The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1898-07-22
THE PUBLISHING
HOUSE CLAIM.
Tennessee Delegates to
General Conference
WANT AN EXTRA SESSION CALLED.
They Approve the Action of the Bishops,
But Protest Against the Arguments
Made and Conclusions Reached by the
Book Committee.

The General Conference of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, South,
is made up not unlike a National
political convention. That is, each
State is entitled to certain represen-
tation, according to the numerical
strength of the Church in that State
and the delegates to represent that
strength, are chosen by the annual
conferences. Just as in political
conventions delegates to National
or Presidential convention are
chosen by the State conventions.
The General Conference meets
every four years just as our Nation
al conventions meet every four
years. In the General Conference
which met at Baltimore last May,
Tennessee was entitled to ten dele
gates, and at meeting held in the
Lecture-roOm of McKenuree Church,
Nashville, last Tuesday week, July
II, the following action was taken
by the delegation of the Tennessee
Conference, concerning the cOllec-
ton of the Publishing House claim:
We, the undersigned delegates repre-
senting the Tennessee Annual Confer
ence in the late General Conference,
hereby give our hearty approval to the
recommendation contained in the paper
signed and sent forth by the Bishops Of
our Church, proposing the return of the
money recently paid to our Book
Agents by the United States Congress,
on the conditions mentioned by the
Bishops
We further recommend that Senator
Bate be requested to present said propo-
sition to the Senate of the United
States in such way that it may find
place on the pages Of the Congressional
Record, and that he do so at the earliest
possible opportunity.
After waiting for full light, and
after carefully weighing all the facts,
we are bound, in all good conscience in
the name of the Church, to protest
against the arguments made and the
conclusions reached as announced by
the Book Committee in their official de-
tense of the conduct of the Book Agents,
as regards the letters and kilograms
sent to Senators.
Whereas, the College of Bishops has
given the following assurance, "that if
the Senate, by affirmative action de-
clares that the passage of the bill was
Iidue to misleading statements, we will
take proper steps to have the entire
amount returned to the Government"
And whereas, the Senate Committee
has declared that:
"During the week before the bill passed
rumors became current in the Senate
that a contract existed between the
book agents and Mr.. Stablman where
by the latter was to receive large
amount and exhorbitant fee for servi-
ces rendered by him in connection with
| its passage, and number OF Senators
applied to the book agents, Barbee ~
/ Smith, and Mr.. Stahlman, to ascertain
! the facts in -the-cas Some of these
Senators saw Mr.. Stahlman in person
and received from him assurances In
positive language that left them under
| the impression that no contract what
| ever existed between him and the book
agents relating to fee. Mr.. Stahlman
| admits that he intended that they
should receive this, impression from
what he said, and fair Interpretation
of his words meant that there was nc
! contract, and that he was not interested
in the case on account of a money con
sideration. They were deceived and
misled.
"Two Senators communicated with
Messrs. Barbee Il Smith-one by letter
the other by elegram-infOrming them
of the runior and seeking the truth
The book agents authorized these Sena
tors TO DENY the report; and, having
absolute confidence in the candor ano
Integrity of these gentlemen, the Sena
tors accepted their teleglams as frank
and honest, and assurances based on
them were made that there was nc
foundation for the report Of an agree
meet to pay large proportion of the
proposed appropriation to a claim agen
or attorney.
"No candid man who examines thi:
correspondence can reach any othel
conclusion than that the subject of the
INQUIRY was the existence of such a con
tract ana not the percentage that al
attorney was to receive. The replies o.
the Book Agents to this letter and tele
gram make it manifest that the policy
of silence with reference to the con
tracts was maintained to the end, ever
to the extent of Withholding, the truth
and misleading and deceiving thos,
bwho made an earnest effort to obtain it..
Therefore, resolved, that we reques
the College of Bishops to call an eXtra
session of the General Conference a
the earliest date practicable, that actor
NAV be had on all issues involved.
ID. G. KELLEY,
w / (tnTI.TER