The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-06-10
New Yorker Calls at White
House With a Party.
OTHERS ARE LET in.
Chief Executive Action Is Based
on a Resolution.
Criticising His Course in the
Pinchot-Ballinger Matter.

Washington, June 10.-President
Taft has declined to receive Repre-
sentative Francis Burton Harrison,
Democrat of New York, who called at
the White House in company with
two other representatives to introduce
number of Jewish rabbis who took
up with the president the question of
expulsion of Jews from Russia.
The president received the delega-
tt onnad chatted fifteen minutes or
more. Representative Goldfogle of
New York acted as spokesman for the
party. and so adroitly had the situa-
ton been handled by Secretary Nor
of the incident until Representative
Harrison returned to the capitol and
there announced he had been rebuff
ed by the president.
Mr.. Taft based his refusal to see
Mr.. Harrison on statements attributed
by newspapers to the representative
in connection with his resolution in
the house calling upon Attorney Gen
eral Wick kersham 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
with having wilfully attempted to
mislead congress in the back-dating
of the attorney generals summary of
the CLAWS charges against the secre-
tary of the interior.
Mr.. Harrison was first quoted as
having said he could assign no reason
for the presidents action. He had
made the engagement with the preSl-
dent some ten days ago and had re-
ceived no intimation that his presence
at the White House was undesirable.
Norton's Version of 1t.
Secretary Norton said the president
had no purpose of publicly humiliat-
ing the congressman, as had been
charged, and that nothing would have
been said regarding the affair If Mr..
Harrison himself had not made the
matter public. Mr.. Norton said it
was indeed his understanding that Mr..
Harrison expressly desired that moth
ing be said.
Mr.. Norton said that during the con-
gressionaI receiving hour he noticed
Representatives Harrison and Goldfogle
of New York, and Representative
Kehlieher of Massachusetts, with the
party of rabbis at the head of the line
awaiting admission to the presidents
office He spoke to all of the members
of the party and a few moments later
informed the president of the presence
of the delegation. Mr.. Taft announced
that he would be glad to receive every
member of the delegation but Mr.. Har-
rison. He declared that because of the
statements made by Mr.. Harrison he
did not desire to speak with him. Sec
retary Norton thereupon invited Mr..
Harrison into his office, saying he had
some affairs to discuss with him. Mean
time he had the party shown into the
presidents office at the appointed hour
and asked Mr.. Goldfogle to Introduce
the callers in Mr.. Harrison's absence.
Mr. Norton asserted the president
himself had not previous knowledge
that Mr.. Harrison was to be one OF his
callers The engagement had been
made in the routine way, some ten
days ago through the secretary's off1ce.
Harrison's Statement.
Representative Harrison made the
following statement:
"It is unfortunate for the president
that he can not stand criticism; 1t is
unfortunate for the country that he
can not stand the truth. Ny news
paper statement at which he takes Of
fense was merely an exposition Of the
scandalous fact that the president had
sent to the senate of the United States
an official document in the Ballinger-
Pinchot controversy of which the date
had been wilfu1ly falsified by being
pre-dated. My resolution of inquiry
drew out this information in a written
confession by the attorney general
"It is of no concern to me that I
but it is of concern to every American
citizen that a statement of the truth
about the president may make it inn
possible for a representative to dis
charge his duties.
"I went to the White House today
not as a matter of a pleasure, but in
the execution of a public duty 1 went
by appointment made by the presi-
Dental office on May 81, to present a
delegation of distinguished Hebrews on
an important public mission. After a
delay of 40 minutes, at the very door Of
the presidents office, was told that
the president would not receive me. 1t
is not surprising that he dill not care
to face any one who was instrumental
in bringing to light the desperate at
tempt to bolster the administration
case in the Ballinger-Pinchot matter by
manipulating public documents. If
every one who is justly criticizing tho
Taft administration is to be barred
from the White House it will become a
lonely place."