The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1910-06-10
HARRISON BARRED
FROM TAFT'S
PRESENCE
President Would Not Receive
New York Congressman
CAME BY APPOINTMENT
Had Criticised Chief Executives
Course in BalIinger-Pinchot
Controversy

Washington, June 10.-Upon the
ground that Mr. Harrison had criti-
cised President Taft in connection
with the Ballinger-Pinchot affair the
president yesterday refused to re-
ceive Representative Francis Burton
Harrison of New York when the lat
ter called with a number of his Jew
ish constituents who had appeared be-
fore House committee a short time
before and desired to make represent
tations to the President on the mat
ter of the treatment of Jews in Rus
STA
After some delay and considerable
questioning on the part of Mr.. Harri-
son, who ten days ago made an APP
pointment with the president to pre-
sent the callers, the president agreed
to see the delegation, which included
two other members of Congress, Rep
resentatiyes Kelher of Massachusetts
and Goldfogle of New York. Mr..
Taft, however excluded Mr.. Harrison.
Consequently Mr. Harrison waited up
on the outside and returned to- the
capitol a few moments later, declar-
ing that he had been publicly humili-
ated.
Messrs. Keliher and Goldfogle did
not learn until afterward why Mr..
Harrison had not accompanied the
delegation in the executive offices.
Both Of these representatives say
that had they learned of the exclusion
of Mr. Harrison, they would not have
entered the executive offices In the
circumstances.
Representative Harrison. after leay-
ing the white house and consulting
with friends, issued this statement:
1t Is unfortunate for the President
that he cannot stand criticism: It is
unfortunate for the country that he
cannot stand the truth. My newspap.
er statement at which he takes Of
Tense was merely an exposition of the
! scandalous fact that the president
had sent to the senate OF the United
States an official document in the Bal.
/ linger-Pinchot controversy, OF which
the date had been willfully falslfied
I by being pre-dated. My resolution OF
inquiry drew out this information in
a written confession by the Attorney
! General.
1T is OF no concern to me that | am
not welcome at the white house, but
Il is of concern to every American
citizen that a statement OF the truth
about the president may render it i'm,
possible for a representative TO dis.
charge his duties.
Il came to the white house today
not as a matter OF pleasure, but In
the execution OF a public duty.
came by appointment made with the
presidential Office on May 81. to pre-
sent delegation OF distinguished He
brews on an important public mis-
sion. After a delay OF forty minutes
at the very door OF the presidents
Office. | was told that the president
would not receive me. Il is not sur
prising that he did not care to NEE
face to face any one who was instru
mental In bringing to light the des
perate attempt to bolster the AID
ministration IN the BallingerPlncho
case by manipulating public docu
ments. II everyone who is iustl,
criticizing the Administration, Is /,
be barred from the white house I
will become lonely place
Secretary Norton was az first un
willing to discuss the incident In an,
way. Later. when he was lnforme,
of the positive statements made b
Mr.. Harrison, he declared that tn
president had no purpose OF publicl
humiliating the Congressman, as ha
been charged. and that nothing woul
have been said regarding the affair
MIR Harrison himself had not mad
! the matter public. Mr.. Norton at
ded that Il was. In fact, his unde
standing that Mr. Harrison expressl
desired that nothing should be said
b Mr. Norton said that during the co
= gressional receiving hour OF IN
; morning he noticed Representative
Harrison and Goldtogle OF New Yor
! and Representative Kelliher OF Ma
4 sachusetts with the party OF rabbis I
+ the head OF the line awaiting admi
sion TO the presidents Office. II
r spoke to all OF the members OF n
. party and a few moments later 4
!. formed the president OF the presenS
Q OF the delegation. Mr.. Taft announ
e ed that he would be glad to recei,
e every member OF the delegation b.
\. Mr.. Harrison. He declared that b
, cause OF the newspaper Statement
e made by Mr.. Harrison he did not d
/ sire to speak with him.