Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-10-26
TUESDAY, OCTOBER a6, 1909.
TILLMAN WON'T PAY.
Senior Senator Objects to Buying Tick.
~ 20 Taft 4 uncheon

Senior Senator Objects to Buying TICK
ct to Taft Luncheon.
Senator Tillman does not like the
way the people Of Columbia have gone
about raising the money to pay the ex-
penses in connection with the enter
tainment of President Taft The fact
has come out with the publication OF
the correspondence between the senator
and members Of the committee.
The invitation sent out to Senator
Tillman and others chosen to partici-
pate In the occasion was as follows:
Columbia, S. c., Oct 9, 1909.
Dear Sir: 1t gives US much pleas
ure to extend to you an invltaIoh "
the luncheon given in honor Oh the
president of the United States on ms
visit to Columbia, Saturday, November
6. The number Of plates Is nmiteo 70
800 and we are compelled to ask thai
If You find 1t possible to attend you VIII
LET ma know by October 20, or earlier.
No tickets will be issued after that day,
and tickets will be issued in order OF
responses received, up to 800. II you
will return this letter, together with
vour check for SO, by that date, Octo-
her %. a card Of admission will De at
once sent you. There are no compn-
mentary tickets and no tickets VIII De
reserved.
VERY cordially,
Jas. A. Hoyt,
Chairman Invitation Committee.
ITO. ........'''''''.''
"................
South Carolina"
Senator Tillman failed to respond on
% did a ROOQ
many others, and because he was ex.
pected to occupy a rather prominent
place. the secretary Of the Chamber OF
Commerce wrote him as follows:
Secretary's Office,
Columbia Chamber OF Commerce;o rec
Columbia, S. c., Oct. %, 1903.
Hon. B. r. Tillman, Trenton, ,. =.
Dear Sir: In order that the commit
tee in charge of the arrangements for
the visit of President Taft may COM
plete plans now pending, Will you knu-
iy inform this office II you Will De pres.
ent on that occasion and II you expect
70 attend the luncheon to be given In
his honor.
Yours very truly,
fStxned) c. w. Moorman,
Secretary.
The senator's reply to the foregoing
was prompt and characteristic. 1t was
as follows:
United States Senate.
Trenton, S. c., Oct. %, 1908.
Mr. G. w. Moorman, secretary Cnafn-
her of Commerce, Columbia, 5. =;
near Sir: l have your letter or Oc-
tober 22. replied yesterday to q pre-
yious letter explaining the situation ID
regard to my acting on the receplloii
committee on November s, ana l aWalt
your answer to that before decidlng
whether / will go to Columpla at aAi
or not
ceiyed an invitation some days ago,
signed James A. Hoyt to attend tne
luncheon. accompanied with an invita-
tion to send a check for $40. TINS may
he a new way of conducting entertain.
ments in South Carolina that Will nnd
favor in the future, but 1t Is wholly
contrary to all ideas Of courtesy ano
self-respecting hospitality that l nave
ever heard Of in the state, ana 90 hot
propose to lend any aid or countenahce
to 1t. If the city OF Columbia Is 700 po9.
to entertain the president decentiy N
ought not to attempt it; II 1t wants 10
ask contributions from outsiders, tnat
Is a different thing; If 1t wants outslo-
ers to bear the expenses and nsioers
enjoy the glory, that Ia another thlng.
i nave known Mr. Taft very pleasantly
some eight or ten years, and l nave
dined with him quite often, both as a
guest and as a host, and DO not teei
like encouraging the departure from
South Carolina's reputation for decency
and hospitality which this transaction
involves. 1 did not respond to Mr.
Hoyts invitation, but treated 1t with
silent contempt. But inasmuch as you
have asked the point blank questlon,
and n seems to be the official scheme
to ask men to meet the president and
have them pay the expenses, tell you
emphatically: No, will not attend the
luncheon. Very respectfully,
(Signed) d. H. iinniah.
Quite long list Of prominent men OF
the state, mostly congressman, state
SENATOR'S and members Of the house OF
representatives, accepted the invita-
tions, and enclosed their respective
checks for ten dollars each