted the state
ment of Mr.. Cleveland as true and Of
fered his apology to the former presi-
dent. In justice to himself, said Mr..
Scott, he desired to say that he never
before heard the report denied.
Mr.. Swanson (Va.), asked Mr.. Scott
where he had heard the report to which
Mr. Scott replied that he had seen the
statement in newspapers. Mr.. Swan
son asked further for a copy of a news
paper containing the statement. Mr.
Scott explained that these statements
were made several days ago and the
papers might not be easily procured.
He said that he had made full apology
to Mr.. Cleveland. Mr.. Scott added that
he had brought to Mr.. Cleveland for
the first time in four years applause
from the Democratic side. This was
loudly applauded upon the majority side
of the chamber.