New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-17
FATHER AND SON CONFER.
MEETING OF GENERAL AND BALLINGToN
BOOTH.
NO RECONCILIATION BETWEEN THE ARMY AND
THE vOLUNTEERS-AN AGREEMENT TO
BRING PUBLIC CONTROVERSY

THE vOIUNTEEPS-AN AGREEMENT To
BRING PUBLIC CONTROVERSY
TO AN END
General Booth and his son Darlington Booth
met Yesterday afternoon In one OF the parlors or
the Windsor Hotel. and talked In the presence OF
two witnesses for about half an hour. Up to the
last moment the General endeavored to persuade
his son to confer with him privately. but. true
TO the policy that he had decided upon, COM
mander Booth insisted upon the presence OF
third person. The negotiations that passed De-
tween Darlington Booth and his father on Satur-
day night and which led to yesterdays meet
ing have already been described in these COL
umns General Booth. in his reported anxiety
to win back his son to the Salvation Army SUD-
mitted to all the conditions when the latter I'M
posed and late on Saturday night 1t was agreed
that the much talked of conference should take
place at noon yesterday at the Park Avenue
Hotel. But as things happened It was not un'li
nearly ) o'clock In the afternoon that father
and SON after an arrangement OF several years
were brought face TO face with each o'her'
The place Of the meeting was also changed
from the Park Avenue Hotel TO the WINDSOR
Hotel
Two circumstances were accountable Tor this
substitution The Rev DR.. Josiah strong VINO
had consented to act as one or the "i'neHS'
was unable to reach this city from his nome III
Greenwich Conn. before noon. when ihaue
necessary a postpcncment OF the hour LOT the
meeting while in the second place when Cen
eraI Booth saw the announcements In the morn
ing newspapers that ii was publicly known that
the Park Avenue Hotel had been selected az the
gathering place he Immediately changed the
venue He desired. he explained to greet MS
son without being subjected to the scrutiny Oh
the ub1utous American reporter Consequent
" the Windsor Hotel was chosen FOR the APP
pontment in place OF the Park Avenue Hotel
ARRIVAL AT THE HOTEL
darlington Booth reached the hotel. accom-
paned by Colonel Hamond and Colonel Gardi-
ner. at o'clock 1t was not until about htteeh
minutes later that General Booth arrived win
him were Commander and Mrs. Booth-Iucker'
Commissioner Nicol. Of England. and Colonel
Higgins. chief secretary Of the Salvation Army
in the United States Immediately after the
General had proceeded to the parlor, where II
was arranged the interview should take place
he was waited upon by the Rev. Drs. josiah
Strong and Charles Cuthbert Hall, who had been
agreed upon as the witnesses. General booth
was informed that his was ready to see
him. but the General made a final effort to IN
duce his son to consent to private conference
Dr. Strong conveyed the message to Darlington
Booth but II met the same response previous
suggestions in the same direction. Darlington
Booth adhered to his stipulation that whatever
was said during the meeting should be heard
by independent witnesses. in order that there
might be no opening for a repetition OF the al
legged Misrepresentation 10 which he has been
subjected since he severed his connection with
the Salvation Army. Two or three times Cen
eral Booth sent appeals to his son through Dr.
Strong to dispense with the formality of wit
nesses but without avail. Ultimately. when IT
was made apparent that Darlington Booth could
not be moved from the stand he had taken
General Booth made il known that he was will
ing that Drs. Strong and Hall should be adj
mtted to the meeting. Ballington Booth was
sent for from the room he had been occupying
in another part OF the hotel lie came quickly.
and. as he entered the parlor where General
Booth and Drs Strong ard Hall were seated the
door was slammed behind him by Colonel Hig
gins who stood guard outside. while the con-
ference lasted. Just in what manner the Cen
eral and his son met. how they greeted each
other or upon what matters their conversation
mostly turned could not be ascertained
A FORMAL STATEMENT MADE.
Before parting General and Darlington Booth
and the two witnesses. entered into compact
to make nothing public of what occurred at the
meeting beyond formal statement which
drawn up by Or. Strong and DR.. Hall. This
statement was handed to the representatives OF
the press by DR. Strong and read follows
Flrst--General William Booth and Commander
Baling'on Booth met In the Windsor Hotel. in the
presence OF Josiah Strong and Charles Cuthbert
second The interview purely between
father and son.
Third Nothing transpired calculated TO lead TO
any union OF he two movements.
Fourih-lt was agreed that all public con,ro-
versy in the press or otherwise, between the two
movements. should, az far as possible come to an
JOSIAH STRONG.
When DR.. Strong had finished reading this
statement several inquiries were put to him by
the reporters but he refused to answer them.
II had beer decided he said by all concerned
that nothing should be made public regarding
the meeting beyond the statement which had
been prepared.
How did the General and his son meet" DR..
Strong was asked finally.
Just as n father and his son would be
pected to meet after a separation of three
years" Or. Strong replied.
with kindness and Affection"
Yes"
More than this Or. Strong would not say.
Darlington Booth also refused to say anything.
while General Booth in Response TO n note sent
TO him. referred the reporters 10 DIR. Strong.
The sum ard substanc. of the conference. as II
would appear from the statement given out. Is
that the General and the Commander agreed to
work amicaby upon their own respective lines
and to refrain for the future from criticisms and
quibblings 1t was noticeable that the General
and his son did not mutually" ask for pr
vate interview II will he recalled that Railing
ton Pooih on Saturday said ne would he willing
to see the General alone. II such n step was
deemed mutually" advisable. From the fact
that such a meeting was not decided upon ii
was thought that some friction may have oc-
CURED in the cours7 Of the discussion. but this
was denied by DR. Strong. The meeting lasted
about three-quarters OF an hour Darlington
Booth was the first to leave the hotel He had
intended TO go 10 the Presbyterian Hospital TO
visit his wife. but ii was learned that the Com
mander was not feeling WELL a result OF the
nycitnnnnnt causal by his interNioM with his