Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1896-05-17
necial 10 the Register.

Special to the Register.
Cleveland, O., May 16.-Major Nc
Kinley was TO have received number
of colored delegates to the Methodist
conference.
They were at the Hollenden till near
ly the hour set, when they began TO
think that perhaps their handshake
with Mckinley might prevent their yot-
ing for the colored candidate for blsh-
op as the convention was to convene
at 2:30.
They finally decided to postpone the
reception and vote for their candidate
for bishop, trusting for luck to have
another chance to meet Mckinley.
AS they were leaving the hotel Mark
Hanna and Mckinley came down Bond
street from the Union Club, where they
had been lunching.
The party of delegates were within
speaking distance, but the delegates
went on their way to the conference,
sending one of their number to ask the
Major to meet them at 5 o'clock.
He agreed to do so. a newspaper
man asked Major Mckinley whether
the delegates were coming back to sea
him at 5 o'clock. He looked at his in
terrogator sharply and snapped out, Il
expect them"
1t was obvious that neither Mckinley
nor his manager liked the idea that
ballot for a colored minister was of
more Importance than shaking hands
with a certain Presidential nominee.
The conference spent all Of to-day's
ca-ciOO in vain n+ m plnpt ono Of
the two bishops who are to be chosen.
Five ballots were taken to-day, making
eight in all since the voting began yes
terday. The only result has been to
narrow the contest down to practically
three candidates-Dr Buttz, president
of Drew Theological Seminary; DR.. c.
MCC8be. the missionary secretary, and
! Dr. Earl Cranston, the senior agent cf
the book concern at Cincinnati. DR..
Buttz and Dr. McCabe are now the
leading candidates and both of them
might be elected but for the feeling that
IS growing that both bishops should
not come from the East. The two bish-
ops who we're retired came one from the
East and the other from the West. and
1t is felt that both those sections should
be represented by the new bishops. The
conference tried to do some business to-
day. but the diverting influence of the
exciting election contest rendered it i'm
possible for the delegates to pay very
strict attention to the reports of COM
mittees.
The incident Of the day was the ap,
pearance Of Ex-Governor William Nc,
Kinley, who had consented, on invita-
ton, to deliver an address at Central
Armory tonight on George Washing
ton. The Ex-Governor was given a
cordial reception and was the recipient
Of considerable applause. He spent
little time shaking hands with. the
bishops and delegates.
The seventh ballot resulted: ButtZ,
2S3; Hamilton, 21O; Cranston, 16S; and
Bowen, As.
Then came the eighth ballot with the
following result:
Buttz, $50; McCabe, 270; Cranston,
263; Hamilton. 100; and Bowen, 81.
When the result Of this ballot had
been announced, the conference ad-
journed in order to give the delegates
who had appointments to preach in
surrounding towns tomorrow, an op-
portunity TO catch their trains.
While the votes were being counted
between the sixth, seventh and eighth
ballots, the conference proceeded with
the transaction of routine business.
The most important action taken was
in connection with the report of the
committee on itinerary. The bishops
had recommended that two of the ques-
tions usually asked of ministers when
they are ordained. as to whether
they are in debt or are addicted to the
use of tobacco. be stricken from the
rules. They held that inasmuch as
ministers were taken on two years
trial and the same questions were
asked them at the end OF that prohibl-
tory period, it was unnecessary TO ask
them at first. The conference thought
otherwise, and refused to change the
rules.