The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1909-10-01
THE TAFT BANQUET.

It was expected, Of course, that
there would be some criticism of the
action of the executive committee
appointed by the State Fair and
Board of Trade to provide plans Of
entertainment for President Taft
when the committee fixed the price
of plates at the banquet at $25
each.
Banquets at $25 a plate are un-
usual in Mississippi, although the
people of this State have the rep
utation for being "tolerably good
feeders"
However, the action of the COM
mittee needs no defense but in view
of the fact that some of the recent
criticisms have been due to igno-
rance, O misinformation relative to
the committees plans, a few words
of explanation will not be amlss.
The executive committee has in
vited about one hundred of Missis-
sippi's most prominent citizens to
form the reception committee that
will greet President Taft on his ar
rival here.
While the committee would like
to have these distinguished citizens
in attendance at the banquet, ac-
ceptance of the invitation to attend
this function is purely optional.
Those who have been invited to
serve on the reception committee
may accept that honor and decline
to attend the banquet, or accept
both invitations, as they see fit.
The executive committee realizes
that some of the persons invited, on
account of personal matters, and
various ether causes, will not be
able to remain over for the banquet.
Ii, however, they can come to Jack
son and serve on the reception COM
mittee during the day, the executive
committee will be glad to have them
do so.
AS to the charge of $25 per
plate for the banquet, the committee
believes that this is very reasonable.
In the first place, it is necessary to
fix the charge at that figure, as all
of the expenses of the presidential
entertainment will be paid out of
the banquet fund. The citizens of
Jackson will not be asked to pay
one cent. towards the expenses of
the occasion, save only those who
desire to attend the banquet. Dur
ing the past several months the To-
Cal business men have been at a very
heavy expense in the way of public
entertainment. They have been
called upon with unusual frequen-
cy to contribute to funds to meet ex-
penses of conventions, encamp-
ments and various other public gath
erings, and it would be unjust to
ask them at this time to raise S.
600 to meet the expenses of enter
tanning President Taft and party.
From the banquet fund will be
paid all the expenses of the various
committees, the hire of carriages,
decorations, ETC., and a careful es-
innate prepared by the committee
shows that 200 plates at the ban
quet at $25 per plate will not be
more than sufficient to meet this ex-
pense.
The dining hall at The Edwards,
which is the largest in the city, can
not accommodate more than 200
guests, and attendance at the ban
quet must be necessarily limited to
that number.
Furthermore, the requests being
received by Chairman Moseley for
seat reservations indicates in a man
mar most conclusive that there will
be a full complement of guests at
this great occasion, and for the ben.
eft of the critics who are so horri-
fed over the idea of paying $25 pei
plate the assurance can be given
that there will be no vacant chairs
on that occasion. It will be a gath
ering of the flower of M~ississippi's
citizenship, and during his long
tour of the West and South Pres.
ident Taft will not be the guest d
honor at a more notable assembly,
Jackson News.