The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-05-07
QUADRENNIAL CONFERENCE.
The Woman Suffragists in a Fair Way
to Carry Their Point.

Cleveland, o.. May 1.-The gavel of
the venerable Bishop Bowman fell this
morning at o'clock and the great
quadrennial conference of the Methodist
Episcopal church was under way.
Central armory looked beautiful in
deed. The interior was as brilliant as
the hall of a political convention. and on
all sides there was an air of expectancy
that issues of all importance were about
to be preciptated in the convention.
Three thousand people were in the hall
when the meeting was called to order.
On the floor were white and black men.
the delegate from cold Norway and
Sweden and from tropical India and
Japan. Nearly every country on the
globe was represented.
Bishop Bowman announced that the
Bible which will be used in the services
is the one which was used by John Wes-
ley in his study in England. This his
torical treasure was presented to the con-
ference some years ago.
Bishop Ninde read from this book the
One Hundred and Third Psalm.
Bishop Vincent read the hymn, after
which prayer was offered by Bishop
Foster.
Bishop Foster prayed that personal am
bition might be stifed and that harmony
should rule.
The Rev. William Burt of Rome, Italy,
followed in reading of the Scriptures,
after which Bishop Taylor of Africa read
the hymn. The Rev. DR.. Upham of
Drew Theological seminary offered
prayer, which closed the devotional
services.
When the devotional exercises were
over Il little furry occurred in the con-
vention by reason of the call on Secre-
Monroe n
thought that this action would precipitate
the contest of seats for women. When
the name of Lydia A. Trimbe was an
nounced II delegate was on his feet and
made motion that this be omitted until
a committee decided whether her cleo
ton was valid.
For moment it looked as if the fight
had started.
Bishop Bowman. however. refused to
entertain the motion. as he declared the
convention was not organized. The
tumultuous applause which followed the
ruling of the chair indicated the strength
of the woman suffrage faction of the
delegation. This was the first Skin
mish and as the names of other women
delegates were called no exception was
taken.
The conference decided to fill the va
cancies from the reserves and to adopt
the rules OF the last congress.
The actual fight for the admission of
women delegates was precipitated when
Mr.. Planet moved that committee on
credentials be appointed.
This brought DR.. Buckley, the old
enemy of the women to the front, and he
challenged the right of women to seats
in the convention.
A scene of widest confusion followed.
in which Bishop Bowman threw up his
hands in despair and exclaimed: Are
we in congress or are we in a Methodist
conference? Good Lord, brethren, can't
we stop this hooting and bowling? The
Lord help u.s.
The question was finally disposed of by
referring all questions of eligibility to a
special committee.
The convention adjourned at IL O'Clock
tonight. to reconvene tomorrow.
In the afternoon, district conferences
were held and committees appointed. or
the district conferences, the minority de-
clared in favor of seating women dele
gates. The vote is now II to IL in favor
of seating the women by the committees.