The Portland daily press., 1900-05-29
Attempt to Condemn President Tor
Canteen Law Decision.
Majority. Report Fa-
vored Such Action.
Minority Report Adopted After
Stormy Debate.

Chicago, May 2s.-The Methodist gen.
eral conference today took unexpected
action in regard to the committee reports
on card playing, dancing and other pro-
hibited ADJUSTMENTS. The official vote by
which the minority report was accepted,
recommending no action was announced
as 3S3 ayes and 900 noes. Then, to the
surprise of the large audience, on motion
of DIR. Buckley the minority report
was laid ON the table by a vote Of 256 to
S53
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 action, so the standing Of the Metho-
dist church for the next four years In re-
gard to forbidden amusements will be
unchanged.
Samuel Dickey of Michigan then pre-
sented the report and Tor the first time
the great Methodist body took on
strong political appearance. The major
ity report contained strong arraign-
ment Of President Mckinley and Attor-
ney General Griggs for their attitude on
the anti-canteen law and over this point
the conference debated all the morning.
The majority report on that point read
as follows:
1--WE are chagrined, Inundated and
exasperated by the puerile and absurd
construction placed ON the anti-canteen
law by the attorney general of the United
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
binding force. Such an abuse of power
is notification in its most dangerous
form.
Upon the President, as chief of our
army rests the responsibility for the ex-
istence of the canteen saloon, an evil
which he has ample power to suppress;
n more deadly foe to the soldiers than the
bullet or the tropical heat"
DIR. J. d. Price of New York presented
the minority report, which struck out all
of the majority report in which President
Mckinley was condemned. This is not
simply question:" he said, "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 advanced
by the personal arraignment of our chief
magistrate"
Judge Lore of Delaware is speaking in
favor of the minority report, presented
strong tribute to the President with
whom he served four years in Congress.
AZ love his elemental manhood" said
Judge Lore, land hope the Methodist
church will not strike down one of the
most loyal men within her borders
Mr. A. b. Leonard made an impas-
stoned plea for the adoption of the ma
jority report.
Rev. F. W. Lynch of Philadelphia,
Rev. + n. Lynch of West Virginia, Gov.
Shaw of Iowa and DIR Buckley also took
part in the debate.
DIR. Buckley offered an amendment to
the minority report which was accepted
by DIR. Price which, among other things,
appealed to the President to use his in
fiuence to promote the passage of the
amended anti-canteen law now before
Congress.
Frank b. Bistol of Washington Presi-
dent Mckinley's pastor, aroused tremen-
dous enthusiasm by protesting against
that he termed an "unbrotherly, unjust,
unpatriotic, unprotestant attack upon the
President of the United States. He is
today the most distinguished Christian
laynan in the world
Il object to any man making cam
paign speech" shouted delegate, but he
was promptly ruled out of order.
MIR. Dickey then closed the debate.
This is not a partisan ISSUE he said.
1.-The great Methodist church rather
than the President of the United States
is on trial. The minority report with
DIR. Buckley's amendment was then
adopted by an overwhelming vote with
the further amendment that the action
was not in the interest of any political
party. The conference then took recess
until Qn a.