The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-11-17

Another card carried the information
to South Carolinians invited that the
first three hundred to avail them
selves of the invitation. and pay the
amount fixed upon. would participate
In the luncheon.
Invitations were essential because
limitation and selection were neces-
sary. No one was invited because he
could pay his way. Onicial South
Carolina. the press. the men Of learn
ing and Of worthy achievement were
recognized az fully as possible in the
effort to have assemble here q repre-
sentative and distinguished body of
South Carolinians to meet the coun-
try's chief executive. Private enter
tainment In Columbia would have
saved the committees infinite troubles
and trials, but would necessarily have
eliminated that State feature of the
entertainment to which the president
So feelingly, referred in his address
here.
"Furthr carrying out the State
wide conception, q reception commit
tee was appointed, on which every
county In South Carolina had repre-
sentation; there were two aldermen
from Columbia and probably a dozen
members of the general assembly on
that committee.
1.-The design and inscription for the
menu card, chosen by the luncheon
committee a full month before the
event. emphasized the scope of the
function. In addition to the engrav-
ings Of the Capitol, the Coat of Arms
Of South Carolina. and q palmetto
tree. the declaration that the lun-
cheon was Given to President Taft
by South Carolinians, was conclusive
of its purpose.
AT the beginning Of the prepara-
tion 1t was decreed that there should
be no guests at the luncheon except
the president. his party, and MEM
bers OF the cabinet. And there was
none. Every South Carolinian pres
ent was there as a host. The report
ers for The Columbia Record, The
News and Courier, and The State, ne
members of all committees-the men
who bore the responsibilities and did
the arduous work of preparation
were hosts, each contributing his
share toward making fitting South
Carolina's hospitality to the nations
official head. y
There are two practicable meth
|c& 5ef sfraying the expenses, of
public banquets. One is by using the
taxpayers money to pay for an en-
tertainment from which more than
80 per centum of the taxpayers must
of'necessity be excluded, and the 9TH
er Is that those acting as hosts do the
part Of hosts and defray the costs. BY
the first plan the many pay for the
benefit of the few; by the latter there
Is equality and justice. And the lat
ter plan is practically universal.
AFTER Tillmans ill-bred outbreak
in the face of Columbia's and South
CaroIina's approaching guest, 1 took
the pains to inquire of four towns
that either had entertained the pres
ident or contemplated so doing, as to
the plan followed. Here are extracts
from the replies:
Washington: The dinner given to
President Taft was arranged by a
joint committee of the Chamber Of
Commerce and the Board of Trade.
The committee issued invitations to
few distinguished guests who, Of
course. paid nothing. All others who
attended paid $40 a plate. The list
was limited. The list, however, was
not confined to Washingtonians.
New Orleans: AT the banquet ten
dered President Taft here last Feb
ruary, just before his Inauguration.
all those who attended were invited
to pay $25. with the exception of Mr..
Taft's party. the press (of New Or
leans) and possibly one or two guests
of honor Those invitations to par
ticipate We're not confined to citizens
OF Louisiana.
ATLANTA: Il have just wired you
that we did exactly the same thing
here In Atlanta. and 1t Is the usual
custom not only here In the South
but In every other city in the country
1t seems to me 1t Is very SEN
sible custom. Somebody has to
pay why not, therefore, those who
are there In the capacity OF hosts?..
So far as i have heard this is the
only instance of complaint Of this
kind on record