New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-05-28
Mr.. TAFT PRAISES SOUTH.
President Grieved at Reflection
Upon Its Hospitality.
WRITES TO ]. A. TAWNEY
Tells Appropriations Chairman
His Welcome in Southern
States Was Lavish.

Washington. May 27.-President Taft to-
day sent to James A. Tawney. chairman
of the House Committee on Appropriations,
the following letter regarding expressions
in the House yesterday during a debate on
the t,a Yelling expenses Of the President:
| am deeply grieved over the phase whlch
the discussion of the appropriation Tor tiie
travelling expenses of the President LOOK
yesterday. ] think il is a legitimate al gu
ment in favor of such an APPROPRIATION that
Congressman and many others press tne
acceptance of invitations to visit tnelr sec &c
tons and districts, because the urgency u
such requests indicates the opinion on tne
part of the people that one or the duie Is
of the President is to Visit the people III
their homes.
But the intimation or suggestion that the
acceptance by Congressman or the frest
him in their respective districts or states
was a reason why they should not NotS
their free opinion on the question or Hu Ell
an appropriation IS to me a most pain u.
one In travelling upon the train they
were not receiving my hospitanty,St TN ,.
were only making a little more eIaoI5a ars
resentatives of their districts wished 10 give.
The feature of the discussion YESTERDAY
which was especially distressing to me was
suggested reflection on Southern hospltaai-
ity. The intimaton that somewhere IN the
South board was charged mas nc ioui ntaa
ton in fact and never heard 1t animated
until ] saw it in this mornings paper.
In all my experience-and | have enjoyed
the hospitality Of many sections ana cou nd
tries of the world never had more cord
ial generous, open and lavish welcome IMAM
l had in the Southern States during my
trip, and the slightest hint that puts itni,iW IN
the attitude of a critic of that hospitality
gives me great pain.
1 am going to take the liberty of making
this letter to you public
Following the receipt of President TAFT
letter, Representative Tawney issued
statement saying that the colloquy on the
floor yesterday between himself ana
Southern members regarding southern
hospitality had been distorted. Mr. raw
ney's statement follows in part
1t is ridiculous to suppose that would
reflect privately, much less puolcly, upon
the floor of the House of Representatives
upon Southern hospitality, which is pro
verbal, and than which-as can soy
from experience-there is nothing HIole
But | agree with the statement OF Presl-
dent Taft in his letter TO me to-day thas
lit is a legitimate argument IN Favor VI
such an appropriation that CongIessdiie ~
and many others press the acceptance OF
invitations to visit their sections ana us
tricts because the urgency OF sucn re
quests indicates the opinion on tne par W
the people that one of the duties OF Ine
President is to visit the people III lNeii
homes. I'D och,
I had spoken of a man who would ASK
the President to be his guest, enter tam
him and then criticise him for making I'M u me
visit. as 'in effect charging MN poaIu:
Mr.. Bartlett, of Georgia, evidently ms ms,
Understanding my remark, then demanded dsd
to know of a single instance wneTe an 1ne
sentative Hamer of Idaho. before couId
reply. injected the facetious comment that
he thought it was in Georgia: ,,or
charged for his board when the guest OF
any one, in Georgia or anywhere else, anu
no such allegation was mace. Inc Ie2,s
in his letter to me that the intin1au9n tlaI
somewhere in the South board was
na~e1 heard il intimated until L saw it In
this mornings papers.