The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-06-01

Tawncy Issues Explanatory State
mcnt.
Washington, May 27.-"In all nv
experience, and l have enjoyed the
hospitality of many sections and coun-
tries Of the world, never had a more
cordial, generous, open and lavish
welcome than 1 had in the Southern
States during my trip, and the slight
est 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 today, in a letter to
Chairman Taft today, in a letter to
Chairman Tawrey of the house COM
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
specially distressed by Suggested re-
Election on Southern hospitality"
President Taft's letter continues:
Il am deeply grived over the phase
which the discussion Of the appropri-
alton for travelling expenses of the
President took yesterday. I think it
is a legitimate argument in favor Of
| such an appropriation that Congress-
men and many others press the ac-
ceptance 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 Presi-
| dent is to visit the people in their
homes.
"But the intimation or suggestion
that the acceptance by Congressmen
of the Presidents invitation to travel
| on the train with him in their re-
spective districts or States was a rea-
son why they should not vote their
| free opinion on the question of such
IN appropriation is to me most
painful one. In travelling upon the
train they were not receiving my hos
pitality-they were only making a
little more elaborate the cordial well
come which they, as representatives
of their districts, wished to give.
"The feature of the discussion yes
t,rday which vas especially distress
ing % me was suggested reflection
on Southern hospitality. The intima-
ton that somewhere in The South
board Was charged has 10 foundation,
in fact, and I never heard it intimated
until I saw it in this mornings pa
pers."
Following the receipt of President
Tafts letter, Representative Tawney
issued statement, saying:
1T Is ridiculous to suppose that
would reflect privately. much less
publicly, upon the floor of the House
of Representatives, upon Southern
hospitality, which is proverbial and
than which-as 1 can say from exper-
ience-there is nothing more cordial
or more generous to be imagined. But
I agree with the statement Of Presi-
dent Taft in his letter to me today,
that 1t is legitimate 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 peo-
lpe that one of the duties of the Pres
!dcnt IS to visit the people in their
homes.
Il had spoken Of a man who would
ask the President to be his guest, en-
tertain him and then criticse him Coz
making the visit, as in effect charging
him board Mr.. Bartlett, of Geor-
gia, evidently misunderstanding my
remark, then demanded to know Of
a single instance where the President
was charged board, and Representa-
tive Hamer, Of Idaho, before I could
reply, injected the facetious comment
that he thought it was in Georgia.
"Of course, the President was new
er charged for his board when the
guest of any one in Georgia, or any,
where el:e, and no such allegation
was made"