The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-05-28
METHODIST
POLITICS.
Committee Report Censuring
GriggS and Mckinley
For the Administrations Atti-
tude on Army Canteens.
EXCITES HOT DEBATE.
Finally Passed After Being
Radically Amended.
All Criticism of the President
Being Eliminated.
EXCITES HOT DEBATE.

Chicago. May 2S.-Criticism of Presi-
dent Mckinley for his attitude in re-
gard to Attorney General Griggs' inter-
probation of the anti-canteen law was
overwhelmingly voted down by the
Methodist general conference today, af-
ter two hours of warm debate. The
matter was brought up by the presenta-
ton of the report of the committee on
temperance of which Samuel Dickie of
Michigan, candidate for president on
the Prohibition ticket in 1892, is chair
man. The majority report arraigned
the chief magistrate severely. The con-
ference finally adopted the minority re
port which excluded the paragraphs re-
ferring to the chief magistrate, put
which however. called upon him to use
his influence to secure the passage Of
the new anti-canteen law now pending
before congress.
The amusement question was also dis
posed of today, but in rather an unex-
| pected way. BY a majority of only
three votes the minority report, accept
ed Saturday was laid on the table, but
any attempt to take up the majority re-
port was frustrated by Bishop Fitzger-
aid ruling that it was not before the
conference and it is not believed that
| any further attempt will be made to
| take the matter up. Thus the confer
ence in effect has taken no action in re-
| gard to the ban placed upon certain
/ forms of amusement.
| The official vote by which the minor
| ity report was accepted recommending
no action was announced as 333 ayes
and 290 noes. Then to the surprise of the
large audience on motion of DR.. Buck
| ley the minority report was laid on the
| table by a vote of 256 to 253 Bishop
| Fitzgerald then ruled however that the
| question was no longer before the house
| 1t is extremely improbable that the
| matter will again be taken up for ac-
| ton, so the standing of the Methodist
to the forbidden amusements will be un-
changed.
Samuel Dickie of Michigan then pre-
sented the report of the committee on
| temperance and for the first time the
| great Methodist body took or a strong
| political appearance. The majority re-
port contained a strong arraignment of
President Mckinley and Attorney Gen
eral Griggs for their attitude on the
| anti-canteen law, and over this point
| the conference debated all morning. The
majority report on that point read as
| follows:
I'VE are chagrined, Inundated, and
exasperated by the puerile and absurd
construction placed on the anti-canteen
law by the attorney general of the Uni
ted States and with all due respect to
the exalted station, we record the fact
that we are panied and disappointed at
the course of the president in accepting
as final and satisfactory an opinion
without binding force. Such an abuse
|
gerous form. Upon the president. as
chief of our army. rests the RESPONSE
bility for the existence of the canteen
saloon, an evil which he has ample pow =
er to suppress, a more deadly foe to the
soldiers than the bullet or the tropical
heat"
DIR. j. E. Price of New York presented
the minority report which struck out all
| of the majority report in which Presi-
dent Mckinley was condemned.
I'VE are here to deal in principles, and
not indulge in personalities" said DR.
Price, amid vigorous applause. This Is
simply question of whether or not the
president of the United States is at
fault. I hold that the cause of tenn
perance and prohibition and the cause
of the church of Christ cannot be ad-
vanced by this personal arraignment
of our chief magistrate"
Judge Lore, of Delaware in speaking
in favor Of the minority report paid a
strong tribute to the president, with
whom he SERVED four years in congress
1 love his elemental manhood said
Judge Lore, '.and I hope the Methodist
2 church will not strike down one of the
most loyal men within her borders.''
2 DR.. A. B. Leonard made an irnpas-
stoned plea for the adoption of the ma.
jority report. I'VE hear much about
government by injunction" he said
but this is government by an opinion
, of a member of the presidents club.
l cannot shut my eyes to the faults ever
Rev. F. D. Lynch of Philadelphia
l Rev. F. N. Lynch of West Virginia
Governor Shaw of Iowa and DR.. Buck
ley also took part in the debate
DIR. Buckley offered an amendmen
to the minority report, which was ac
cepted by DIR. Price, which among othe
things appealed to the president to us
all his influence to promote the passa g
of the anti-canteen law now before con
- gress. DR.. Frank R Bristol of Wash
ington, President McKinIey's pastor
: aroused tremendous applause by pro
testing against what he termed an ''un
, brotherly. unjust, unpatriotic, unprece
dented attack upon the president of tn
United States He is today the mos
distinguished Christian layman in tn
| world"
q object to any man making a, cam
3 paign speech shouted a delegate, bu
| he was promptly ruled out of order.
DR. Bristol gave an International ton
to the debate by asking why the dele
5 gates from Germany, Italy, Great Brit
ain China, Japan and other countrie
4 should join in an attack upon the presi
dent of the United States. Mr.. Dicke
then closed the debate
This is not a partisan issue" he saiC
I 1.-THE great Methodist church rathe
i than the president of the United State
, is ,on trial.
L The minority report with DR.. Buck
leys amendment was then adopted b
{ an overwhelming vote, with the furthe
L amendment that the action was not
the Interest of any political party.
: The conference then took recess ii
d $3.50 o'clock.
y Weather Indications.