The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-03-04
CLEVELAND NEVER
OINED THE NEGRO
DENIED 1T TO THE HOUSE.
SCOTT ACCEPTED HIS STATEMENT
AND APOLoGIZED.

Cleveland Regretted That His Name
Had Been Used In a Display of
SCOTS EVIL Propensities'--Web
of North Carolina Wanted CIeve-
lands Denial KnONvn-WiIIinms
Discusses the Booker Washington
Dinner.
Washington. March S.-In the House
to-day letter from Grover Cleveland
to Representative Webb of North Car
DINA, was read, denying that c. II. j.
Taylor, a negro, had dined with him at
the. White House while he was Presi-
dent, as charged by Representative
Scott of Kansas a few days ago.
Mr.. Webb said he had written the
former President, sending him an ex-
tract from the Record, and asking II
the statements made by Mr. Scott were
true.
This morning." he said. Il received
the following reply, which he read
amid applause on the Democratic side:
Letter from Cleveland.
princeton, N. J., March 2. 1904.
'E. Y. Webb, House of Representa-
tives:
Dear Sir-It is a matter of small
concern to me that Mr.. Scott has seen
fit to use my name in display of his
evil propensities on the floor Of the
House of Representatives
I'm answer to your inquiry, however,
l have to say of his statement that the
colored man, c. II. ]. Taylor took
lunch with me at the White House,
that it is a deliberate fabrication out
of whole cloth.
"As far as Mr.. Taylor is concerned,
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 abus-
ing the dead.
my inquiries concerning Mr.. Taylor
before his appointment, my observa-
ton of him during his incumbency and
the little l have known of him since,
satisfy me that his character is very
unjustly attacked in the diatribe Of
Mr.. Scott
"One charge is made against Mr..
Taylor by Mr.. Scott, which he doubiy
He was black negro l am led, how
ever, to doubt his familiarity with his
subject when he adds: AS black ast
you ever saw
(Signed) yours very truly,
Grover Cleveland"
Mr.. Webb said he wanted this de-
NAL to travel, that the statement of
Mr.. Scott might be overtaken.
Not a Fool Friend.
MIR. Cleveland was friend of the
negro, bnt not fool friend" said Mr..
Webb. "He never by word or act en-
Outraged 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 also was 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 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 justice to himself. 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 re-
he had seen the statement in news
papers.
Mr.. Swanson asked further for a
copy of a newspaper containing he
statement.
Mr.. Scott explained that these state
ments 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
Mr.. Cleveland for the first time In
four years applause from the Demo-
cratic side. This was loudly applauced
upon the majority side of the cham
Der.
RooscveIt's Example.
Mr. Williams. the minority leader,
charged that Mr. Roosevelt had 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 negro to positions
in the South the statement Is made
that there can be no discrimination on
account OF color, but. continued Mr.
Williams, the administration would not
appoint chinaman as a postmaster
on the Pacific coast II he possessed
the ability Of ii Hung Chang
Mr.. Williams said the whole inch
dent was a telling blow al the abb
stract theory of general equality. and