Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-09-09
Telegram is Sent in Accordance with
Ex.President's Wishes.
OMMITTEE is MUCH AMAZED
Statement Falls as a Bolt from
a Clear Sky,
MUCH DISCUSSION OF EVENT
senator Declines to Comment on the
situation when Seen by n Chi
cago Reporter-Big Prep
RrntIons for Feast.

CHICAGO sept S.-Colonei Theodore
Roosevelt today barred william Lormer,
Junior United states senator from Illinois,
from the Hamilton club banquet at the
Congress hotel by refusing TO sit at the
same table.
The occurrence startled politicians here
and over the state. The unprecedented de-
mand that the Hamilton club deny to one
Of its own members the privilege OF attend
ing the banquet came with characteristic
abruptness from Colonel Roosevelt.
| The Hamilton club delegation, headed by
! former Judge John II. Bstten, Joined
Colonel Roosevelt at the fair grounds in
Freeport, H., shortly after noon. The
| colonel shook hands heartily with each
member of the delegation and at once be-
gan questioning them concerning the
banquet.
rs Speaker Cannon to be there?" YES
Mr., Batten replied he has accepted the in.
vitation"
Sow about Senator Lorimer?" he asked,
Senator Lorimer is member of the club"
he was told and he has accepted an in
vtaton to the dinner"
Then l must decline to 60" said Colonel
| Roosevelt, adding that he would feel the
same about the presence of senator Lori
mer as he would In sitting down with MEM
bers OF the Illinois legislature who are
under indictment in the graft investigation.
Committee is Amazed.
| The committee looked their amazement
and finally after some hesitation informed
their guest that they would go back to
Chicago and tell Senator Lorimer his views.
No" Colonel Roosevelt replied emphau-
cally, "send him telegram telling him that
will not attend the dinner tonight il he
Is there"
The delegation of Hamilton club members
were perplexed
Their amazement was apparent. II was
not noticed by Mr.. Roosevelt who chatted
with others standing near by, while the del
: egates talked over what to do. After some
8 5lintervsl the following tslegram was drafted
land dispatched to Senator Lofimer:
| Colonel Roosevelt positively declines TO
I sit at the same table with you. Our inu-
taton to you for this evening, therefore,
withdrawn"
The telegram was signed by Former
Judge John II. Patten
: The committeeman were taken completely
, by surprise and their discussion of the
event did not cease until the sending OF
the telegram TO Senator Lorimer.
Judge Hatten, as the spokesman of the
party, said that the incident was a COM
, lplete surprise to him.
THE club had invited number of prom
inent republicans, among them the repub-
, lican governor OF Illinois, and various con-
gressmen, and it had not occurred to the
men who had arranged the dinner" said
t Judge Patton that they should not invite
a republican senator. Under these circum-
5 stances there is nothing for to do ex-
= cept respect the wishes OF Colonel Roose-
welt, the guest OF the evening"
Lorimer il UnruffIed.
II Senator Lorimer was surprised or hurt
E at the refusal of Colonel Roosevelt TO sit
at the banquet table with him no indication
of it escaped him.
With his usual untroubled brow and his
r customary suavity OF expression he
! courteously declined to comment TO news
a paper men what to many seemed a
most extraordinary incident.
The news of Colonel Roosevelt's demand
! of the Hamilton club delegation that they
inform the senator Of his ultimatum was
given to Senator Lorimer when he reached
his office, the presidents room In the Ia
Sale street National bank.
He had arrived from his summer home
in Pistake Bay, and comfortable with
S Panama hat shading his eyes and the ends
n of his inevitable white string tie floating
& from beneath a rundown collar, he
n stepped among the group Of perspiring
l. newspaper men.
% A hurried resume Of the dispatches from
Freeport was given and a statement was
i asked from him.
e rs that so, said the junior senator from
y Illinois this is the first / have heard of
= it, No, I have nothing whatever to say.
d Nothing at ALL"
}. He turned from the group conversed
. with his secretary md then entered his
private office Some Of the officials fol-
lowed him TO his sanctuary. A telegram
came and the newspaper men clustered
l. around the door
It Had Not Received Message.
Is Hurried messages were telephone 10 "Ho'd
the edition just minute" The door
opened and Senator Lorliner, still cool and
s. smiling, was again surrounded by the news.
paper men. In his hand he held a telegram
The smile Of the senator was a shade more
pronounced he said:
This telegram is about another matter
gentlemen 1 do not know II any such tele.
gram has been received. lie turned to his
secretary and asked: Has any Telegram
como for mo concerning the Hamilton
club?'
, no, sir was the reply, there has beer
) no telegram"
Again tho unruffled brow Of the senator
and bank president was turned to the wait,
-. ing reporter.
There iE nothing for me 10 say. gentle
a, men, l have no exact information concern.
" ing the incident and ! shall not discuss IT,"
i copy Of the newspaper dispatches from
,, TrotpCrt was proffered but senator Lon
., inner waved Il aside
a Il do not care to read g." no said. stn
, With a smiling countenance.
r Are you going to the banquet" wa
asked pointblank and was parned with the
l. skill OF an expert.
T. Really" came the calm voice OF tho
le senator, Il must find whether | have
: ticket"
lc "Mr. Wade he said, turning again I,
re the secretary, How about that?"
/ gir ms