The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-05-28
WARM IN PRAISE
OF HOSPITALITY
SHOWNBY SOUTH.
Taft Distressed by At
titude in Which He
Is Placed.
DEEPLY RESENTS
CRITICS. ATTACK
Writes Letter to Tawney, in
Which He Lauds Welcome in
South, and Justifies His Ac-
ton in Accepting Invita-
tons to Visit People in
Their Homes.

Washington. D. C.. May 2I--''In all
my experience. and have enjoyed the
hospitality OF many SECTIONS and coun-
trles of the world, l never had more
cordial, generous opcn and lavish well
come than / had in the Southern States
during my trip and tho slightest hint
that puts me in the attitude OF critic
of that hospitality gives me great pain
This, In part, is the manner In which
President Taft to-day. in a letter to
Chairman Tauney. of the House Con,-
mittee on Appropriations. deeply re-
sented CRITICISMS passed by Democrats
in the debate In the House yesterday
upon the travelling expenses OF the
President. The President says he Is
especially distressed by suggested re-
nection on Southern hospitality"
President .Taft's letter continues. II
am deeply grleved over the phase which
the discussion of the appropriation for
the travelling expenses OF the President
took yesterday. ! think II is legiti-
Inato argument in favor of such an
appropriation that Congressman and
many others press the acceptance OF
Invitations to visit their sections and
districts, because the urgency of such
requests indicates the opinion on the
part OF the people that one of the du-
lies OIL tDe fTPSlDenL lg 10 VlElt- tne
people in their homes
Most Painful Suggestion.
But tho intimation or suggestion
that tho acceptance by Congressman
OF the Presidents invitation to travel
on the train with him In their respec-
five districts or States was reason
why they should not vote their free
opinion on the question of such an
appropriation is TO me most painful.
'In travelling upon the train they
were not receiving my hospitality; they
were only making a little more elabo-
rate the cordial welcome which they.
as representatives of their districts.
wished to give.
THE feature OF the discussion yester-
day which WAS especially distressing to
me was suggested reflection on South
crn hospitality. The intimation that
somewhere in the South board was
charged has no foundation in fact. and
] never heard 1t intimated until saw
IL In this mornings papers"
Following the receipt of President
Tafts letter Representative Tawney is
sued lengthy statement saying that
tho colloquy on the floor yesterday be-
tween himself and Southern members
regarding Southern hospitality" had
been distorted. He says:
1T Is rldlCLi0uS 10 suppose that
would reflect privately. much less pub
1icly, upon the floor of the House OF
Representatives, upon Southern hospi
tally, which is proverbial and than
which. as ] can say from experience,
there is nothing more cordial or more
generous to be imagined. But | agree
with the statement of President Taft in
his letter to me to-day that 1t is le>
Sitimatc argument in favor Of such an
appropriation that congressman and
many others press the acceptance OF
invitations TO visit their sections and
districts, because the urgency of such
requests indicates the opinion on the
part of the people that one OF the duties
of the President is TO visit the people
In theirahomes.'
A MISUNDERSTANDING.
II had spoken of a man who would
ask the President to be his guest en-
tcrtain him, and then criticize him for
making the Visit as in effect charging
hin, board. Mr.. Bartlett. OF Georgia.
evidently misunderstanding my remark,
then demanded to know OF a single
instance where the President was
charged board. and Representative Ha-
nler, of Idaho, before could reply.
injected the facetious comment that he
thought 1t was in Georgia.
"Of course, the President was never
charged for his board when the guest
Of any one in Georgia or anywhere else.
and no such allegation was made