The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1904-03-11
NEGRO DID NOT
EAT WITH GROVER.
Former President Comes Out With
A FIat-foOted Denial Of Story
That Ne Entertained a Negro
At the White House.

Washington, March A. lin the House
Thursday, Mr.. Webb, of North Caro-
ina, called attention to .he statement
m AIDE a few Gays ago BY Mr.. Scott, OF
Kansas, that negro had dlned IN the
White House while MIR. Cleveland was
presIdsnt, and said that he had WIT
ten the former President. sending him
AN extract from the record and asking
MIN If the statement made by MI.
Scott was true. TINS morning, said
Mr.. Webb II received the following
reply." which he read amid applause
on the Democratic side:
princeton. March 2. 1904. Hon.
f. H. Webb, House of Representatives.
Dear Sir: 1t Is matter OF small con-
Germ to me that Mr.. Scott has seen mt
to use my name In a display OF MS
evil porpensitles on the moor OF the
House of representatives
I'm answer TO your inquiry, now
ever, / have to say of his statement tina
the colored man, 9. 2. ). Taylor
took lunch with me at the Wnlte
House, that it Is deliberate taorlca-
ton out of whole cloth.
s.As far as Mr.. Taylor il concerned l
understand prlor to his appointment
az Register of Deeds at Washington
that he had served as an assistant In
tine office of the City Attorney at Kan
sas CITY. His nomination az Register
was confirmed by the Senate ana ne
served In that place with Intelligence
and efficiency. He has since died.
.sSome people restrain themselves
from abusing the dead. My inquiries
concerning Mr. TAYLOR before his ap-
po,ntment, my observation OF him dur
ing his lncumbency and the little
have known of him since. satisfied me
that his character Is very unJustly at
tacKed in the diatrlbe of MI. Scott.
lone charge Is made against Mr..
'Iavlor nv Mr.. scott which he douoly
cllnchAs with truth when he declares
He was a black negro. l am led'
however, to DOUBT his familiarity wnen
he adds as black as you ever saw.
Yours very truly. ),
Mr. Webb said he wanted this denIal
to travel. that the statement OF MT.
Scott might De overtaken.
"Mr. Cleveland was friend OF the
naoro. INT not a fool friend, SAID
Mr. Webb. He never by word or act
encouraged the dream OF social equsl'
ity in the breast of tho black man
This was greeted with applause py
the Democrats .ho
"Aga1n," he continued, me was ING
friend of the colored man. but ne was
also the friend of the Southern Whi.o
man, and sympathlzed with us IN ouI
race problems and race burdens; ana
that. sir, is more than Mr.. HooseVei'
seems ever to have done.
Mr.. Scott said he accepted tine state,
,nsnt of Mr.. Cleveland as true anu
offered mis- apology to the former Presl-
dent. In Justice to himself. SAID MI.
Scott. he desired to say that ne never
heard the report denied.
.Does the gentleman agree tnat IL
would be improper and show LACE OF
dignity for the President OF the
United States, or an ex-Presideht'
TO rush into PRINT and deny every
nawsnaper statement that might %
nutY'' asked Mr. HardwIck Ga. J. !.
Mr. Scott replied that he was not
crit,c,sln NJ the former President OF the
limited States for not having hereto
fore made denial. o..
II was giving him full credit foc the
denial he now makes, ne adaeu.
Mr.. Williams said the whole incident
showed ''the underlying hypocrisy OF
tine contention that all men are socially
equal, regardless of color, race trait
and tendencies. - -
Mr. Scott inquired who had been
asserting social equality. - r-
II nave understood, replied Mr..
Williams, that the political theory OF
YOUR household OF political faith tor
the last twenty years has been that
men, regardless Of color, race. traits,
tendencies, capabilities or what not
ouuht to be strictly equal politically;
but that Is not all, the head OF your
marty act the exam pie of social equality
in the only manner in which II can DC
set nv inviting a black man to his
20 h,e II what the President has done
| :. - ,arrv tho tiOht Of example,