The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1907-01-30
HAVE DUEL
OF WORDS
President Gives Def TO the
Octupi
AT GRIDIRON CLUB MEET
Chief Executive and Fire Alarm
Foraker Have Heated
Debate

WASHINGTON. Jan. 30.-The Grid
iron club of Washington has issued q
statement which corrects ON a minor
point the published story OF the per.
sonal clash between President Roose-
welt and Senator Foraker at the club
dinner on Saturday night, but which
does not deny that there was such a
clash nor that the president dehed
Foraker, j. Pierpont Morgan and ii.
II. Rogers TO their teeth. In fact, the
statement seems indirectly to confirm
the essential features OF the contro-
versy. The clubs statement follows:
'''Ihe executive committee OF the
Gridlron club desires TO say that the
published article concerning q discus.
sion between President Roosevelt and
Senator Foraker at the dinner Is false
and misleading.
This article carries the assertion
that President Roosevelt In a running
comment on the features OF the dinner
said. AN coons look alike 10 me- and
that Senator Foraker quoted the line
also and added. And all other persons
look alike TO me-
what happened was that President
Roosevelt read from the clubs Joke
book the line. All coons look alike to
me- which appeared under a cartoon
OF Senator Foraker. quoted II and then
added. And all white persons look
alike TO me Also and went on with his
speech.
1t Ia the invariahle rule Of the club
that no reports OF the speeches Of it,
guests shall be printed. and Il places
IT, guests Oh honor la that regard. The
story was not printed In any news
paper that was represented at the din.
ner either by me Ter Of the club OF
as a guest
The Grldiron club. which Is compos-
ed OF the Washington correspondents
Of all the great American and foreign
newspapers. entertains at IT, annual
dinners many eminent men. and. ~
the proceedings are supposed 10 be
sub rosa. these eminent men some
times unhosDm themselves on the grid.
iron rs they would hardly dare TO do
elsewhere. Naturally. therefore. the
club wishes 10 disavow responsibility
Tor the publication 81 40 startling q Ne.
crcras that of Saturday nights verbal
duel between the president Of the Unit.
cd States and his chief senatorial op-
ponent
II Is certain that the president was
very much inpassloned In his remarks.
that he spoke for nearly half hour
and that the incident. combined. ~ II
was. with a heated controversy with
senator Foraker about government at
tack> upon railroads aud other corpo
rations. and a review on both sides OF
the Brownsville anfalr. resulted IN
breaking NJ the programme Of the din.
ner and ending that AFFAIR long before
lis expected termination.
In his earnestness the Ohio senator
walked toward the president and.
shaking his finger nj him. emphasized
his declaration. Going In between the
tables. which were arranged In the
form Of n gridlron. he stood directly In
front Of Mr.. Roosevelt aud told the
president some things about usurra.
ton Of power by the executive that no
one before has ever dared 10 tell him
20 his face.
In reply Il IL said that President
Roosevelt stood up and. shaking his
list In the direction Of Senator Foraker
aud OF Mr.. Morgan and Mr.. Rogers.
said:
III you gentlemen are not willing 10
accept the action OF the conservative
class. which Il ready 10 AFFORD proiec.
ton alike TO the rich and the poor.
will say 10 you now that when you
have disposed OF ~ by your machlna.
lions you will hnd yourselves face 10
face with n people which believes Il
has been deprived OF IT, rights and a
mob which does not have the least 70
spcct for riches. You can take your
choice