Telegram-herald., 1890-09-16
REDS BAD BREAK
He Tries 70 Injure Washington
Gardner bur Fails
HIS R<soiatien Proves ~ De = Boomer
asg-he Tri~s - MAKE PSlitas
Capitai, bsE Gsts Cert

@ANtHt----- A-lAr4rANE - a. s-c-A i+c~ -
fore noon this Monday l.na0rning, last
iag0veT until Y 50 O'Clock. The debate
came up on precisely the matter that
nAd been anticipated al along, although
L was not antici pated that il would take
the peculiar turn it did. From the
start Il has been an Open question
whether the conference would IN any
way directly or indirectly take sides
with Rev. J. ". Reid, OF Grand Rapids,
as chairman OF the state Central Com
mittee Of the Prohibition party. Mr..
Reid Is prominent member OF
the conference, and Il was expected
he would endeayOr IN some way
% get an Endorsement OF ms third
party. Rev. Washington Gardner ls
also prominent member OF the con
ference. Tie IS a professor OF Albion
College aud lecturer IN the interests
or the college. Tie IS also the candidate
for Secretary of State on the kepub-
lican ticket. This morning Mr.. Reid,
IN an underhand schemng manner,
submitted a resolution that Rev. Wash
lngton Gardner DC appointed professor
AT Albion, although he has already re-
ceIved the appointment by the trustees
OF that college, and the action or the
conference could have no further effect
than 10 be advisory. Evidently a
contemplate trap has heen set
10 prec eciptate political de-
bate IN the conference with the
purpose anI hope of lnJurlng Rev.
Washington Gardner. In tue course OF
the debate Mr.. Gardner appeared be-
fore the platform and stated his po-
sltion IN Il speech OF great tact, force
and at times eloquence. lie was Dig
nlhed, earnest, candid. He had moth
Ing for which 10 apologize, nothing
% Ietract. Next tue cross ne
placed the flag. lie loved his country.
lie had served heI IL war, he stood ready
now To serve her in peace.
During the address the most intense
interest peryaded the large gathering.
| Evidently crisis was upon tae confer
| ence. Ii had been precipitated IN ex-
ceedingly bad taste. but It was there
and the question was how 10 get rid OF
IL.
Mr.. Reid made a scathing, slurring,
sarcastic speech, holding Mr.. Gardner
up 10 rldlcule. PrOfessedly he was
! speaking IN favor of his motion, while
with all MS sarcasm and ndlcule he was
trying 10 stab Mr.. Gardner III the back.
He wound up hls bitter speech by de-
claring that Mr.. Gardner in imitation
OF Burchard would combine the three
RS into Rum, Republicanism aud Re-
ligiOn.
At this point some of the cooler heads
took up the matter and proceeded to
undo the nI.schief done by Reid Pre-
siding Elder Barnes, DIR. Graham, Rev.
Mr.. Edmunds. and others spoke ~ con-
demnation OF Mr. Reid's partisan zeal, -,
which had outrun the bounds OF dIscre-
tion or prOpnety.
The upshot of the entire matter was
that the conference, by a vote of % TO
"a, placed Mr.. Reid and Mr. Gardner
in the same category and on tine same
plane, and advised them in case they
accepted positions from any political
party, 10 ask for a location.
This is equivalent TO asking them to
retire from the ministry. The action is
not mandatory. Ii is now purely n
matter of personal choice with these
gentlemen whether they act on the re-
quest of the conference, They may
decline 10 do so, and Is doubtful if any
thing can tc done To reach them.
The cntiro matter was a boomerang
on Mr.. Red. He sought to Injure Mr..
| Gardner, while the conference jumped
squaro.y with both feet on 10 Mr.. Reid
as well as Mr. Gardner. 1t was notice
able, too, that Mr.. Reid voted against
/ the substitute to his resolution, thus
voting against putting himself out OF
/ the ministry.
The result was far greater triumph
/ for Mr.. Gardner than for Mr.. Reid.
/ Scores and scores of members gathered
/ about Mr.. Gardner and extended con-
gratulatous and support. Mr. Reid
/ did not know his resolution was loaded
/ NJ both ends. but such was the fact and
/ it hlt him harder than it did Mr.. Gard
ner.-Muskegon Chronicle.