Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1910-09-09
ROOSEVELT REFUSES
TO SIT WITH LOR|MER
Abrupt Demand of Former Executive Causes
stir in Political Circles of Illinois but
is ACCeded to

tel, by refusing to sit at the same
table with him. The incident came
out unheralded. The program of the
big event under the guidance of the
Hamilton club has for days announced
that Loricner and others would sit al
the speakers table with Roosevelt
The occurrence startled politicians
here and over the state. The unpre
cendented demand that the Hamilton
club deny to one of it's own members
the privilege Of attending one of its
own banQuets came with characterize
ic abruptness from Roosevelt. The
Hamilton club delegation, headed by
former Judge John H. Batten, joined
Roosevelt at the fair grounds in Free
port, ILL.,, shortly after noon. The
colonel shook hands heartily with each
member of the delegation and at once
began questioning them concerning
the banquet.
us Speaker Cannon to be there?"
he asked.
YES" Batten replied. "He has ac-
cepted the invitation"
How about Lorimer?" asked Roose
welt.
"Lorimer is a member of the club"
he was told, land he has accepted
the invitation to dinner"
Then must decline to CO." said
Roosevelt, adding that he would feel
the same about the presence of Lori
mer as he would of sitting down with
members of the Illinois legislature,
who are under indictment in the graft
investigation.
The committee members looked
their amazement and finally after some
hesitation informed their guest that
they would go back to Chicago and
tell Lorimer his views.
NO." Roosevelt replied emphatical-
ly. Send him a telegram, telling him
that will not attend the dinner to-
night If he is there"
The delegation of the Hamilton club
men was posed. Their embarrassment
was apparently not noticed by Roose-
welt, who chatted with others standing
near by, while the perturbed dele
gates consulted as to what was to be
done.
After some interval, the following
telegram was drafted and dispatched
to Lorimer: Roosevelt positively re-
clines to sit at the same table with
you. Our invitation to you for this
evening is therefore withdrawn" The
telegram was signed by former Judge
John H. Batten. The committeeman
was taken completely by surprise and
their discussion of the event did not
| cease at the sending of the telegram
to Lorimer.
Judge Batten, as spokesman of the
party, said that the incident was a
complete surprise to him.
"The club had invited number of
prominent republicans, among them
the republican governor of Illinois and
various congressman, and it had not
occurred to the men who arranged the
dinner" said Batten, that they should
not invite a republican senator I'm
der the circumstances, there is moth
ing for us to do except to respect the
wishes of Roosevelt, who is the guest
Of the evening""
On the trip to Chicago, there was
much discussion of the possible out
come of the incident and all the men,
bers of the delegation appeared re-
lieved when they were informed on
their arrival at Chicago that Lorimer
would not attend the banquet.
If Senator Lorimer was surprised
at the refusal of Roosevelt to sit at
the banquet table with him, no indi-
cation of it escaped him. If he was
displeased or hurt at the frank ex-
preston of distaste for his presence,
he showed no sign of such disquiet.
With his usual untroubled brow and
his customary suavity of expression
he courteously declined to comment to
newspaper men on what to may SEEM
ed a most extraordinary incident.
$4,000 WEDDING GOWN.