The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1909-11-18
SHARP REPLY
To Senator TiIlman's Criticism Of the
Plan of Financing the
TAFT LUNCHEON AFFAIR

| TAFT LUNCHEON AFFAIR
Capt. w. E. Gonzales, Member of
the Central Committee in Charge
Of the Arrangements, Explains
Why Free Tickets Were Not Is
sued to the Columbia Function.
The following statement is pub
lished by Capt. w. E. Gonzales, who
was on the central committee as the
representative Of the Columbia
Chamber of Commerce, to provide
for the entertainment Of President
Taft when he visited Columbia re-
Gently:
"As a member Of the central COM
mittee and as the individual pri-
marily responsible for the method
of President Tafts entertainment at
luncheon in Columbia, a method
characterized by B. R. Tillmah as
indecent, and criticized in chorus
by a more or less thoughtless, unin-
formed or malicious newspapers,
make the subjoined statement or
facts. The vicious assault upon Co
lumbia by Tillman, broadcast
through the country in press dis
patches, is a reflection upon all
South Carolina.
Last winter the President-elect
was invited to Columbia by the Gov
ernor, the president Of the South
| Carolina Bar Association, and presi-
dent of the Columbia Chamber OF
Commerce. lie could not then some
Later the invitation was renewed by
the Governor, the mayor and the
president of the Chamber of Com
merce. He accepted that invitation.
Three mothns ago organization for
the care of the President and his
entertainment was begun by the for.
nation of central committee, OF
which the Governor, representing
South Carolina, was chairman, May
or Reamer and myself being the 9TH
er members.
THE first suggestion for the Presl-
dents entertainment was by Cover
nor Ansel, who proposed rendering
him a luncheon. l opposed that
plan on the ground that the coming
of the President to the Capital, on
the invitation Of the city and State,
| was Statewide in its significance
and his hosts should be the repre-
| sentative men of the State; that any
formal function at the Mansion must
of necessity be restricted, and. there
fore, the idea of State entertain
ment could not be carried out. AS
substitute 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 the
President, his immediate party and
+, members of his Cabinet. That plan
was accepted, the Governor deciding
to give the President breakfast
Mr., Taft at that time expecting to
arrive here in the morning.
Was Statewide Affair.
"Members of committees were
later appointed, and the committee
on invitation forwarded to the
thousand persons selected to be CIV
en- the opportunity to participate
in entertaining the President, card
of invitation, in stereotyped form
bearing, as symbolical Of the scope
an engraving of the flag of South
Carolina. There was absolutely
nothing upon that card suggesting
Columbia as the host. Another caro-
carried the information TO South
Carolinians invited that the first
three hundred to avail themselves
of the invitation, and pay the amount
fixed upon, would participate in the
luncheon.
Invitations were essential be-
cause limitation and selection were
necessary. No one was invited be-
cause he could pay his way. OF
fetal South Carolina, the press, the
men of learning and OF worthy
achievement were recognized as ful'
" as possible in the effort to have
assemble here representative and
distinguished body of South caro-
,inians TO meet the country's Chief
Executive. Private entertainment III
Columbia would have saved the com
mittee's infinite troubles and trials,
hut would necessarily have eliminat-
ed that State feature of the enter
tainment, to which the President Sc
feelingly referred in his address
here.
Further carrying out the State
wide conception, a reception commit
tee was appointed, on which every
county in South Carolina had repre-
sentation; there were two aldermen
from Columbia and probably d dozen
members of the General Assembly
on that committee.
The design and inscription lor
the menu card, chosen by the lunch
con committee, full month before
the event, emphasized the scope OF
the function. In addition TO the