The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1913-10-03
PRES. WILSON CAN'T
COME; SENDS REGRETS
WOODROW WILSON WON'T BE IN
COLUMBIA FAIR WEEK.
May Even Have to Abandon Plans to
Attend Meeting of Southern Com
mercial Congress.

Columbia, September 30.-President
Wilson, in a letter received by Com
missioner Watson tonight, said that it
would not be possible for MIN to visit
Columbia and South Carolina during
the State Fair on his return North
from attending the convention Of the
Southern Commercial congress at
Mobile. This will be learned with re-
gret by the people of the State. The
presidents letter to Commissioner
Watson, dated Washington, September
26, is as follows:
Presidents Letter.
"Allow me to acknowledge the re-
ceipt of your kind letter Of September
"a, and to thank you very much for
writing me. Unfortunately, if 1 am
able to go to Mobile I shall have to
hurry both ways and it will not be pos
sible to stop going or coming, or add
anything to the trip. Let me assure
you that deeply appreciate your kind
ness in this matter"
Commissioner Watson, in comment
ing upon the note from the president,
said: 81 must confess that am genu-
inely disappointed. To be perfectly
frank, felt sure that Mr.. Wilson was
going to accept this invitation, and L
am sure now that he fully intended
to do so. Some important matter OF
public policy has unquestionably oc-
Cured since l saw him in Washington.
This is indicated by the reference in
his note to the trip to Mobile, regard
ing which he now expresses doubt.
When 1 was with him he expressed no
doubt whatever in regard to that trip.
Why He Was Wanted.
presenting the invitation, in which
particularly stressed the Home Com
ing Welcome idea, which mad appealed
to him in Washington, in my letter
to him, l referred briefly to our ef-
forts in the past six years towards
Ithe upbuilding of the State upon the
broad line of seeking fruits, fruits in
the soundness of men. referred to the
fact that the average man in this
State was doing more thinking for
himself upon economic lines tnan per-
haps in any State in the Union, and
said to him: 1T is not my purpose,
however, to recount the achievements
of the past six or seven years. They
are known 10 all men. We are prepar-
ing our people to do their part upon
the opening of the Panama Canal Iii
the making of greater nation. The
movement has momentum that moth
ing can stop. l feel, therefore, when
| consider that the methods that we
have employed in this State are now
being adopted all over the country by
those promoting the cause of agricul-
ture, that visit from you to your
old home at this particular moment
would mean more to the future of our
country, perhaps, than your visit to
Mobile. 1t would prove a successful
stimulus to the masses of people rath-
er than to the few representatives OF
the South, such as am, who will
greet you at Mobile.
'I deeply regret that the president
cannot come to US at this time. If ne
had done so it was my purpose to en-
list the student bodies Of the various
colleges, the school children OF the
State and all of the tomato club girls
and boys corn club hoys, in giving the
president welcome that would have
been unique and would have made
lasting impression upon him.