New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-01-15
MINISTER'S AFTER MR.. DEPEW
THEY SAY HE HAS INSULTED THE WHOLE
CLERGY ON THE TICKET QUESTION
HE SAYS THAT HE DID NOT TELL THE STORY
IMPUTED TO HIM. AND THAT OTHER
ROADS HAVE BEEN SELLING HALF

IMPUTED TO HIM. AND THAT OTHER
ROADS HAVE BEEN SELLING HALF
RATE TICKETS wRoNGFULLY.
\: the weekly meeting Of the Methodist Episcopal
Preachers. held at their rooms Fifth-ave and Tween
ty-frst-st.. yesterday morning. a lively discussion
arose over the dIscontinuance OF the halfrae tick
cts TO the clergy. in accordance with the orders OF
the New-York Central officers few days ago. The
ministers present especially stirred up by the
interview given by Chauncey NJ Depew to the press
last week Mr.. Depew's language was pronounced
insulting to the ministry generally. because Of an
incident he rccited 20 prove that some ministers
abused their privileges.
The entire subject was brought up by the Rev DR..
a. j. Palmer. pastor OF ST. Pauls Methodist Epsco-
pal Church, and chairman OF the meeting. Dr. Pal
mer is also chairman OF the Committee on Arrange
ments for the next general conference. to be held In
Cleveland. Ohio. In May. 1896 In this capacity 1t Is
n part OF his duty to secure transportation rates
from the railroads all over the country.
In the course of tho interview Mr. Depew was
understood To have said substantially that on Il
certain occasion a man presented a clerical half
fare ticket TO the conductor. who, glancing first
at the man and then at the ticket. said TO the pas
senger: You're not a minister" and the man re-
sponded: THE hell I'm not"
1t was alleged on the part OF the speakers In the
debate that this case had been investigated since
the publication OF he story, and It was learned
that a minister standing one day at the ticket
Office in Troy looking through some papers, among
which his permit for half-fare rates as clergy
man. when another man. seeing It In the minister $
hand. asked him II he would allow him TO look at IL.
The minister oblig!ngly d!d So and. under pretense
Of getting nearer 10 the light. the slipped
around to another window purchased a half-fhre
ticket the permit. and quickly rSappearing. re-
turned the card TO the minister.
II WAS urged by the speakers upon the attention
or their hearers. well upon the community
generally. that by relating this story. and by charg-
privilege. Mr. Depew had insulted the entire clergy
A committee appointed. consisting Of the Rev.
DR. stephen L. Baldwin. recording secretary OF the
Missionary Society OF the Methodist Episcopal
Church the Rev. Or. George +. Mains, agent Of the
brooklyn Church Extension Society. and the Rev.
Or 4. j. Palmer. president OF the meeting 70 walt
upon Mr.. Depew AMI confer with him and other
10 the suspension Of the half-fare permit 60,
evening in regard to the strictures by the Meth
odist ministers on his reported interview regarding
I'm in a hurry" said Dr. Depew. I'm due at a
dinner. FOR which I'm late now. what's tho
Have you heard Of tho roasting you got from
the Methodist ministers this afternoon? asked the
"oh. yes replied ~. Depew. with a broad smile
Il heard OF II before came home"
wei / want TO say that deserved every bit
OF the roasting " he replied N ! had said what
/ am accused OF having said. The ruth OF the
matter Is that have never said anything OF the
How long ago did the interview In question take
place." was the reporters next question.
Il don't recolltct giving any such Interview At
ali" reulcd Dr. D~pcw. II thought M Daniels
our general passenger agent may have said some
thing OF the sort. and ! called him down for a.
put he knows as little as 10 about the matter
Or Dcpew by this time had reached IN. door %
his house and was on his way 10 cab which vas
awaiting him.
AS a matter % fact" he said We know OF no
ministers who have sold their tickets. az / am
accused OF having charged The truth Of the mat
ter is TINT some roads have been selling clerical
halfrate tickets 20 every Tom. Dick nn1 Harry
who were not all entitled To the privilege and IN
that way they cut regular rates and ~ ls 20 stop
this that we resclndel the privilege In question"
Az Ir Dclew fairly bounced into the cab he
again said ION. ! would have deserved all OF the
roasting | got " had at all been guilty.