Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1905-10-16
LIGHTNING CHANGE ARTIST
eov CHANGES HIS MIND ONCE MORE AND
PRESENT LITTLE ROCK
PRESIDENT RoosEvELT's CITY. BUT WILL
NOT SIT WITH POWELL CLAYTON

Governor Jeff Davis has announced
that he will remain in Little Rock to
take part in the reception and enter
tainment of President Roosevelt as
far as the visit to Fort Logan II.
Roots and the mass meeting at the
city park is concerned, but he has reit-
Grated his declaration that he will not
sit at the same table with Gen. Powell
Clayton at the luncheon to be tender
ed to the president at the Scottish
Rite consistory, says the Little Rock
Gazette of Sunday.
Governor Davis did not communi-
cate with the executive committee
yesterday, but in communication to
the Gazette he announced that he had
not receded from his intention that
he would not sit at a table with Gen.
Powell Clayton.
1t was learned yesterday that in
sending his ultimatum to the execu-
tive committee Thursday Governor
Davis declared that he would not sit
at the table with Gen. Clayton or with
Judge John II. Rogers, United States
judge of the western district of Ar
Kansas It is understood that the gov
ernor receded from his position so far
as Judge Rogers is concerned and the
only question now at issue is the invi-
tation extended to Gen. Clayton. form
e: ambassador to Mexico under the
Roosevelt administration. The protest
made by Governor Davis against the
presence of Judge John H. Rogers is
said to have been due to personal
dislike. Judge Rogers is said to have
expressed his opinion of Governor Da-
Wis in no uncertain manner in the
presence of the governor himself and
this is said to have been the cause of
the governors refusing to sit at the
same table with him. 1t being under
stood. however that Governor Davis
has waived this question the only
point to which the governor now OBJ
jects is the presence of Gen. Powell
CLAYTON
-. Governor Davis issued the following
statement last night in explanation of
his position:
The Governors Statement.
October IA, 1905.
To the Editor of the Gazette:
notice in your paper this morning that
yc'l say that there has been a dis
agreement between the committee and
myself, and that have changed my
mind and will not be present on the
occasion of the visit of the president.
In this onnection / beg to say that
Mr.. Rogers. the chairman of the COM
ittee on entertainment, has treated
me with uniform Courtesy and kind
ness in the attempt to arrange the
program, and there has not been the
slightest occasion for any statement
that there is any uncertainty about
my presence on the 25th I shall be
here and shall perform any services
can in the reception of the president,
his drive to Fort Logan H. Roots, and
his reception at the park; but the
committee and myself disagreed as to
some features of the entertainment of
the president at luncheon. They in
sisted that I sit at the table with Cen
Fowell Clayton. and this I declined to
Go. Mr.. Rogers suggested that this
matter could be amicably settled at
the meeting Monday, and I am quite
sure that it was not his intention to
air the matter through the papers.
hut since you have taken occasion 10
do so. and that, too, upon erroneous
information. I desire to state for your
correction and for the benefit of the
public in general. that l will perform
to officially welcome and entertain the
president while in our city. But I
will not attend any banquet or sit at
any table at which Powell Clayton is
the euest of honor do not feel that
it is necessary that this should be
done by me in order that I may show
my appreciation of the visit of the ma
tiCn's chief executive.
regret that this matter should
hav" !,aen aired through the press
and 20 this method of advising the
pu' y 20 that there will be no uncer-
tsi:,tv as to my position in the mat
ter. Very respectfully,
JEFF DAVIS,
Governor.
Gn-c"-' Clayton Not Guest of Honor.