New-York tribune., 1910-06-10
Refuses to See New York Con-
greSSman, Who Calls at
White House.
OTHERS IN PARTY RECEIVED
Cause OF Rebuff Harrison's
Attack on President and
Attorney General in
CLAWS Case.
rFrom The Tribune Bureau-1

Burton Harrison to-day. although no one
would have been the wiser had not Mr.
Harrison imagined he had a grievance
and told his troubles TO representative
of the press. The reason for the snub
was Mr. Harrison's attack on the Presi-
dent and the Attorney General in con-
nection with the opinion on the Claws
charges which Mr. Wickersham submit
ted to the President on September II,
but the completed text Of which he wrote
up at his convenience and dated as OF
the day when il was delivered
The occasion OF the incident was the
appearance at the White House Of a
delegation Of prominent Hebrews. ac-
companied by Representatives Cold
fogIe. Keliher and Harrison. The
President received the delegation and
the first named Representatives. but
when the time came for the visitors TO
enter the Presidents rOC-h Mr.. Harrt-
son was sent for by the secretary 20 the
President who explained that because OF
the bad faith Mr.. Harrison exhibited in
connection with the Wickersham opinion
the President did not care to receive
HILL MI ANOILOn SA5 =C1LCA- LAIFFNF~AF
that Mr. Harrison could remain in the
secretary's Office for few minutes. and
then rejoin his friends. and no one would
ever know of the incident To this Mr.
Harrison assented. When Mr.. Harrison
returned to the Capitol. however. he de-
cided 10 make the incident public As
Representative GOIdfOgle, who made the
presentations and Representative keli-
her. who accompanied the delegation, are
both Democrats. there can be no sug-
gestion of partisan discrimination in con-
nection with the affair
Mr.. Harrison's Accusation.
At the time when the Attorney Gen.
eral sent TO the Ballinger- -PinchOt in
vestigating committee the explanation Of
the date of his opinion on the Claws
charges, Mr.. Harrison. il will be recalled.
gave to the press a statement in which
he characterized the explanation as "a
confession and charged the President
and the Attorney General with furnish
ing 10 Congress misleading inforna-
ton
AS a member OF Congress with numer-
Gus dealings with the government MI
Harrison knew. Of course. that il is a
practice OF everyday occurrence for the
law officers Of the government TO furnish
opinions verbally. or in the rough 70 re-
duce them to writing at. their convent
ence, and then to file or print the writ
ten opinion as of the date when it vas
rendered, SO that. in the estimation OF
the President. there was no excuse for
the manifest attempt Of the New York
Representative TO mislead the public
and impugn the good faith OF the Execu-
tive and the Attorney General.
The appointment for the presentation
of the delegation of Hebrews was
some days ago, and when the Presi-
dent approved the engagement he
was not advised that Mr.. Harrison
expected to accompany Messrs- keliher
and GoIdfogle 20 the White House The
President is entirely tolerant of ordinary
efforts TO make partisan campaign ma
teriaI. but when such attempts go to
the length of that made by Representa-
tive Harrison. and seek TO take ad-
vantage OF LEle HdLuIdA LlOl dAA-C u NAAo
public of methods OF long standing in
the transaction Of public business TO cre>
ate a false and misleading impression
regarding the good faith of the Execu-
tive and a member of his Cabinet. Mr.
Taft believes the bounds Of decency havs
been passed. and that those who stOop
to such expedients deserve no considera-
ton at the White House.
AS is well known. members Of Congress
constantly make speeches. materially re-
wise them and then cause them 10 be
printed as of the day on which they were
first delivered. and even members Of the
Supreme Court not infrequently. after
reading their opinions in court. retain
their notes for further revision. although
il has never been suggested that they
should bear the date on which they are
finally completed The President and
members of the Cabinet are constantly
acting. where expedition is important.
on opinions delivered verbally or IN
rough notes, which are subsequently re-
duced 10 printed or typewritten form.
and filed as OF the date on which they
were first rendered. and all OF these
facts must have been known 10 Mr. Har-
rison. although they may not be familiar
to the general public.
Mr.. Harrison was first quoted as having
declared that he could assign no reason
for the Presidents action He said he
had made the engagement with the Pres
ident some ten days ago. and had received
no intimatiOn that his presence at the
White House was undesirable.
Secretary Norton's Explanation.
Secretary Norton at first was unWiu.
ing TO discuss the incident in any way.
Later. when he was informed of the
positive statements made by Mr.. Harrt-
son. he told the story OF what happened
He declared that the President had no
purpose OF publicly humiliating the Con-
gressman. as had been charged. and that
nothing would have been said regarding
the affair If Mr. Harrison himself had
not made the affair public. Mr.. Norton
said il was. indeed. his understanding
that Mr. Harrison expressly desired that
nothing should be said.
Mr.. Norton said that in the Congress
sional receiving hour this morning he
noticed Representatives Harrison. Gold
fogle and Keliher with the party OF