The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1910-06-15
A TURN-DOWN At
TAFT'S COMMAND
For Congressman Who
Had Criticised Him.
CHILDISH ACT OF PRESIDENT
Who Refused TO See Con-
gresham Heading a
Peaceful Delegation.

Washington, June 10.-RepresenoatiVe
Burton Harrison, Tammany member
of Congress, and a son OF the pri-
waite secretary of jefferson Davis
President of the Southern Confederacy,
was to-day barred from the Presidents
office by. direction of the President
himself and plainly told that he was
persona non grata with Mr.. Taft.
Mr.. Harrison, with two other Rep
resentatives, had gone to the White
House to present delegation of rab-
bis. and was about to enter the Pres
.ide1ft's private office at the head. 81
his delegation when he was asked 10
step aside, and told by Secretary Nor
ton that the President would not re-
,ceive HIM.
The Presidents action in refusing
to grant an audience TO Mr.. Harrison
or to receive him in any way, grew
out of the fact that the New YORK
Representative, after offering in the
House several weeks ago resolution
calling for all the papers and docu-
ments relating to the report which
Attorney General Wickersham made
to the President upon the charges OF
Louis r. CLAWS against Secretary Bal
Finger, INDUCED in personal criticism
of Mr.. Taft.
II will be remembered that Attor-
ney Brandeis, representing Claws ut
the Ballinger-Pi nchot hearing, charged
that the Attorney-General had ante
dated a report which he made to the
President, so as to have 1t appear
that the report had been in the lat
ter's hands at the time he sent his
letter of vindication to Mr.. Ballinger
on September 10.
Brandeis made repeated efforts to
establish his charge by request for
the papers in the case showing when
the report was transmitted and ac-
knowledge. When he failed, Repre-
sentative Harrison introduced a sweep
ing resolution asking the Attorney
General for all the facts in the case.
Following this he appeared before the
Committee on Rules to urge its pas
sage and made statements there and
to the press criticising the President
for attempting alleged deception upon
Congress. 1t was such statements,
rather thant he introduction Of the
resolution, which offended the Presi-
dent.
Some time ago Representative Har-
rison made arrangements for the APP
pearance of delegation Of rabbis
before the Committee on Foreign AT
fairs in behalf OF a resolution which
he had Offered concerning the treat
ment of Jews in Russia.
Representative Harrison made the
following statement:
ut is unfortunate for the President
that he cannot stand criticism; it is
unfortunate for the country that he
cannot stand the truth. My newspaper
statement at which he stakes offense
was merely an exposition of the scan
dalous fact that the President had sen
to the Senate of the United States
an official document in the Ballinger-
ni.ohnt controxet.cxy ~ xyhoh fh.a data
had been willfully falsified by being
pre-dated. My resolution of inquiry
drew out this information in a writ
ten confession by the Attorney-Gen-
eral.
at is of no concern to me that
am not welcome at the White House
but 1t is of concern to every Ameri-
can citizen that a statement Of the
truth about the President may render
1t impossible for Representative TO
discharge his duties.
II came to the White House to-day
not as matter of pleasure, but in the
execution of public duty.
81 came by appointment made by
the Presidential office on May 81 TO
present a delegation of distinguished
Hebrews on an important public mis-
sion. After a delay OF 40 minutes at
the very door of the Presidents Of
flee, was told he would not receive
me. 1t is not surprising that he did
not care to meet face to face any
one who was instrumental in bringing
to light the desperate attempt to boil
ster the administration case in the Pal