The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1910-06-03

The Debate Over His Travelling
Expenses Took - Never Had A
More Cordial Welcome AS In His
Tour OF The South.
Washington, D. G. Especially -
President Taft sent to Chairman
TaWney, of the House Committee on
Appropriations, a letter expressing
deep resentment at the criticisms
passed by Democrats in the House
debate upon the travelling expenses
of the President.
The President says he is especially
distressed by suggested reflection
on Southern hospitality"
The Presidents letter follows:
"The White House.,
Washington. May II. 1910
"My Dear Mr.. Tawney:
II am deeply grieved over the
phase which the discussion of the
appropriation for the travelling ex-
penses of the President took yester-
day. l think it is legitimate argu-
ment in favor of such an appropria-
ton that congressman and many
others press the acceptance OF in
vitations to visit their sections and
districts because the urgency of such
requests indicate the opinion on the
part OF the people that one of the
duties of the President is to visit the
people in their homes
But the intimation or suggestion
that the acceptance by congressman
of the Presidents invitation to travel
on the train with him in their re-
spectiveA districts or states was a rea-
son why they should not vote their
free opinion on the question of such
an appropriation is to me most
painful one In travelling upon the
train with me they were not receive
ing my hospitality-they were only
making a little more elaborate the
cordial welcome which they as rep
resentatives of their districts wished
to give.
''The feature of the discussion yes
terday which was especially distress
ing to me was suggested reflection
on Southern hospitality. The inti-
nation that somewhere in the South
board was charged, has no founda-
ton in fact, and I have never heard
1t intimated until l saw it in this
mornings paper.
''In all my experiences, and have
enjoyed the hospitality of many sec
lions and countries of the world, /
have never had more cordial, gen.
erous, open and lavish welcome than
l had in the Southern states during
my trip, and the slightest hint that
puts me in the attitude of a critic
of that hospitality gives me great
pain.
Il am going to take the liberty
of making this letter to you public
Every sincerely yours.
william H. Taft
"Hon. James A. Tawney, House
Of Representatives"
Following the receipt of President
Taft's letter Representative Tawney
issued lengthy statement saying
that the colloquy on the floor between
himself and Southern members re-
garding southern hospitality" had
been distorted. Mr. Tawney's state
ment follows in part:
'sIt is ridiculous to suppose that
I would reflect privately. much less
publicly, upon the floor of the House
OF Representatives, upon Southern
b hospitality, which is proverbial and
than which-as | can say from ex-
is nothing more cor
dial or n. ore generous to be imagln-
ed. But / agree with the statement
Of President Taft in his letter to me
that 1T is legitimate argument In
favor of such appro 'iation that
and many others press
the acceptance of invitations to visit
their section and districts because
the urgency of such requests indi-
Gates the opinion on the part of the
people that one of the duties of the
President Is to visit the people in
their homes he = spoken of a
man who would ask the President to
be his guest. entertain and then
criticise him for making the visit,
as in effect charging him board.
Mr.. Bartlett. of Georgia, evidently
misunderstanding my remark, then
demanded to knew of single in
stance where the President was
board, and Representative
Hamer, Of Idaho, before l could re.
ply, injected the facctious comment
that he thought it wa in Georgia.
"Of course, the President was new
ed charged for his board when the "A
guest of anyone in Georgia or any
where else, and no such allegation
was made. The President, after
reading the morning papers, says In
Ais letter to me that the intimation
nat some where in the South board
was charged has no foundation in
fact and / never heard it intimated
until saw it in the morning pa