The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-09-29
OPPOSITION TO DR.. FORD.
4 Methodist Answers His Defense and
Scores His Political Ne thods.

Scores His Political Me thoCs.
at saw the interview Of DR.. T. B. Fosd
regarding his opposition in a recent issue
OF the Post-Intelligencer." remarked one
of the most prominent AIethodists In the
city yesterday. Il want you to under
stand that, personally. / am making no
fight on him, and for the first part OF his
residence here l favored him. But at the
close OF a certain conference year / saw
something which caused me TO change.
There is a whole lot behind this that has
not come TO the surface. but why should
Methodists be afraid of the truth? For
one. l would like 10 see the whole thing
shown up.
That interview is a most plausible
statement of his side OF the case, and TO
one not acquainted with the inside facts.
il would appear that he was much
abused man. There are many statements
which are almost true and they appear on
the surface all right, but they are not
Take. for instance, Ford's statements
about the Arkansas preachers. Now II
may be that. as presiding elder. he did not
bring them here, hut he brought them here
Just the same. and the object of his doing
ii is unchanged He is one of those keen,
far-sighted, shrewd individuals. who lays
his plans so far ahead as to have induced
some of these men to come even before he
did. and my knowledge OF the man has
fully convinced me that he had his pins
all set and his plans all laid at the time.
He did not bring those men here as pre-
siding elder. but he advised them 10 come,
and by his wire pulling secured places in
some instances: and now that they are
here, they are the only men who swear by
him.
When Ford arrived he first was at
Centralia, and then at Olympia. He was
appointed presiding elder of this district
by Bishop Fitzgerald four years ago over
a strong protest. 1t is hard to say that
such men as the bishops are under his In
fluence, for they are generally able men,
who have such strength of character as
10 not be under obligations TO any one.
While l. at that time, was favorable 10
Ford I can not understand how il was
possible for Bishop Fitzgerald TO make
the appointment, unless ha had some debt
TO pay. I have heard the current report
that Ford. as presiding elder in Arkansas.
by certain manipulations, made bishops
Of the two men, Fitzgerald and Goodsell.
AS to Goodsell, who was here two years
ago. it did surely appear that such must
have been the case. Bowman is a very
old man, and, when the committee APP
peared before him. he acted more like a
country Judge questioning a lot OF wit
ness. when his mind was already made
up. They could not tell him thing which
he did not appear to know all about, and
to think that his knowledge was better
than theirs. The opposition was the most
violent probably ever known, yet ii did no
good.
so far as can judge. he has won ev-
cry point. He did ii by the most prac-
ticed methods that ever put a politician
into office. He speaks OF his election TO
the general conference as an honor. |
say it is a disgrace. He won that cleo
ton by transferring pastors. He only had
forty-four votes-a majority of ore. His
plan was for two. but that failed. Rev.
jennings Ford had -
Piled TO be transferred to Southern Cali
fornia. The plan was TO keep him here
until after tho election. but on that morn
ing some one, more by accident than
otherwise apparently. arose and asked
Bishop Bowman II Jennings would not be
counted as n member until after the vote.
The bishop, seeing that II was an oppo-
nent of Ford who spoke. said pertly;
No. sir: he has applied for transfer and
shall go now This cut the majority down
to one vote and that and another were
secured by bringing IN two new men who
were favorable. I can not recall both
their names. but one OF them was Love
fov As mere chance Il transDircd that
a certain member Of the First church had
known Lovejoy before. They met in the
aisle. and neither knew the other was
here After shaking hands the member
asked Loveioy why he was here. IN a cas-
ual way. and the reply was: I expect
past0rata here: they want me at Trinity
church in North Seattle That gave the
secret away: while he did not get the
Trinity passionate because the people petit
toned unanimously for the return OF Ted
wick, and were sharp enough 10 send the
petition 10 the bishop direct with
out Ford's knowledge. Loyeioy got
n place in the district That ex-
plains the great honor OF an election 10
the general conference lie now has the
laugh on the other fellows. and with his
stand IN with the bishops and his hold
as a members Of the general conference Il
will he a very hard matter to oust him.
My plan would have been 10 reduce
the pastors salaries 10 81 year. 70 pre-
vent his getting n share This could not
have been worked successfully in every in
stance. but Il could have been in enough
ready 20 quit
Knowing the opposition 70 him in the
First church he sent a request to Or
Sb8nkIln 70 administer the Sacrament.
Some members have actually refused 70
take the sacrament from his hands: th8t
amazed mo more than anything ] have
never heard Of the like before I'm all my
experience as a Methodist
"Other members have stated that they
viii insist on Or Tord's performing his
duties in the First church. or the Trinity
or any other, 50 long as he Is presiding
elder but one Of them stated yesterday
that he did not want Ford 20 preach.
We'll. he may preach. bat want him 10
give US notice said the member"
From seattle TO Africa.