Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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OHIHEES ACTION ON TAFT LUNGIIEON BR rXPLAINS WHY FREE OKTS WERE NOT ISSUED . GowsaLes Makes State int o Entertainment of Pres- I -et Tart State, 15th. attitude of the central commit- i in charge of the arrangements for < the entertainment of President Taft i Aduing his visit to Columbia is set < cforth in a statement made by William I E. Gonzales, a .member of that com- I mittee. Capt. Gonzales was associated -with Gov. Ansel and Mayor Reamer t of Columbia in mapping out theoe I plans and when the letter from Sena- I tWr Tillman refusing to purchase a < ticket to the banquet was received, it : .was felt that a discussion would be t inappropriate until' the departure of t Mr. Taft, who was to be a guest of ( the State of South Carolina as well c as the city of Columbia. Twice since the publication of this letter Senator Tillman has made pub lie reference to the method of the t central committee. Mr. Gonzales has .'decided to make public the reasons for inviting certain South Carolinians to become contributors to the Taft c lunheon. It will be recalled that Senator Tillman, in a letter to Seere - tary Moorman, objected to the charge t for the luncheon and for that reason I refused to attend. The statement by Mr. Gonzales is as follows: "As a member of the central coln mittee and as far as the individual t primarily responsible for the method of President Taft's entertainment 'at iuncheon in Columbia, a method char aeterized by B..L Tillman as "inde eent," and criticised in ehorus by i more or less thoughtless, uninformed, or malicious newspapers, I make the subjoined statement of facts. The vicious assault upon Columbia by Tillman, broadcast throughout the ountry in press dispatches, is a re fleetion upon all South Carolina. "Last winter the president-elect t was invited to Columbia by the gov ernor, the president of the South Carolina Bar Association, and pres-, ident of . the Columbia Chamber of Commerce. He could not then come. Later the invitation was renewed by the governor, the mayor, and thc pres ident of the Chamber of Commerce.1 He accepted that invitation. Three 4 months ago organization for the care of the President and his entertain ment was begun by the formation of ~ a central committee, of which the governor, representing South Caro lina, was chairman, Mayor Reamer and myself being the other members. "The first suggestion for the Pres idnt's entert.ainment was by Gov erikor Ansel, who proposed tendering him a luneheon. I opposed that plan on the ground that the coming of the I President to the Capital, on the in- ~ vitation of the city and State, was ' State-wide in its significance, and his I hosts should be the representa%ive t men of .the State; that any formal function at the Mansion must oft physical necessity be restricted, and therefore the idea of a State enter tainment could not be carried out. As i a substitute I suggested inviting a certain number of representative men of South Carolina to participate in giving this luncheon. The cost was estimated at $10 for each host, there< to be no 'guests' except tne President, I his immediate party and members of his cabinet. That plan was accepted, the governor deeiding to give the President a breakfast, Mr. Taft at] that. time expecting L,O arrive here inm the morning. "Members of committees were la ter appointed, and The committee on invitation forwarded 'to the thous and persons selected to be given the opportunity to participate in enter esAning the President, a card of in vitation, in stereotyped form, bear ing. as symbolical of the scope, an1 engraving of the flag of South Caro-1 lina. There was absolutely nothmgz ucn that card suggesting Columbia as the host. Another card carried the information to South Carolinians in vitedi tha: the first three hundred to avail themselves of the invitation. an pay the amount fixed upon, would participate inl the luncheon. "Invitations were essential be cause limitation and selection were neessary. No one was invited be cause he could pay his way. Official Euth Carolina, the press, the men of learning and of -worthy achievement were recognized as fully as possible in the effort to .have assemble here a representative and distinguished body of South Carolinians to meet the country's Chief Executive. Private entertainment in Columbia would have saved the committees infiniite troubes and trials. bu: would niee essarily have eliminated that State feature of the entertainmen. to which tb me d Weie reffred in "Further carrying out the State wide conception, a reception commit ,ee was appointed, on which ever3 ,ounty in South Carolina had repre. ;entation; there were two aldermer rom Columbia and probably a dozer nembers of the general assembly or :hat committee. "The design and inscription foi he menu card chosen by the lunheeon ommittee a fuxll month before the vent, emphasized the scope of the unction. In addition to the engnv ngs of the Capitol, the Coat of Arms if South Carolina, and- a palmetto ree, the declaration that the lun heon was 'Given to President Taft y South Carolinians,' was conclus ve of its purpose. "At the beginning of the prepara ion it was decreed that there should le no 'guesta' at the luncheon except he President, his party, and members if the cabinet. And there was none. ,very South Carolinian present was here as a host. The reporters for he Columbia Record, the News and Jourier, and the State, the members If all committees-the men who bore he responsibilities and did the ar [uous work of preparation-were osts, each contributing his share oward making fitting South Caro ina's hospitality to the nation's offi ial head. "There are two practicable meth ds of defraying the expenses of pub ic banquets. One is by using the tax ayers' money to pay for an enter ainment from which more than 99 >er centum of the taxpayers must of eessity be exeluded, and the other 3 that those acting as hosts do the >art of hosts and defray the costs. y the first plan the mi'ny pay for he benefit of the few; by the latter here is equality and justice. And he latter plan is practically uni ersal. "After Tillman's ill-bred outbreak a the face of Columbia's and South 'arolina's approaching guest, I took he pains to ' inquire of four owns that either had entertained the resident or conteniplated so doing, s to the plan followed. Here are ex racts from the replies: "Washington: 'The dinner given o President Taft was arranged by , joint committee of t-he chamber of ommerce and the board of trade. The ommittee issued invitations to a few istinguished guests who, of course, laid nothing. All others who attend d paid $20 a plate. The list was imited.' The list, however, was not onfined to Washingtonians. ''New Orleans: 'At the banquet endered President Taft here last ebruary, just before his inaugura ion, all those who attended were in 'ited to pay $25, with the exception >f Mr. Taft's party, .the press (of few Orleans) and possibly one or two ests of honor.' Those invitations o participate were not confined to itizens of Louisiana. ''Atlanta: 'I have just wired you hat we did exactly the same thing Lere in Atlanta, and it is the usual rstom not only Jiere in the South iut in every other city in the coun ry..It seems to me it is a very ensible custom..Somebody has o pay, why not, therefore, those who are there in the .capacity of osts ? . .. .So far as I have heard this s the only instance of complaint of his kind on record.' "Savannah: - ' The Taft banquet vill be attended by 350 persons. hout thirty will be guests of the ity; the 320 who .are not specia] uests will pay $20 per plate for the casion. In 18 years I do not re all a function of the sort in this ity that was not similarly financed. :nvitations to participate in that anquet and its expense-a banquet rven in the name of Savannah-were .nt to Atlanta and elsewhere in leorgia. "The direct charge that Columbia bas attempting to make the State at arge pay for her frolic, and the in ~amous insinuationi that. the plan of committee of which the govei-nor, he mayor and myself were the mem >ers. had engaged in a money-making -eme. warrants reference to what as spent in Columbia aside from: :he- un.heon-whose cost, by the xay. was not covered by the esti nated $10 a plate. Aside from the ruerainment in the State House, thE mtlay was, as accurately as I car aow secure the figures, $5,800. 'I have no means of defining th< otive prompting B. R. Tillman t< make the gross and insolent reply h< id to the invitation to be a host in stead of a guest at the luncheon t< the president, and it is imumateria whether he imagined it an opportuni ty to hurt Columbia, or to embarras his political opponents on the com mittee, or to hoodwink gullible backs woodsmen. But his ill-bred tirade his maliciously false staternent of (olumbia's posit ion, his charge t ha Cu plani was ai violation~ of hospit al ii V, anid ' indecent.' would have beei ignored by me, had not newvspapers i1 silence while the guest was approaeh ing, indulged in wholly unjustified, and, as a distinguished Georgian writes me, unprecedented criticism of this city. "That Tillman, who has never balked at the price of a dinner when paid for with the money of taxpayers should essay the role of a Ward Me Allister is grotesque. The man who as a guest of honor in Charleston 'took the hide off' hiMs hosts and then rabbed in salt' and gave Charle tonians a stomaeh-turning from which they needed years to recover, thean whose coar7e speech when, making addresses by invitatiQn has brought the blood to the faces of farmers' wives and daughters in South Carolina, the man whose pro fanity before -women has shocked in South Carolina and in Washington ,this man's criticism, I say, of hospi tality and etiquette is grotesque. The animus is revealed when Tillman, no torious for lack of courtesy, lack of refinement, and for general uncouth ness, and boastful of his disregard of the conventions, attempts to be mentor of Columbia's manners. "And when it comes to maintain ing the good name of South Carolina, for which he now essays to be jealous, Tillman's display of an appetite for getting something for nothing or much for little, which had its ineipi ent manifestation when he was gov ernor in the cultivation of a private oat crop at public expense, and its latest development in the Oregon land affair, might be dtiled as startling inconsistency between the word and the deed." Senator TWz%a iL6tfr. The following is a copy of the let ter sent Secretary Moorman by Sen ator Tillman: United States Senate. Trenton, S. C., Oct. 23, 1909. Mr. C. W. Moorman, Secretary Chamber Commerce, Columbia, S C. Dear Sir:-I have your letter of October 22. I replied yesterday to a previous letter explaining the situa tion in regard to my acting on the reception committee on November 6, and I await your answer to that be fore deciding whether I will go to Columbia a;t all or not. As for attending the luncheon, I received an invitation some days ago, signed James A. Hoyt, to attend the luncheon, accompanied with an invi tation to send a check for $10. This may be a new way 'of conducting en tertainments in South Carolina that will find favor in the future, but it is wholly contrary to all ideas of cour tesy and self-respecting -hospitality that I have ever heard of in the State, and I do not propose to lend any aid or countenance 4to it. If the city of Columbia is too poor to entertain the president decently it ought not to at tempt it; if it wants to ask conribu tions from outsiders, that is a differ ent thing; if it wants outsiders to bear the expenses and insiders enjoy the glory, that is another thing. I have known Mr. Taft very pleasanmly some eight or ten years, and I have dined with him quite often, both as a guest and as a host, and I do not feel like encouraging the departure from South Carolina's reputation for deeency and hospitality which this transaction involves. I did not re spond to Mr. Eoyt 's invitation, but treated it with silent contempt. But -aasmuch as you have asked the point blank question, and it seems to be the officeial scheme s.o ask men to meet the president and have them pay the expenses, I tell you emphatically No, I will not attend the luncheoi. Very respectfully, (Signed) B. R. Tillman. TRBSPASS NIOTICE. All persons are hereby warned not to trespass upon the lands (237 acres) of the undersigned in No. 8 Township by hunting or 'nany oth er manner. Any one violating this notice will be prosecuted to the ex tent of the law. . David Shelton. 11-12-09-1taw. 2t. YOUR B. THE NEWBERRY Capitali $50,000 - No Matter How Small, The Newberry 111give It carefd! au MUSiC. Mrs. Alice Robertson Teacher of Piano, Voice and Harmony. Studio 1218 hain St. Open Mon ay- a)Ot*Tw '4. Monday, Tuesday. Thursday, Priday, Saturday Phone 263. ORGANS. We have a few slightly used $90 organs, will close out at a big re duction. If you ?re wanting an organ now is the .time -to,.buy!ne of the best o%ans made at a-great bargain. 'Write at onceif yoUwish to secure one of these organs, for such bargains don't last long. Write for illustrations of these organs and for terms. Malone's Music House, COLUMB, S. C. Call on us during the fair. VALUABLE LANID For Sale. The Boyd place, containing One Hundred. Acres, FourJ Buildings, about three and a half miles from Newberry, front ing on public road, Southern Railroad and C. N. & L. Rail road, fine. location for brick plant, truck farm, tan yard, cot-7 ton mill, &c. Terms easy. Moseley Bros. FREE To those that wear gloss or Chinese work. We will Laun dry three collars free to show what a difference there Is In a a beautiful linen finish. All goods sterilized. Collars will not crack. Suits steam-cleaned $1.00. - WHiTE STAR LAUNDRY AND DYE WORKS. 'Phone 175. YOUNG & STEBBINS, Prop. NOTICE TO OVERSBRS. All overseers of publie roads in Newberry County are hereby ordered to give their respective sections the full six days' work, as required by law, by December first nex,t. Over seers and road hands liable to do road duty failing to comply with this or der, when reported to this office, will be prosecuted. All overseers are also ordered to file their returns with either of the unidersigned by Dee. 14th. By order of the County Board. L. I. Feagle, County Supervisor. H. C. Holloway, Clerk. Now is the time to subscribe to The Herald and News, $1.50 per year. ANKING! SAVINGS DANKL - Surplus $80,000 r*o Matter How Lairgo, Savings Bank entlon, rhis messag' the women alike. 1 E NORWOOD~ Letter From Saj Hapj To Mr. John Mayes, Newberry, S. C. My Dear Mr. Mayes: I am rushing this communiation to y4 means at my hand. Because, you know and I -want everything to be in readines as well as the big ones, in your town a : I have very little time at my disposal son, and so I will tell you briefly just w My headquarters will be at your store to give me the use of it for a while, an( mail boxes straight so that there will be to get lost, or to be delivered too late. Just now I am ruahed to death in the decided when I will reach your place, I when I will be around. With all good wishes to you and all of MON]U PIentyi TO LI The Commuerc Of N ewberra JNO. M. KINARD, 3. Y. McF~A President. Cashier. Pools! Panll We Offer ti Evi "I 500 Pi of good qu andCheviot, buttons, tap and seat sea ioo pairs worth $5.00 a pair going at too pairs worth $4.00 a pair going at too pairs worth $3.0o a pair going at roo pairs worth $2.0o a pair going at 1oo 'pairs worth $1.25 a pair going at Extra values- and never offered a need money, must have it, and if y< line come and buy from 0. K L ET 'I S The Fair and Square ita Claus. >yland, Snow Country, R November 15, 1909. >u by the swiftest possible Christmas is nearly here s to give the little people, ively dtme. just at this very busy sea hat I wish you to do. , if you will be so kind as' I I want you to get al -the. no chance for any letters' At work shops and have not ut I will notify you later ,my young friends in your is truly, qP SANTA CLAUS. 4 D Y! fIt.4 ND. [L 0. B. MAYER, V. President. * e Greatest Yaus r Shown, airs Pants ality Cassimere diagonal weave, istband, patent e covered crotch ins, two pockets, .tch pockets. only $2.89 only $2.25 - only--$.7 only $1.-39 only 97c. t such low prices. We u need anything in our