The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-05-17

by the foreman of the bindery as a legiti-
mate perquisite TO his Office, amounting, in
the aggregate, to hundreds of dollars per
year. Modest and retiring, and with only
subordinate position, he was at loss 10
know how to proceed TO correct this and
other similar wrongs, for any suggestion
from him would he construed as reflection
upon his superior in office, as well as upon
his predecessor, DIR. Porter, in the office Of
assistant; hence, for long while, he was
Silent. Among other Irregularities he found
out that the immense amount Of paper used
by the house was bought through broker.
instead of directly from the mills. and, what
seemed worse. that broker was the son of
his predecessor. In this dilemma, he began
to talk, and his talk got into the papers, and
a storm was raised which led to an investi-
cation which almost convicted the agent and
his assistant Of want OF proper business sa-
gacity, though no personal fraud was ever
traced TO any one except to the foreman of
the bindery. But the investigation resulted
in putting the business of the house on
business basis, with the happiest of results,
and he retired to HIS own Bellmore Confer
ence to be loved by his brethren, as they
have loved no other man, and to be returned
time after. time to the General Conference
at the head of their delegation Of course,
he was censured by those he had disturbed.
but they complained more of the way he
took than of the thing itself. though no one
ever pointed out any better possible way.
And now, after twenty-five years. he has
published In book fern most If not all, the
facts that were connected with the storm.
NH nAAtn hot
rcst of those implicated are dead, but he is
to be the sole judge of the propriety OF all
this One thing is evident. no one denies the
essential facts in the case nor that a new
era In business methods was inaugurated by
the Investigation he instituted.
There are not many John Lannahans. but
one here and there Is good thing TO have
around. The world is made better by them.
though sometimes some people are made
unhappy. He has been a benediction to
this General Conference. He is a member
of the episcopal committee and he opposed
that famous secret session. but failing, he
brought it before the conference In a way
that is likely to make secret sessions Of
that or any other committee very rare. He
is a grand old man. commanding the gen.
eral respect from all who know him.
THE TEMPERANCE QUESTION.
The discussions in the temperance commit
tee Friday were characteristic. By one of
those accidents which are easily accounted
for by what is known in politics as the
packing system, uyority of the committee
is composed of those who believe that moth
ing can be done without a party, hence
they will insist in their majority report.
that no Methodist shall vote with any party
that does not make prohibition conspic-
uous plank. They seem to have learned
nothing in the last twelve years during
which they have uttered this brutem full
men; for Methodists have gone right along
voting as they please, never giving aid and
support to any party that expouses the cause
Of the saloon, yet not demanding that their
party shall become the Prohibition party.
One Of the laymen In the committee put it
strong when he said there were other polit-
ical issues before the people this year par
amount to the political features of the tenn
perance question, and for his part he would
not ignore the greater for sake of the less,
while taking what he considered the most
direct road to prohibition. There viii be
minority report, when there will follow
lively time In the conference. unless it is
postponed to that hour of haste and confu-
sion which will not allow discussion. But
after all the committee stultified itself by
unanimously adopting resolution to Co
operate with the anti-saloon league, which,
it will be remembered, ignores all parties al
together. This wholly nul.ifies the conten-
tion of the majority report
A great variety of resolutions have been
submitted to the conference, some wise, some
otherwise, most of which were Auried in
that convenient mausoleum. the committee
on this or that A measure that created
considerable interest was a resolution of Dr.
Sundells, to petition Congress to provide by
law that no property belonging to the
United States should be used for the sale
Of intoxicating liquors, it being a fact that
in New York and elsewhere saloons are oc-
cupying government property. This seems
to mean that these Methodists do not wish
to be made partners in the saloon business,
even in the remote degree that this occupy
ing of government property implies. This
was resolution that those who bob up on
all occasion to move or refer could not get
in hand. 1t went through with an emphasis
and may become remotely political ISSUE
through the anti-saloon movement to which
this conference is committed.
The memorial services for the General
Conference officers who had died during the
quadrennium was held at IL o'clock and was
a most impressive ceremony. Bishop Bow
man presided. They referred first TO Rev.
]. N. Mendenhall, d. D., who died June 1S
1892, only a month after his reelection to
the editorship of the Methodist Review. His
parents live in Indianapolis, a much beloved
couple, members of the Methodist Episcopal
Church. The second was Rev. j.. o. Peck
d. D., one of the missionary secretaries,
who died May II, 1884,
A General Conference love feast is an
nounced for the Armory tomorrow morning
1t will be well Attended. Our Indiana preach
ers are in demand. Most OF them are billed
for q sermon tomorrow. T. A. G.
YESTERDAYS PROCEEDINGS.