The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1904-03-11
GIVES 1T THE LIE
Grover Says he Did Not Lunch
With Colored Man
AscHARaED BYA coNGRE. sMAN
Social Equality of the Hooscveltion
Variety Discussed in Very
Plain Manner in the
House Thursday.

House Thursday.
In the house Thursday letter from
Grover Cleveland to Representative
Webb Of North Carolina was read de-
nying that G. II. ]. Taylor, negro,
had dined with him at the White
House while he was president, as
charged by Representative Scott Of
Kansas few days ago. Mr.. Webb
said he had written the former presi-
dent sending him an extract from
The Congressional Record and asking
II the statements made by Mr.. Scott
were true.
This morning." he said, 81 receiv.
ed the following reply" which he
read amid applause:
Princeton, N. j., March ?.
e. Y. Webb, House Of Representa-
tiveS.
Dear Sir: 1t is matter of small
concern to me that Mr.. Scott has
seen tit to use my name in a display
OF his evil propensities on the floor of
the house of representatives. In an
SWer to your inquiry, however, l have
10 say OF his statement that the col
ored man, 9. II. j. Taylor, took lunch
with me at the White House that it
is 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 Lis appointment, my observa-
ton OF him during his incumbenc
aud the little have known or him
since satisfy me that his character is
very unjuStly attacked in the diatribe
OF Mr.. Scott.
One Charge is made against Mr.
Taylor ty Mr.. Scott which he doubly
clinches with truth when lhe declares.
He wa. black negro.n / am led
however, to doubt his familiarity with
his sugg eStion when he adds: "As
black Us you ever saw"
Yours very truly,
GROVER CLEVELAND.
Mr. Webb spid lhe war ted this de-
nial stn, RAJ, ~ :, l.ta tepnent of
Mr.. Scott;n shtsbe overt aiken. -,s-i,---4
Mr.. Cleveland was friend of the
negro, but not fool friend" "said Mr..
Webb. He never by wcrd 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 continue |, She was
the frierd Of colored men, but he also
was the friend of the sol thern white
II an 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
MIR Scott, he desired to say that he
never before heard the report denied.
MIR. Swanson Of Virginia asked MIR.
Scott where he had heard the report,
to which Mr.. Scott replied that he
had seen the statement in newspa.
perS.
MIR. Swanson asked further for
copy OF a 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 lie
had mD6p tull 1nnlnr, 70
land.
Mr.. Scott added that he had
brought to Mr.. Cleveland for the irst
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 mad dined
Booker Washington to carry the light
OF example to the south which does not
believe In social equality. When a
question Is raised, he said, against the
appointment OF a me- = ~ positions in
the south the statement is made that
there can he no discrimination on ac-
count of color: but, continued Mr.
Williams, the administration would
not appoint Chinaman as O. postmas.
ter on the Pacific coast if he possessed
the ability of Lii Hung Chang. Mr..
Williams said the whole incident was
a telling blow at the abstract theory
OF general equality and that it is a
discovery Of the underlying hypro.
crisy of the contention THAI all men
are socially equal, regardless of color,
race, traits and tendencies"
Mr.. Scott desired to know who had
been asserting social equality.
/ have understood" replied Mr..
Williams, that the political theory
OF your household political faith for
the last 20 years has been that men,
regardless of color, race traits, ten
dencles, characteristics, capabilities
or what-not ought to be strictly equal
politically" and said social equality
must follow.
But that Is not all, The head OF
your party set the example of social
equality In the only manner it can be
set by inviting Il black man to a
table"
MIR. Williams said thai If what the
president had done was not to carry
the light of example it was done for
no purpose at all.
1t was an unconscious exhibition. ,
continued the minority leader, "of
the arrogance that teaches men now
N n I,A, .l,. 4 a l..