The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-06-10
s
ST A TEMEN I.
Says It's Unfortunate
That President Cannot
Stand Criticism

w Aol1l4Nb oN Jullc --fItblucHl
Taft TODAY declined TO receive Repre-
sentative Francls Burton Harrison.
Democrat. of New York who called
at the White House in company with
two otGer Representatives to intro
duce number of Jewish rabbs who
took up with the PRESIDENT the ques-
tlon Of the expulsion of Jews from
Russia
He received the delegation and
chatted with its various members for
fifteen minutes or more. Represen-
tativc Goldfogle of New York, acted
as spokesman for the party, and so
adroitly had the situation boon hand
led by Secretary Norton that not ono
OF the callers knew of the incident
until Representative Harrison re-
turned TO the capitol and there stated
that he had been rcbuffed by the
president
Mr. Taft based his refusal to see
Mr. Harrison on statements attribut-
ed by newspapers TO the representa-
tive In connection with his resolu-
tion IN the house calling upon Ator-
ney General Wickersham for full In
formation as to the connection OF his
office with the BallingerPinchot epi-
sodo. Mr.. Harrison, according to the
White House version Of the matter.
charged the president and the attor-
Dey general with having willfully at
tempted to mislead congress In the
back-datlng of the attorney generals
summary of the CLAWS charges.
Mr. Harrison was first quoted as
having said that he could assign no
reason for the presidents action to-
day He had made the engagement
with the president some ten days ago
and had received no lntimaUon TINT
his presence at the White House was
undesirable
Secretary Norton was at first un'
willing to discuss the incident Later.
when he was informed OF the state
ments OF MT Harrison, be told the
story. He said the president had no
purpose of publicly humilIatlng the
congressman, AZ had been charged.
and that nothing would have been
said regarding the affair IL Mr.. Har-
rison himself had not made the mat
ter public.
Mr.. Norton said 1t was his under
standing that Mr.. Harrison expressly
| desired that nothing should be said.
Mr. Norton said that during the
| congressional receiving hour he no.
ticed Representatives Harrison and
! Goldfocle of New York. and Repre-
sentative Kellher OF Massachusetts.
with the party OF rabbis at the head
of the line awaiting admission TO the
presidents office He spoke 10 all the
members of the party and a few
! moments later informed the presi-
dent OF their presence. Mr., TAFT said
| that he would be glad to receive
every member of the delegation but
| Mr. Harrison. He declared that be
cause OF the statement made by Mr
Harrison he did not desire TO speak
with him,
Secretary Norton thereupon Invited
! Mr. Harrison into his office saying he
Ind some affairs to discuss with him
Meantime he had the party shown
into the presidents office at tho ap
noInted hour and asked Mr. Gold
Soyle IN introduce the callers in Mr.
Harrison's absence
II WAS the first time Mr.. Norton
had over met Mr. Harrison. and when
the two we're alone. the secretary
said he was extremely sorry that tbs
first meeting should be the occas
slop OF n dlsagreeable duty. He tolc
Mr. Harrison the president would moi
sec him.
Mr. Harrison. according TO Mr.
Norton said he thought he knew
why Il was-tbe statement he bac
made regarding the connection OF the
president and the attorney genera
With the Baliipgcr-Pinchot hearing
Mr.. Norton said he had not seen th'
statement and consequently was
somewhat In the dark. He asked Mr.
Harrison 10 send him copy of wha
be had soid
MI Harrison asked II Representa-