The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1904-03-08
CLEVELAND GIVES IT The LIE.
Saws Ee Did Not Have Negro Dine With
Him at White House. as Charged B.
Congressman Scott.

II the national house OF repre-
sentative> oil Thursday. letter
from Grover cleveland to Repre-
sentative Webb. OF North Carolina.
was read denying that {. II. J..
Tavlor. a negro. had dincd with
him at the White House while he
was president, as charged by Rep
resentative Scott. OF Kansas, few
davs ago. Mr.. Webb said he had
written the iorn1er president send
inc him an extract from The Con-
eress;onal Record and asking if
the statements made hy Mir. Scott
were true.
This morning" he said. Il re-
ceived the following reply, which
he read amid applause:
: Princeton. y. l.. March ?.
E. y. Webb, House OF Representa-
tlves.
Dear Sir: It is a matter of small
concern to me that Mr.. Scott has
seen fit to use my name i'll dis
play OF his evil propenSities on the
floor OF the house OF representa-
tiveS. In answer to Your inquiry,
however, have to say of his state
ment that the colored man. G. H. J..
Taylor. took lunch with me at the
White House that is it deliberate
facbrication out OF whole cloth.
AS far as Mr.. Taylor is concern
ed, | understand. prior to his ap-
pointment as register of deeds at
Washington that he had served as
an assistant in the Office OF the city
attorney at Kansas City. His
nomination as register was confirm
ed By the senate and he served in
that place with intelligence and eff
ciencv. He has since died. Some
people restrain themselves from
abusing the dead.
My inquiries concerning Mr..
Taylor before his appointment, my
observation OF him during his in
cumbencv, and the little have
know of him since satisfy NE that
his character is very unjuStly at
tackled in the diatribe of Mr.. Scott.
One charge is made against MIR.
Taylor by Mr.. Scott which he doub-
" clinches with truth when he de-
clares: He was a black negro. |
am led, however, to doubt his ia
nailiaritv with his suggestion 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 might be overtaken.
Mr.. Cleveland was a friend Of
the negro, but not a fool friend,
said Mr.. Webb. He never BY
word or action encouraged the
social equality 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
was also the friend of the southern
white man and sylnpathized 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 for
mer president. In justice to HIM
self. said Mr.. Scott, he desired to
say that he never before heard the
report denied.
Mr.. Swanson OF Virginia asked
Mr.. Scott where he had heard the
report to which Mr.. Scott replied
that he had seen the statement in
newspapers.
Mr.. Swanson asked further for
copy containing the statement.
Mr.. Scott explained that these
statements We're made several Years
ago and the papers might not be
easily procured. He said thar he
had made i,1ll apology to AEr. Cicve-
land.