The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-11-17
COMMITTEE IS DEFENDED.
CAPT. w. Il. GONZALES GIVES CO.
LUMBIA's SIDE.
Senator Tillman's Letter Criticised II,
Caustic Language and An Who
Agreed With Him Respecting the
TAFT Luncheon and the Ten-DOliar
Assessment Get q Iambasting Over
7iis shoulders.

Assessment Get q Lambasting Over
7lis shoulders.
Columbia, Nov. 14.-The attitude
Of the central committee In charge Of
the arrangements for the entertain
uent Of Presidnt Taft during his visit
20 Columbia Ia set forth In a state
ment made by william e. Gonzales, a
member Of that committee. Capt.
Gonzales was associated with Gov.
Ansel and Mayor Reamer. OF Colum-
bia. In mapping out these plans and
when the letter from Senator Tillman
refusing to purchase ticket to the
banquet was received. 1t was felt that
a discussion would be inappropriate
until the departure of Mr.. Taft. who
was TO be a guest Of the State Of
South Carolina as well as the city Of
Columbia.
Twice since the publication of this
letter Senator Tillman has made pub
lie reference 10 the method of the
central committee. Mr.. Gonzales has
decided to make public the reasons
for inviting certain South Carollnians
% become contributors to the Taft
2uncheon. Ie will be recalled that
kqn|ator Tflman, In a letter to Secre-
: ormAnS objected to the charge
Hrh1Qn and TOR that reason
''As . member OF the central COM
mittee and as the individual primar-
lily responsible for the method of
President Taft's entertainment at
luncheon In Columbia. a method
characterized by b. r. Tillman as
indecent" and criticised in chorus
by more or less thoughtless, unin-
formed. or malicious newspapers. /
make the subjoined statement Of
facts. The vicious assault upon Co
lumbia by Tillman. broadcast
throughout the country in press dis
patches. is a reflection uopn all South
Carolina.
Last winter the president-elect was
invited to Columbia by the governor.
the president Of the South Carolina
Ear Association. and president of the
Columbia Chamber Of Commerce. lie
could not then come. Late: the in
,itnt:on was renewed by tie COVER
nor. the mayor. and the president of
the Chamber of Commerce. He ac-
cepted that invitation. Three months
ago organization for the care of the
president and his entertainment was
begun by the formation of a central
committee. OF which the governor.
representing South Carolina. was
chairman. Mayor Reamer and my
self being the other members.
THE first suggestion for the presi-
dents entertainment was by Governor
Ansel. who proposed rendering him
q luncheon. I opposed that plan on
the ground that the coming Of the
President to the Capital. on the in
vitation Of the city and state. was
Statewide I'm Its significance, and
his hosts should be the representa-
tive men OF the State; that any
formal function at the Mansion must
OF necessity be restricted. and
therefore the idea Of State enter
tainment could not be carried out.
As a substitute I suggested inviting
number OF representative men of
South Carolina to participate In CIV
ing this luncheon. The cost was es-
tlmated at $40 for each host, there
to be no guests except the Presi-
dent, his immediate party and mem
bers OF his cabinet. That plan was
accepted. the Governor deciding to
give the President a breakfast. Mr..
Taft at that time expecting to arrive
here I'm the morning.
members OK committees were later
appointed and the committee on in
vitation forwarded to the thousand
persons selected TO be given the op-
portunity to participate In entertain
Ing the President, card Of invita-
ton. In stereotyped form, bearing as
symbollcal OF the scope, an engrav-