The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-07-19
METHODIST
BOOK CONCERN
A Restatement of the Facts
With Reference to The
Claim.
STAHLMAN CONDEM NED
HIS ACTION WILL NOT BEAR THE
TRUE TEST OF TRUTH.
THE CHURCH'S RIGHT PCSITION
A Statement in Defense of Smith and BHtee's
Telegram. They Did mol Intend
TO Deceive.

10 Dt1GIVts
To the Eiitor:-Undcr the above cap
ton and similar ones your valuable pa
per has published press kilograms con
corning the war claim of our church
against the government, its payment and
the fee paid our attorney. Being rumors
gathered in Washington, these were
necessarily more or less unfair in their
statement of the case. Therefore, the
whole Investigation being over, | ask
room for Il proper reStatcmcnt and ask
that all who have read the kilograms
read this.
The facts are these. Ever since the
war the United States Government has
owed the Southern Methodist Church
for the use and damage of It's publishing
plant. The true damage was more than
four hundred thousand dollars. In 1873
the Senate committee agreed to pay in
lieu of this claim S2SS. 600. No one can
question the obligation of the govern
ment. After many years of expensive
and f~ruitleSS effort to secure our due,
the Book Concern made i contingent con
tract with one of the best lawyers in the
land for 80 per cent. he TO bear all OK
penses and take all risks. but with the
explicit understanding that he use no
method which was not honorable and
Just. After three years Of residence in
Washington. much labor, and Skillful
management. without the use Of one
penny in any corrupt or dishonest man
ncr, he secured the payment If the claim.
According to the report of the Senate
committee absolutely no blame attaches
for anything to the church., and none TO
the book agents or the attorney except
with reference TO correspondence and
kilograms passed concerning the fee TO
be paid 1<+orney Stahlman.
However, back of most of the criti-
cisms lies the idea that the authorities
were culpable for employing II ~"lohhyiSt'
at all or at any rate for paying him
100000. | submit that lobbying is
necessary to the passage of the most
righteous claim, that it is universally
customary. and that where guarded as it
was in this contract and exercised as it
was in this case-barring statements as
to feet is no ground for blame to the
claimant. Alas. that | can not say that
its necessity Is 10 ground of impcach-
ment of the honesty of our government,
and of the fidelity of its legislators. As
to the price paid. tho per cent. was not
unusually large: wasn't. according to the
Judgment of the authorities Of the
church, too large: and the claim being Il
debt and not a gift the percent was none
Of the business Of the Senate of the
- $1,000 - -. I't' VI any viz
else except of the church. I'll book
committee, composed of many Of the
trucSt and best men Of our church. the
committee of the general conference and
he general conference. do not think the
contract of its agents was q foolish one.
TO his own master the servant Standcth
or falleth. But what business man hav-
ing Il war claim against the government,
due thirty years, unpaid after his most
vigorous pttortS. 1lrpUIV n SolITCp of
much expense to him, would not rave
paid %, 40 or 30 per cent. for its col
lection?
Every fact brought out by the Senate
committee in its report was n compli-
ment to the church and its agents except
the statements as to the fee. As for
that, | nave no word of defense for
Judge Stahlman. lie docs not hesitate
to say that he used expressions formally
true with the purpose 10 deceive the Sen
atOrS with reference to matters which
were none Of their concern. Such con
duct will not bear the true test of truth.
Nevertheless | ask that lawyer. editor
or politician who has never made state
ments formally true with the purpose to
deceive in matters not Of right inquired
into by the other party, to cast the first
stone.
As to our book agents. the case is
Nv statements WhtTh
were true. which would not necessarily
deceive except when joined to Judge
otanlinans statements Of which they
were ignorant and were ignorant
OF the misuse Of their state
lents until too late to correct them.
80 far as facts 20 there is no proof Of
any purpose to deceive and they saw
thelr purpose was only to withhold the
eAact per cent. Of the fee, a matter into
winch the Senators had no right to in
qulre. The authorities of the church.
w Barbee " Smith. believe their
statement. The Senate committee-cer-
talnly not an unbiased tribunal of the
dlSgraceful and untruthful language in
dulged In by the Senate prior to its aD-
polntment-seemS not to have believed
them. They doubtless are willing 70 rest
their case on the judgment of the book
committee. endorsed as it was by the
bishops of the church.
However. as the case stands. tboupb
the deception involved nothing material
to our claim. and though we do not think
our agents purposed deception. vet as
there was deception. our bishops have
notified the Senate that if it will saw bv
an affirmative vote thai the bill would
not nave been passed but for the mis-
understandlng.th the will see that every
cent Is returned to the United States.
We nave asked no gift. we want none.
we VIII have none. The church awaits
their action. \ II wilson
Chapel Hill, \. c., July -, 1898.