The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-05-08
TAKE ONLY
SIMMONS LIVER REGULATOR.
COMPROMISE ON THE WOMEN.
THEY MAY KEEP THEIR SEATS,
But NOT As A PRECEDENT.

The constitutional Amendment
which Barely Failed of Adoption
10 BE Submitted to the Annual
conferences Daring the Next Four
Nears-The Three Women Who
Voluntarily Surrendered Their
seats May Not BE Allowed to Re-
sumo Them.
Cleveland, o., May bishop Andrews
presided to-day at the Methodist general
conference.
1t was ordered that a special commit
tee of eleven be appointed on the work of
d,aconesses. The order Of the day was
then taken up.
DR. A. J. Kynett presented the report
of the committee on eligibility, which
provided for a compromise on the woman
question.
The proposition was in substance to al
low the women delegates to keep their
seats-on the understanding that it should
not establish a precedent. and then to re-
submit to the annual conferences during
the next four years, the same consttu-
tional amendment, or one similar 10 that
which lately barely failed of adoption
by the three-fourths vote. The report
further provided that the action of this
general conference should be without any
prejudice to the rights of any women del
egates to any future general conference
under the constitution as such general
conference may construe or interpret it.
Rev. DR.. Kynett moved the adoption of
the report, and said: 1T is needless to
say there are questions on which we
could not agree. While the debate was
progressing many from both sides We're
I'M free consultation. Brethren OF both
sides thought that compromise should
be made. Neither party was asked 10 sur
render any of its convictions. Neither
has surrendered and the brethren of the
majority want Ii distinctly understood
that they have not surrendered their pos
ton, that the law of 1872 includes women.
out of Difference to the opinions OF those
mo differ from the majority they con-
scented to the referendum. The women
are allowed TO remain in their seats, with
the understanding that their seats are
challenged. Inc committee was pdlheu
10 hear that the women delegates had been
asked to retire from the conference"
Rev. DR.. Warren of New England pre-
scented a substitute for the report of the
committee on eligibility. 1t provided that
women duly qualified may be CHOSEN as
Law delegates by an electoral conference,
the male members of which, without de-
bate by a majority report, declare that
women are eligible, provided that, in no
case, more than one-halI OF the ueleSatoh
ar reserve delegation shall be women.
The substitute further declared that the
conference deemed it unwise under the
CIRCUMSTANCES to interfere in any way with
the standing of the women who had been
elected in good faith by their consutu-
ents.
said he firmly believed that the compro-
mise proposed was the most happy solu-
ton of the VeXed question. He moved to
lay the substitute of Dr. Warren on the
table 1t was so ordered.
Dr. Walden moved that so much of the
report as referred TO the right of the
general conference to sit as a judicial body
be stricken out. This was laid on the
table.
The previous question was ordered. Per-
mission was given the Rev. DR.. Buckley
TO make the last speech on the compro-
mise before the vote was taken.
The Rev. Isaac P. Teeter of Iowa OBJ
jected to a vote now, on the ground that
the law of the church did not permit II,
but that the report must be laid over one
day. This was ruled out of order.
Rev. DR.. Buckley said: The situation
is critical. Unless this matter is COM
promised, a long trail Of bitter feeling will
be left behind. l know that the women
have a majority of this body and the
church, but at the same time they Will
never get my help to get in. | Will vote for
this compromise, because it leaves the
question open for future settlement by
constitutional means. We have not given
the women the right to come in; they are
already in. The compromise simply re-
fuses to put them out, but leaves them
in with a seat that is challenged"
The full report was adopted by an al
most unanimous vote. The announcement
OF the vote was greeted with prolonged
applause.
Just where the three ladies who with
drew stand is a question. The conference
has given the right to sit in the conven-
ton with the understanding that their
seats are challenged, but it is agreed that
they are not to be interfered with. But it
is claimed that the ladies by their volun-
t2ry withdrawal from the conference have
reHnquished all their rights.
Bishop Andrews is of the decided opin-
ion that they are out. Speaking of the
communication from the ladies' Bishop
Andrews said: 1T is probable that no ac-
lion viii be taken by the conference on
the communication, as the conference is
not a body which has any control over
them. They occupied seats and relinquish-
ed them and the conference is poWerless.
il is not necessary to take action on 1t,
as it is purely a personal matter with
them, and they had a right to do so. In my
Judgment they are no more members of
the conference now than any other out
s,der.'
LEM DAVIS CONVICTED.