The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-11-16

tee was appointed, on which every
county in South Carolina had repre-
sentation; there we're two aldermen
from Columbia and probably a dozen
members Of the general assembly on
that committee.
"The design and inscription for
the menu card chosen by the lunhceon
committee a full month before the
event, emphasized the scope of the
function. In addition to the eng1av-
ings of the Capitol, the Coat Of Arms
of South Carolina, and a palmetto
tree, the declaration that the lun-
cheon was Given to President Taft
by South Carohnians,' was conclus-
i've Of its purpose.
"At the beginning Of the prepara-
tion it was decreed that there should
be no guests at the luncheon except
the President, his party, and members
of the cabinet. And there was none.
Every South Carolinian present was
there as host. The reporters for
the Columbia Record, the News and
Courier, and the State, the members
of all committees-the men who bore
the responsibilities and did the ar
duous work of, preparation-were
hosts, each contributing his share
toward making fitting South Caro-
lina's hospitality to the nations Off
cial head.
"There are two practicable meth
DDS Of defraying the expenses OF pub
lie banquets. One is by using the tax
payers money to pay for an enter
tainment from which more than SO
per centum Of the taxpayers must OF
necessity be excluded, and the other
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 ard justice. And
the latter plan is practically uni
versal. ..-..
"After Tillman's ill-bred outbreak
in the face Of Columbia's and South
Cardinals approaching guest, I took
the pains to inquire Of four
towns that either had entertained the
President or contemplated so doing,
as to the plan followed. Here are ex-
tracts 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 attend
ed paid $40 a plate. The list was
limited The list, however, was not
confined to Washingtonians.
"New Orleans: AT the banquet
rendered President Taft here last
February, just before his Inaugural
tion, all those who attended were IN
vited 10 pay $25, with the exception
of Mr.. Taft's party, the press tot
New Orleans) and possibly one or two
guests of honor Those invitations
to participate were not confined to
citizens of Louisiana
"Atlanta: 4 have just wired you
that we did exactly the same thing
here in Atlanta, and it is the usual
custom not only here in the South
but in every other city in the coun-
try. .. 1t seems to me it is very
sensible 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
Savannah: The Taft banquet
will be attended by $50 persons.
About thirty will be guests of the
city; the 320 who are not special
guests will pay $50 per plate for the
occasion. In 18 years I do not re-
call a function Of the sort in this
city that was not similarly financed.
Invitations to participate in that
banquet and its expense-a banquet
given in the name Of Savannah-were
sent to Atlanta and elsewhere IN
Georgia.
"The direct charge that Columbia
was attempting to make the State at
large pay for her frolie, and the in
famous insinuation thai the plan OF
committee Of which the governor,
the mayor and myself were the mem
bers. had engaged in a money-mahng
cheme. warrants reference to what
was spent in Columbia aside from
the iuncheon-whose cost, by the
way. was not covered by the eStl-
| mated $40 a plate. Aside from the