The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-04
MR.. CLEVELAND SAYS No
NEGRO EVER SAT At HIS
TABLE IN WHITE HOUSE
Flatly Contradicts Statement
Made by Representative Scott,
of Kansas.
LETTER IS READ IN HOUSE
Spicy Debate Over the Question OF
Negroes Taking Lunch with
Presidents.

| he President as charged Dy REPRE-
sentative Scott, of Kansas. few days ago.
was read. Mr.. Scott promptly offered his
| apology to the former President. saying he
never before heard that statement which he
made denied. A discussion Of the race ques-
ton followed, in which Mr.. Williams, the
minority leader, criticised President Roose-
welt for having invited Booker T. Washing
ton to a seat at his table. Representative
Webb said Mr.. Cleveland had been a friend
OF the negro, but never had held out TO him
the hope of social equality. Mr.. Williams
said that objection to the appointment of a
negro to position was met with the state
ment that there could be no discrimination,
but asserted that Chinaman would not be
appointed postmaster on the Pacific coast.
MIR. CLEVELANDS LETTER.
Soon after the House opened Mr.. Webb
announced that he had written the former
President, sending him an extract from
the Record, and asking if the statements
made by Mr.. Scott were true. This morn
ing" he said 81 received the following
reply" which he read, amid applause on
the Democratic side:
Princeton, March g.
Hon. E. Y. Webb. House of Representa-
Dear Sir-It is a matter of small con-
Germ TO me 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 in
| quiry however, have to say of his state
ment that the colored man, G. II. j. Tay-
! Tor, took lunch with me at the White
| House, that IL is a deliberate fabrication
| out of whole cloth.
"As far as Mr.. Taylor is concerned. 1
| 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 Kansas City. His
nomination register was confirmed by
| the Senate and he served in the place with
intelligence and efficiency. He has since
died. Some people restrain themselves
| from abusing the dead.
MY inquiries concerning Mr.. Taylor be-
| fore his appointment, my observation Of
| him during his incumbency and the little L
| have known of him since satisfied me that
| his character is very unjustly attacked in
| the diatribe of Mr.. Scott.
| "One charge made against Mr.. Taylor
by Mr.: Scott he doubly clinches with truth
| when he declares: He was black negro
| 1 am led, however. TO doubt his familiarity
when he adds as black as you ever saw
GROVER CLEVELAND"
| Mr.. Webb said he wanted this denial to
| travel that the statment OF Mr.. Scott might
be overtaken. Mr.. Cleveland was a friend
| of the negro. but not fool friend" said
| Mr.. Webb. He never by word act en-
couraged the dream of 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 the colored man, but he was also the
| friend of the Southern white man and SYM
! pathized with us in our race problems and
| race burdens and that, sir, is more than
| Mr. Roosevelt seemed 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 JUS
| tice to himself, said Mr.. Scott, he desired
| to say that he never heard the report de-
| MED.
CHEERS FOR CLEVELAND.
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.. Swan
son asked further for copy of news
paper 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 he had
made full apology to Mr.. Cleveland Mr..
Scott added that he had brought to MIR.
| Cleveland for the first time in four years
applause from the Democratic side. This
was loudly applauded upon the majority
side of the chamber.
Mr. Williams, the minority leader
charged that Mr.. Roosevelt had dined
Booker Washington 10 carry the light OF
1
| leve in social equality. When a question
| is raised, he said. against the appointment
| of a negro to positions in the South the
statement is made that there can be no
| discrimination on account of color, but
| added Mr.. Williams, the administration
would not appoint Chinaman as post
| master on the Pacific coast If he possessed
the ability of Ii Hung Chang.
| II remember distinctly that when Mr.
Taylor came back from Washington" saiC
| Mr. Scott preceded by the announcement
| hat he had annOfntp0
recorder of deeds in the District of Column
bia by President Cleveland, his friends me-
him at the Union Depot. Kansas City, witt
a carriage to which was attached four white
horses committee was with the car
riage, and he was escorted TO public hall
and then he boosted. according to the re-
ports of the newspapers, that 1t remained
for a Democratic President notwithstand
Ing the professed good will to the negro al
ways shown by the Republicans to enter
tain at his table at the White House fol
the first time a negro. That matter wa:
published very broadly and generally
throughout the State of Kansas that it wa:
impressed upon my memory.
What evidence have you that he evel
made that boast?" queried Mr.. ShackleforC
missouri.
NO evidence but newspaper reports.
replied Mr.. Scott.
Does not the gentleman agree that i
would be improper and a lack of dignity fol
the President of the United State or an eX
President TO rush into print and deny every
newspaper statement that might be pu
out2' asked Mr.. Hardwick (GeOrgia)-
Mr.. Scott replied that he was not CRITICS
ing the former President of the United
States for not having heretofore made
denial. Il was giving him full credit FOL
| the denial he now makes" he added
| Mr.. Williams said the whole incident
showed the underlying hypocrisy of III,
contention that all men are socially equal
regardless or color, race, traits and ten
| denotes.
SIR. Scott inquired who had been assertins
social equality.
Il have understood" replied Mr.. vii
liams, that the political theory of YOU
twenty years has been that men, REGARDLESS,
OF color. race, traits, tendencies. capabil
| tiles or what not, ought TO be strictly eoua
| politically; but that is not all; the head n
your party set the example of social equal
! ity in the only manner in which il can b,
| set-by inviting a black man to a table
| III what the President had done was no
TO carry the light of example il was don,
for no purpose at all"
The minority leader said he was no
quarrelling with Mr.. Roosevelt, adding
''He has a perfect right to invite col
ored man If he chooses. but, as far as
know. he waited until he was President q
, | the United States. il would bear an of
| cial stamp, before he ever did it,"
Mr. Scott said he had made no imputa flo,
| OF fault against Mr. Cleveland. He simpl,
| cause the Democratic party had gone int,
Mysteries because one man had invited ;
, | colored man 10 his table.
| ''All right" said Mr.. Williams, Il an
| glad TO hear that, because L thought IN
} | gentleman had sharp stick and was afte
, | my dear and much-adored old friend Gro
yer Cleveland" Qaughter)