The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-11-16
COMMITTEES ACTION
| ON TAFT LUNCHEON
kEMBER EXPLAINS WHY FREE
TICKETS WERE NOT ISSUED
'kilfiau E. Gonzales Makes State
ueat On Entertainment Of Pres
iden& TAFT
State, 18th.

he attitude Of the central commit
lee in charge of the arrangements tor
the entertainment Of President TAFT
during his visit to Columbia is set
G forth in a statement made by William
e. Gonzales, a member OF that com
mittee. Capt. Gonzales was associated
with Gov. Ansel and Mayor Reamer
Of Columbia in mapping out these
plans and when the letter from Sena~
Tor Tillman refusing to purchase a
ticket TO the banquet was received, 1t
was felt that a discussion would be
inappropriate until the departure OF I
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 TINS
letter Senator Tillman has made pub
lie reference to the method OF the
central committee. Mr.. Gonzales has
decided to make public the reasons
for inviting certain South Carollnlans
to become contributors to the Iaft
luncheon. It will be recalled that
Senator TilIman, in a letter to secre-
tary Moorman, objected to the charge
for the luncheon and for that reason
refused to attend. The statement oy
Mr., Gonzales is as follows:
"Ay member Of the central COM
mittee and as far as the andlv1duai
primarily responsible for the method
Of President Taft's entertainment At
luncheon in Columbia, method char
acterized by B. R. Tillman as ''1nde-
cent, and criticised in chorus by
more or less thoughtless, uninformed,
or malicious newspapers, I make the
subioined statement of facts. Inc
vicious assault upon Columbia by
Tsllman, broadcast throughout the
country in press dispatches, IS a re-
Aeetion upon all South Carolina.
.sLast winter the president-elect
was invited to Columbia by the gov
ernor, the president of the South
Carolina Bar Association, and pres
ident Of the Columbia Chamber OF
Commerce. He could not then conne.
Later the invitation was renewed by
the governor, the mayor, and the pres
ident Of the Chamber Of Commerce.
He accepted that invitation Three
months ago organization for the care
Of the President and his entertain
ment was begun by the formation OF
= central committee, Of which the
governor, representing South Caro-
lima. was chairman, Mayor Reamer
and myself being the other members.
ttThe first suggestion for the Pres
idsnt's entertainment was by GoV-
erner Ansel, who proposed rendering
him a luncheon. I opposed that plan
on the ground that the coming OF the
President to the Capital, on the IN
yitation of the city and State, was
Statewide in it's significance, and MS
hosts should be the representative
men Of the State; that any formal
function at the Mansion must OF
physical necessity be restricted, and
therefore the idea Of State enter
tainment could not be carried out. AS
a substitute I suggested inviting a
certain number of representative men
Of South Carolina to participate IN
giving this luncheon. The cost was
estimated at $40 for each host, there
to be no guests except tne President,
his immediate party and members OF
his cabinet. That plan was accepted
the governor deciding to give the
President a breakfast, Mr.. Taft at
that time expecting 10 arrive here IN
the morning.
HAembers Of committees were Ia
ter appointed, and the committee on
invitation forwarded TO the thous-
and persons selected to be gwen the
opportunity to participate in enter
tanning the President, card OF IN
vitation, in stereotyped form, bear
ing. as sy1nbolical Of the scope, an
engraving Of the flag of South Caro-
lima. There was absolutely nothing
upon that card suggesting Columbia
as the host. Another card carried the
information to South Carollnlans IN
vited thai the first three hundred tt
avail themselves Of the invitation
and pay the amount fixed upon, woulc
participate in the luncheon.
"Invitations we're essential be-
cause limitation and selection were
necessary. No one was invited be-
cause he could pay his way. Ohela
South Carolina, the press, the men o.
learning and Of worthy achievement
were recognized as fully as possloH
=; +bo effort 70 have assemble here :