The Thibodaux sentinel. (Thibodaux, La.) 1905-1912, 1910-06-04
President TAFT IS
SOMEWHAT ANGRY
Because it was Alleged he va:
Charged Board
UNJUST REFLECTION ON THE South
Mr.. Tawney Says His Remarks Have
Been Distorted-''Oharging Him
Board" Only Intended as
Metaphor it Seems. 4

ngtOn.-PreStdent Taft sent
20 Chairman Tawney Of the commit
tee on appropriations letter express
ing deep resentment at the criticisms
pasAed by Democrats in the house
debate on the tyaxeling expenses Of
the president ofnthe United States.
The president says he is especially
distressed by suggested reflection
On Southern hospitality"
The presidents letter follow:
THE White House,
'Washington, May 27, 1910.
my Dear Mr.. Tawney-I am deep
ly grisved over the phase which the
discussion of the appropriation for
the travelling expenses Of the presi-
dent took yesterday. think 1t is a
legitimate argument in favor Of such
an appropriation that congressman
and many others pressed the accept
ance 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 congressman
OF the presidents invitation to trav-
ell on the train with him in their re-
spective districts or states was q rea-
son why they should not vote their
free opinion on the question of such
an appropriation is to me a most
painful one.
"In travelling upon the train they
were not receiving my hospitality
they were only making q little more
elaborate the cordial weicome which
they, as representatives Of their dis
tricts, wished to give.
"The feature of the discussion yes
terday which was especially distress
Ing to me was suggested reflection
on Southern hospitality. The intima-
ton that some where in the South
board was charged has no founda-
tion, in fact, and l never heard 1t
ltimated until I saw 1t in this morn
ing's paper.
TN all my experience, and / have
enjoyed the hospitality of many sec.
tions and countries of the world, +
never had a more cordial, generouA
open and lavish welcome than I had
in the Southern states during my
trip, and the slightest hint that puts
me in the attitude of critic of that
hospitality gives me great pain.
II am going to take the liberty Of
making this letter to you public.
Every sincerely yours,
"WM. TAFT"
Representative Tawney issued 3
statement saying the colloquy on the
floor between himself and Southern
members regarding Southern hospi-
tality" had been distorted.
Mr.. Tawney said 1t was "ridicu-
lous to suppose" that he would reflect
upon Southern hospitality.
II had spoken" he said, "of a
man who had asked the president to
be his guest, entertain him and then
criticise him for making the visit as
In effect, charging him board
mp. Bartlett, of Georgia, evident
ly misunderstood my remark = then
demanded to know of single in
stance where the president was
charged board, and Representative
of Idaho, before could re-
ply injected the facetious comment
that he thought 1t was in Georgia.
"Of course the president was never
charged for his board when the guest |
Of any one in Georgia or anywhere
else and no such allegation was
made"