The sun., 1900-03-23
ATTEMPT 70 DEFEAT WATT
Wilson Faction viii Figure in
Contest for Delegates to
General Conference.
ELECT FOUR LAY DELEGATES
The Four Presiding Elders viii
Likely be the Ministerial Dele
gates and Samuel H. Baynard
and Congressman Hofecker
the Lay Delegates.

Intense interest is being manifested in
the election of lay and ministerial dele
gates to the General Conference, which
will take place at this mornings session
of the M. e. Conference in Epworth
Church.
The Wilson faction has been revive d
and will figure in the fight. A large
number of laymen together with minis
ters, gathered in the Sunday school
room of Epworth Church last evening
and it was whispered about that much
polite political work was being done il
q quiet way
The candidates mentioned prominent
ly for ministerial delegates are: Presid-
ing elders, Robert Watt, Wilmington
district; Thomas E. Martindale, Sails
bury district; w. F, Corkran, Easton
district, and @. S. Baker, Dover district;
Rev. V. S. Collins. A. S. Mowbray, Rev.
DR.. j. ID. @. Hanna and Rev. DIR. w. L.
S. Murray.
The indications last night were that
the four presiding elders would be elect
ed. 1t was said that an endeavor would
be made by the Wilson faction to elect
DIR. Hanna in place of DIR. Watt. The
Wilson faction seem to especially desire
the defeat OF DR.. Watt.
The first test of the strength of the
opposing factions OF conference took
place on Monday when the conference
stewards were elected. The.only contest
was in the Dover district. Presiding
Elder Baker, nominated the Rev. ]. S.
Wicklive and the Rev. 7. E. Terry, the
Rev. P. III. Rawlins.
Presiding Elder Baker raised the ques-
tion OF the qualification of Mr.. Rawlins,
on account OF his being supernumerary.
| This same question was raised az the last
conference in respect to Mr.. Rawlins. 1t
was stated that Mr.. Rawlins although a
supernumerary was not pensioner or
conference claimant and therefore elig-
able. Rev. Rawlins was reelected. lie
received II votes and Rev. Wickline 4S
votes.
Rev. Wickline's vote it is claimed rep
resents the full strength of the Wilson
faction.
The Lay Electoral Conference will
meet in the Sunday school room of Ep-
worth Church at 10 O'Clock. Here the
Wilson faction will also cut prominent
figure. Chief Justice Charles 3. Lore, it
il believed, will be selected to preside.
Two regular delegates are 10 be elected
and if the customary rule of rotation is
observed the delegates will 20 to VIII
mington and Easton districts.
Two provisional delegates will be
elected, as it is expected that general
conference will decide to allow equal
lay delegates with the ministerial, thus
giving Wilmington Conference four dele
gates. Four alternate delegates will be
elected.
Those who are prominent in the con-
test for delegates are: Wilmington Dis
trict, Samuel II. Baynard, Chief Justice
/ G. B. Lore, G. w. Todd and Colonel l.
T. Parker, all of this city.
Easton District-G. Emery Hukill, of
Middletown; G. E. Moore, of Hilsboro;
Senator Baker, of Kent county, Md
Congressman Hoffecker and Joseph
Smithers, of Smyrna.
Salisbury District-Senator L. P. Dem
mis-, of Crisfeld, G. A. Coke, Of Fair
mount, Md.
Dover DISTRICT. E. Holland, of Mil
ford; I. M. Rawlins, of Ssaford; ]. w.
Fletcher, of Cambridge.
Samuel III. Baynard and Congressman
i Hoffecker seemed assured of election as
the regular delegates.
Congressm IN Hoffecker came up from
Smyrna yesterday and will be away
from Washington until Wednesday, hav-
ing arranged for pairs on any votes taken
on bills. In speaking of the matter OF
the admittance OF the provisional dele.
gates to the general conference he said: