The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-06-10
Democratic Congressman Is
Told That President VIII
Not Receive Him
HARRISON ISSUES HOT
STATEMENT ON MATTER
mus Proceeds From Formers Ac-
tion In the BnlIinger-Pin-
chot Investigation

Washington, June 9.-President Taft
today declined to receive Representative
Francis Burton Harrison, democrat, OF
New York, who called at the White
House in company with two other rep
resentatives to introduce a number Of
Jewish rabbis, who took up with the
President the question of the expulsion
of Jews from Russia
The President received the delegation
and chatted with its various members
for Is minutes OF more. Representative
Goldfogle of New York acted as spokes-
man for the party, and. adroitly aided
by Secretary Norton, handled the dele
cation in such way that not one OF
the callers knew anything of the Incl
dent until Representative Harrison re-
turned to the capitol and there made a
statement that he had been rebuffed by
the President
Mr.. Taft based his refusel to see Mr..
Harrison. 1t is stated, on statements
attributed by newspapers to the repre-
tentative in connection with his resolu-
tion made in the House calling upon
Attorney General Wick kersham for full
information as to the connection of his
office with the Ballinger-Pinchot cpl
sode. Mr. Harrison, according to the
White House version of the matter,
charged the President and Attorney
General with having wilfully attempted
to mislead Congress in the back-dat-
ing of the Attorney Generals summary
of the CLAWS charges against the Sec
retary Of the Interior.
No Reason for Action
Mr.. Harrison was first Quoted as
having declared that he could assign
no reason for the action OF the Presi-
dent He said he had made the en-
xagement with the President some 10
days ago, and had received no intima
ton that his presence at the White
House was undesirable.
Secretary Norton was at first unwill-
ing to discuss the incident in any wise.
Later when he was informed of the
positive statements made by Mr.. Harri-
son he told the story of what happened.
He declared the President had no pur-
pose Of publicly humiliating the Con-
gresham, as had been charged, and
added that nothing would have been
said regarding the affair If Mr. Harri-
son himself had not made the matter
public
Mr.. Norton said it was his under
standing that Mr. Harrison expressly
desirei that nothing should be said
Mr.. Norton said that during the con-
Rressi>nal receiving hour this morning
he noiced REPRESENTATIVES Harrison and
Goldfbgie and Representative Keller oil
Massachusetts with the party of rabbis at
the had of the line waiting admission Ia
the residents Office. He spoke to all
the pembers of the party and few min
uteaJater informed the President OF the
pref ehce of the delegation. Mr.. Taft saio
he lHbuld be glad to receive every mem-
beF]If the delegation but Mr.. Harrison
He declared that because of the news
pax II statements made by Mr.. Harrison
held not desire to speak with him.
Norton Meets Harrison
i.tretary Norton invited Mr.. Harrison
thdbupon into his office saying he had
sooh affairs to discuss with him. In the
meafitime he had the party shown into the
offids of the President at the appointed
= houE. and asked Mr.. Goldfogle to intro
ducA the callers in Mr.. Harrison's alb
sen4
ever met Mr.. Harrison. and when the
two were alone the secretary said he was
extnuely sorry that the first meeting
should be the occasion of a disagreeabl
duty He told Mr.. Harrison the President
would not see him.
MI Harrison, according to Mr.. Norton
said he thought he knew why 1t was. fol
It WIS because of the statement he had
nads in connection with the Ballinger-
Pinchot controversy including the names
Of tie President and the Attorney Gen.
erall
Nj Norton said he had not seen the
statement and consequently was some
whsk in the dark. He asked Mr.. Har-
risoh to send him copy Of what he had
said
Leaves the Capitol
Mi Harrison asked If Representative
Goldogle and Kelliher and the others ir
the barty knew that the President ha6
barr@d him. Mr.. Norton replied that nc
one knew but the two men. Mr.. Harrison
said he thought 1t unnecessary for the
Others to know anything about 1t and
thereu,on left, saying he was going tc
the ca}itol
Mr.. Norton declared that the Presiden
himsef had no previous knowledge thai
Mr.. Harrison was to be one of his call
ers tkday. The engagement had beer
madeI in the routine way some 10 day.
ago through the secretary's Office, 1t II
said.
IN had known" said Mr. Kelliher
idenf would decline to see Mr.. Harrison
eftej reaching the capitol that the Pres
wduld not have gone in myself
MI Harrison was quoted on May 13 as
having said OF the back dating Of the
Wi4<ersham summary:
This confession Of the Attorney. Cen
eral amounts to conclusion that the
Prasident and the Attorney General had
agreed to furnish Congress misleading In.
formation. To supply an official docu-
nnent as Of one date which was really
prepared many weeks later
Harrfson's Statement
Representative Harrison tonight made
the following statement:
1T 10 unfortunate for the President that
no cannot stand criticism 1t is unfortu'
nate for the country that he cannot stand
the truth. Ny Newspaper statement al
which he takes ofIense was merely an ex-
position Of the scandAlous fact that the
Rreqldent hAd sent TO the Senate Of the