Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-05-07
THEIR IRE Is UP
The Methodists Excited Over
the Exciusian Bill
STRONG TALK is INDUCED
ccndemnatory OF the MeAsure-The Presi
dent Critieised-A Committee Ap-
pointed to Consider and Report.

OHAHA, NAY o.-lne signing OF the
Chinese exclusion act by President
Harrison, within . few hours after its
delivery TO him, WAS sharply criticised
on all hands N the Methodist confer
enee today. 1t was the topic among
the delegates before the session WAS
called TO order. and the matter burst
forth after the prehminaries had been
disposed Of. Tne committee appointed
yesterday to prepare . memorial pro-
testing against the bi IL telegraphed the
president last night concerning the
matter and they are assured that the
president has directly snuDbed them.
DIR. Edwards of Chicago vehem.ntly
declared the presidents action to be "a
dirty Irish trick" and further said that
the bill was signed "solely TO catch the
Irish vote" The statement was after
wards withdrawn upon the protest of
many delegates.
The Committee split
The committee on Chinese exclusion
split on their reports. Judge Lawrence
OF Ohio offered the majority, which
recommended that as the president had +,
for good reasons, signed the bull the
matter be filed and nothing more be
done. DIR. Swlndells said that the con-
ference must at once take some steps
10 protect Is missions In China. Naught
could be done. he said, to prevent the
law; bus something must be done TO
protect the Chinese IN the United
State and the Americans and the mis-
sionaries in China or there 10 liable to
te loss Of life. DIR. Quealy moved that
the question involved in relation of the
church 10 the Chinese question be re-
committed to the committee for future
action. Judge Lawrence believed the
matter should be referred to another
committee for further consideration
and considerable discussion followed.
A Political Measure.
DR.. Leonard denounced the president
and congres, and said that the Chinese
had the same right here as other for
eigners. notably the Irish. DR.. Buck
ley Of New York asked that the matter
be referred To committee instructed
to get copy OF the bill and make a
clear report on the subject. DR.. Swim
dells again made an earnest plea for
action ON the bill. He argued that u I
less some action IS taken the country
would regard the conference as approx
ing the bill. The bill. he said, was the
most iniquitous measure ever passed by
the congress of this country. DIR. Ed
wards of Chicago later took the floor.
He said it was political measure.
'The bill,' he added, ''is q sop to the
steerages now unloading at Battery
park, New York. 1t was rushed
through democratic house, passed by
our noble senators and signed by oul
wellnlgh unimpeachable president
solely for political effect" He moved
to refer it to the committee on mis-
! sions.
Referred to u Special COMMITTEES.
DIR. Payne of Cincinnati said the
| church should show that 1t was moi
| controlled by any partisan bias and
that no political party manages it. He
| believed the conference should show
that ii does not approve such pelitica
measure, and moved to send the mat
ter to the church committee. He wal
| wildly applzuded. DR.. Buckley again
secured the floor and denounced al
reference TO politics, saying that th'
man WHO would try to build up on,
party or tear down another in this con
ference is nothing but q demagogue
Finally the matter was referred to ;
SPECIAL committee, consisting OF five
ministers and four laymen. There wa
. universal sigh Of rshef when thu
veIatious question was temporarily
! disposed OF. But the matter is bourC
to bound TO come up again and it il
sure TO cause serious trouble.
OMAHA, May 6.-Tonight 5000 people
attended the reception gwen DIR. Moul
ton. the fraternal delegate from the
British Wesleyan conference. DR.
Moulton's closed with An eloquent
perorations and WAS applaudcd. II,
shook hands with all the delegates.