The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-06-10
Refuses TO See Representative
Francis Burton Harrison Af-
ter appointment Made.
RECEIVES OTHER MEMBERS
OF THE DELEGATION
HarrisOn's Resolution Relating
to Certain Phases of Ball
niger Case the Cause.

Taft today declined to receive RcprcScn-
tativc Francis Burton Harrison, Demo
crat, of New York, who called at the
White House in company with two other
representatives to Introduce number oil
Jewish rabbis, who took up with the
president the question OF the expulsion
OF Jews from Russia
The president received the delegation
and chatted with its various members foi
fifteen minutes or more. Representative
Godfoge of New York acted as spokcs-
man for the party, and so adroltly had
the situation been handled by Secretary
Norton that not one of the callers knew
of the incident until Representative Har-
rison returned to the capitol and there
stated that he had been rebunied by the
president.
Reason for Rebuff.
Mr.. Taft based his refusal to see Mr..
Harrison on statements attributed by
newspa pers To the representative In con-
nection with his resolution In the house
calling upon Attorney General Wicker
sham for full Information as to tho con-
nection OF his office with the BallinSer-
Pinchot episode. Mr.. Harrison. according
to- the White House version of the mat
ter, charged the president and the attor-
ncy general with having willfully at
tempted TO mislcad congress In the back
OF the CLAWS charges.
Mr.. Harrison was first quoted as hav-
Ing said that he could assign no reason
for the presidents action today. Flo had
made an engagement with tho president
some ten days ago and had received no
intimalion that his presence at the
White House was undesirable.
Secretary Norton was at tirSt unwilling
to discuss the incident. Later, when he
was informed of the statements of Mr..
Harrison, he told the story. He said
Al. ,l,1t is.
humiliatng the congressman, as had
been charged, and that nothing would
have been said regarding the affair IL
Mr.. Harrison himself had not made the
matter public
Secretary's Version.
Mr. Norton said that il was the under
standing that MIR. Harrison expressly de-
sired that nothing should be said.
Mr.. Norton said that during the con
grcssional receiving hour he noticed Rep.
New York and Representative Keliher
OF Massachusetts. with the party Of
rabbis. aL the head of tho limo awaiting
admission TO the presidents office. He
spoke TO all the members of the party
and a few moments later informed the
president of their presence. Mr.. Taft
said thnt hc would be glad TO receive
every member of the delegation but Mr..
Harrison. He declared that because OF
the statements made by Mr.. Harrison he
did not desire to speak with him,
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 Mir. Harrlsons absence.
It was the first time Mr.. Norton had
ever met Mr.. Harrison, and when the two
were alone the secretary said he was ex-
tremeIy sorry that the first meeting
should he the occasion OF Il disagreeablc
duty. He told Mr.. Harrison the president
would not see him.
Cause Was Apparent.
Mr. Harrison, according to Mr., Norton
said he thought he knew why IL WIS
the statement he had made regarding the
connection OF the president and the at
torncy general with the Ballinger- Plnchot
controversy. Mr.. Norton said he had not
seen the statement and consequently was
some what in the dark. He asked Mr.
Harrison to send him copy OF what he
had said.
Mr. Harrison asked il Representatives
Goldfnge and Kcllher and the others In
the party knew that the president had
barred him out and Mr.. Norton replied
that no one knew but they two. Mr.
Harrison said ho thought ii unnecessary
for the others 10 know anything about IL
and thcreupon left.
Mr. Norton asserted tho president him
self had no previous knowledge that Mr..
day. The engagement had been made
in the routine way some ton days ago
through the sccretary's office
Mr.. Harrison was quoted on May IS as
having said of the baCk-dating of the
Wickersham summary;
This confession OF the attorney gen
cral amounts TO the conclusion that the
president and attorney general had
agreed 10 furnish TO congress misleading
uformation-to supply an official docu-
ment as OF ono date. which WAS really
prepared many weeks later"
Harrison Statement.
Representative Harrison tonight made
the following statement:
1T Is unfortunate for the president that
he cannot stand criticism; II is unfortu-
nate for the country that ne cannot
stand the truth. My newspaper state
ment. at which he takes olfcnse. WAS
merely an exposition of tho scandalous
fact that the president had sent TO the
senate oi the United states All official
document in the Ballinger- Pinchot con-
1roycrsy. of which the date had been will
fully falsified by being pre-dated. My
resolution of inquiry drew out this iu-
formation by a written confession by the
attorney general. II Is OF no concern to
me that ] am not welcome at the White
house. but H. is OF concern TO American
citizens that a statement OF the truth
about the president may make II impos-
siblc for a representative To discharge his
duties.
II went to the white house today not
as II matter OF pleasure. but In the execu-
ton ol "A public duty. l went by appoint
mcnt, made by the presidential office on
May II. to present Il delegation of dig
tingu,shed Hebrews on an important pub
lie mission, After "A delay OF forty min
utes. at the very door OF the presidents 3
office. l was told that the president
would not receive me.
1T is not surprising that he did not
care To face any one who WAS instru-
mental In bringing 10 light the des-
perate attempt to bolster the administra-
ton case In the Ballinger-Pinch mat
ter by manipulating public documents
II every one who Ii Justly criticiSiug the
TAFT administration Is to be barred from
tho White house, IL will become IA lonely
place"
AS did Representative kchilcr today, that
had he known Mr. Harrison was not to
be received AT the White house, lie also
would have refused To go in,