The Detroit times., 1910-06-10
TAFT REBUKEs
REP. HARRISON
Congressman Who Accused President
of Deception, Is Refused Interview
In White House.

WASHINGTON, June 10.-President
Taft today declined TO receive Rep.
Francis Burton Harrison, Democrat,
OF New York, who called at the white
house In company with two other rep
resentatives TO introduce a number or
Jewish rabbis who took up with the
president the question OF the expul-
sion OF Jews from Russia.
The president received the delega-
iion and chatted with the members
for Is minutes or more. Rep. Gold
fogle, of New York, acted AZ spokes-
man for the party. and so adroitly
had the situation been handled by
Secretary Norton that not one OF the
callers knew anything OF the incident
until Mr.. Harrison returned 10 the
capitol and there made statement to
the effect that he had been rebuffed
Ey the president.
Mr. Taft based his refusal TO see
Mr.. Harrison on statements attribut-
cd by newspapers to the preventative
in connection with his resolution In
the house calling on Attorney
Wickersham for full information as to
the connection of his office with the
Ballinger Pinchot episode.
Mr.. Harrison, according to the white
house version OF the matter, charged
the president and the attorney-gen-
eral with having wilfully attempted to
mislead congress in the backdating OF
the attorney-generaPs summary OF the
CLAWS charges against the secretary
of the interior.
Mr.. Norton said II was his under
81 L. ,f.x
desired that nothing should be said
Mr.. Norton said that during the con-
grSssional receiving hour yesterday
morning he noticed Mr. Harrison and
Mr.. Goldfogle, of New York, and Rep.
Kelliher. OF Massachusetts, with the
party OF rabbis at the head OF the line
awaiting admission To the presidents
Office. He sfake to all the members
OF the party md few moments later
Informed the president of the presence
Of the delegation.
Mr.. Taft announced that he would
he glad to receive every member OF
the delegation but Mr.. Harrison. He
declared that because OF the news
paper statements made by Mr.. Harri-
son he did not desire to speak with
him.
Mr.. Norton thereupon invited Mr..
Harrison into his office, saying he had
the party shown into the presidents
Office at the appointed hour and asked
:or Mr.. Goldfogle to Introduce the
callers in Mr.. Harrisons absence.
Mr.. Norton DECEASED that the presi-
dent himself had no previous knowl-
edge that Mr.. Harrison was to be one
OF his callers. The engagement had
been made in the routine way some 10
days ago through the secretary's office.
Mr.. Harrison was quoted May l3 as
having said OF the backdating OF the
Wicke- snam summary:
This confession OF the attorney
general amounts to a conclusion that
the president and the encouragement
had agreed to furnish TO congress mis-
leading information, TO supply an Of
fetal document as OF one date, which
was really prepared many weeks
later"
Rep. Harrison tonight made the fol-
lowing statement:
at Is unfortunate for the president
that he cannot stand criticism; ii is
unfortunate for the country that he
cannot stand the truth. My newspaper
statement at which he takes offiense
Was merely an expression Of the scaL-
dalous fact that the president had sent
to the senate Of the United States an
official document In the Ballinger-Pin-
chot controversy OF which the date mad
teen willfully falsified by being pre-
dated. My resolution OF inquiry drew
out this information In a written con-
fession by the encouragement.
ct is of no concern to me that am
rot welcome at the White House. but