The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-07-19
THE METHODIST BOOK CONCERN.

We are glad to print to-day from the
pen of Rev. n. II. ID. Wilson Il plain
statement of the present status Of the
claim of the Methodist Book Concern
about which so much has been said. We
agree with Mr.. Wilson i'll every state
ment he makes except his view of the
action of Barbee and Smith. The en-
ployment of an agent to press the claim.
in view of the refusal of Congress for
thirty years to pay this just debt, was
in every a proper. There was noth-
ing wrong in promising him the big
commission, though its wisdom may be
open to question. From first to last the
Methodist church and its officials acted
with honor and propriety up to the send
ing of the Barbee-Smith telegram. That
Stahlman turned out to be Il liar and a
knavc-(these are the mildest words that
can be used since he compared him
self to the Apostle P~eter)-the church
could not f~oresee. His conduct is every
where denounced and repudiated.
1NS W III ttiu u \ 49,
regretfully forced to lose confidence in
them. We do not believe for a moment
that they were corrupt or that they re-
ceived Il dollar of Stahlman's dishonest
fee. They were SO anxious to close up
the matter that they were guilty of de-
~ception, as the correspondence shows.
The following is the letter written to
Barbee & Smith, by Senator Pasco, an
earnest supporter of the bill:
March5. 1898.
Messrs. Barbec & Smith, Nashville.
Tenn:
Dear Sir: Some malicious persons are
circulating Il ~slanderouS story about the
capitol. with the evident purpose to OBJ
struct the passage of our bill. 1t IS to
he effect tina YOU have made a contract
with Mr.. Stahlman to pay him forty per
cent. of the amount recovered.
1t WAS not necessary for me to get any
contradiction. because | knew very well
that the agents of the publishing house
knew better how to conduct their trust
than to make such an imprOvident bar
gain. and | knew also that there was no
power to make such Il contract, so l did
not hesitate to denounce it as Il malicious
SANDER: and / am sure also that the
Senators who came to me for informa-
ton upon the subject are thoroughly
satisfied with my statement. But as a
| matter of caution it will he very well for
me to have d positive denial from you
| which / can use if it appears necessary
either before the bill comes up for ac-
ton or on the hoor of the Senate, so |
suUOpSt that Won send mo tplpUram on
Monday as to the facts of the case and
| authorizing me, as ! am sure you can,
to deny this statement.
Yours truly.
Replying to this comprehensive inquiry
Messrs. Barbee 4 Smith wired:
Have asked Mr.. Stahlman to call at
once to see YOU He is a gentleman up
on whose statements you may implicitly
rely. He is our friend and neighbor and
official member of our church. whose in
terest in our behalf REACHES BE
You'd AND ABOVE PECUNIARY
CONSIDERATION.
"BARBEE e SMITH.
Book Agents.
This telegram committed Barbee &
Smith to the misrepresentation Stahl
man admits making, for they said: "He
is Il gentleman upon whose statements
you may implicitly rely" If the matter
had stopped with this, Barbee & Smith
might have claimed that their confidence
i'll Stahlman was misplaced and escaped
severe cehsure. But the telegram was
not entirely satisfactory to the friends
of the measure, and Senator Bate, wht
was ~championing the claim, wired Smith
& Barbee as follows:
Photograph answer to-day to Senator
PascOs letter to you Saturday as tt
Stahlman's having fee of 40 per cent.
or any other fee in case of payment OF
your claim. In my Judgment if true. i
will endanger the bill.
"W. r. BATE"
The duty of the book agents wa,
clear, either to give the terms of tn,