The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-09-09
For President Refuses to Sit At Banquet Table With
 the Senator
SENSATION IS CAUSED BY ROOSEvELT'S ACTION
Committee From Hamilton Club Ls Placed In Awkward Position But the Members Manage to
 Get Matters Fixed


 Chicago, September S.-Col. Theodore Roosevelt, exPresldent of the United States, today barred Senator William Lorimer, junior senator from Illinois, from the Hamilton club banquet at the Congress hotel by refusing to sit at the same table. The incident came unher- aided. The programme of the big event under the guidance of the Hamilton club has for days announced that Senator LOT inner and others would sit at the speak CTS table with Colonel Roosevelt.
 The occurrence startled politicians here and over the state
 The unprecedented demand that the Hamilton club deny to one of it's own members the privilege of attending the banquet came with characteristic abrupt ness from Colonel Roosevelt.
 The Hamilton club delegation, headed by former Judge John H. Batten joined Colonel Roosevelt al the fair grounds in Freeport H., shortly after noon. The colonel shook hands heartily with each me mber of the delegation and at once be- gan questioning them concerning the ban quet
 "Is Speaker Cannon to be theres' he asked.
 Yes" MT. Batten replied
 He has accepted the invitation
 How about Senator Lorimer?" was asked
 Senator Lormer is member of the club" he was told. f'and he has accepted an invitation to the dinner
 Then I must decline to go. said Col onel Roosevelt, adding that he would feel the same about the presence of Senator Lorimer as he would of sitting down with members of the Illinois legislature who are under indictment in the graft in- vestigation.
 Committee Is Surprised
 The committee members looked their amazement and finally after some hesi- tation informed their guest that they would go back to Chicago and tell Lori mer his views.
 No" Colonel Roosevelt replied em- phatically send telegram telling him that 1 will not attend the dinner tonight if he is there.
 The Hamilton club men were perplexed. but their embarrassment was apparently not noticed by Colonel Roosevelt, who chatted with others standing nearby. After some interval the following tele- gram was drafted and sent to Senator Lorimer:
 Colonel Roosevelt positively declines to sit at the same table with you. Our invitation to you for this evening is, therefore, withdra wn.
 The telegram was signed by former Judge John H. Batten.
 The delegation which waited on Colonel Roosevelt to escort him to Chicago and the banquet hall this evening was taken completely by surprise and their discus sion of the event did not cease with the sending of the telegram to Senator Lori mer.
 Judge Batten, as the spokesman of the party, said the incident was a complete surprise to him.
 "'rhe club had invited a number of prominent republicans, among them the republican governor of Illinois and va- rous congressman, and it had not oc- cured to the men who arranged the din- ner' said Judge Batten, that they should not invite a republican senator. Under the circumstances there is noth- ing for us to do except to respect the wishes of Colonel Roosevelt, the guest of the evening"
 Discussion of Incident
 On the trip to Chicago there was much discussion of the possible outcome of the incident, and all the members of the delegation appeared relieved when they were informed on arriving at Chicago that Senator Lorimer would not attend the banquet.
 On the street, in offices and in public buildings the tidings caused much com- ment particularly among those who noted that the ban against Senator Loriiner was coincident with the completion of the second trial of Lee ONeill Browne, mi- nority leader of the Illinois legislature, charged with bribery in connection with A tar ffntr linois.
 If Senator William Lorimer was sur prised at the refusal of Colonel Roose- welt to sit at the banquet table with him no indication of 1t escaped him.
 If he was displeased or hurt at the frank expression of distaste for his pres- ence no sign of such disquiet escaped him.
 With his usual untroubled brow and his customary suavity of expression, he cour- teously declined to comment to newspaper men on what to many seemed a most ex- traordinary incident.
 The news of Colonel Roosevelt's demand of the Hamilton club delegation that they inform the senator of his ultimatum was given to Senator Lorimer when he reached his office the presidents room in the La Sale Street National bank, from his sum- mer home at Pistakee bay.
 group of perspirng newspaper men gave him a resume of the dispatches from Freeport and asked for statement.
 ''Is that so?" said the junior senator from Illinois.
 This is the first I had heard of 1t. No. no, I have nothing whatever to say nothing at all"
 Lorirner Is UnmOved
 He turned from the group, eonversed with his secretary and then entered ms private office Some of the bank or ficers followed him into his sanctum. A telegram came and the newspaper men clustered around the door.
 Hurried messages were telephoned to Hold the edition just minute.
 The door opened and Senator Lori mer. cool and smiling. was again sur rounded by the newspaper men. In his hand he held telegram. The smile of the senator was pronounced as he said:
 This telegram Is about another mat ter. gentlemen. I really do not know if any such telegram as you speak of has been received
 He turned to his secretary and asked;
 CONTINUED ON PAGD Al