Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-05-29


President Mckinley for his attitude in
regard to Attorney General Griggs's in
depreciation of the anti-canteen law
was overwhelmingly voted down by the
Methodist general conference to-day,
after two hours of warm debate. The
matter was brought up by the presen-
tation of the report of the committee
on temperance, of whom Samuel
Dickie, of Michigan, candidate for Pres
ident on the Prohibition ticket in 1892,
is chairman. The majority report ar
raigned the chief magistrate severely.
The conference finally adopted the min
ority report, which excluded the para
graphs referring to the chief magis-
trate, but 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
disposed of to-day, but in rather an
unexpected way. By a majority of
only three votes the minority report,
accepted Saturday, was laid on the
table, but any attempt to take up the
majority report was frustrated by
Bishop Fitzgerald 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 conference, in effect, has
taken no action in regard to the ban
placed upon certain forms of amuse
ment
Samuel Dickie, of Michigan, present
ed the report Of the committee on tenn
perance and for the first time the
great Methodist body took on a strong
political appearance. The majority re-
port contained a strong arraignment
of President Mckinley and Attorney
General Griggs for their attitude on
the anti-canteen law, and over this
point the conference debated all morn
ing. The majority report on that point
read as follows:
eve 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 disappoint-
ed at the course of the President in
accepting as final and satisfactory, an
opinion without binding force. Such
an abuse of power is notification in it's
most dangerous form.
Upon the president, as chief of our
army, rests the responsibility for the
existence of the canteen saloon, an
evil which he has ample power to sup
press, more deadly foe to the sol
diers than the bullet or the tropical
heat"
DR.. ]. e. Price, of New York, pre-
sented the minority report, which
struck out all of the majority report
in which President Mckinley was con-
demned.
1--WE are here to deal in principles
and not indulge in personalities, said
DR.. Price amid vigorous applause.
This is not simply a question of
whether or not the president of the
United States is at fault, | hold that
the cause of temperance and prohibit
ton and the cause of the church of
Christ cannot be advanced by this
personal arraignment of our chief mag
istrate." Judge Lore, of Delaware, in
speaking in favor of the minority re-
port, paid a strong tribute to the pres
ident, with whom he served four years
in Congress- 81 love this elemental
manhood" said Judge Lore, and l
hope the Methodist Church will not
strike down one of the most loyal men
within her borders"
DR.. A. B. Leonard made an impas-
stoned plea for the adoption of the
majority report.
Rev. F. D. Lynch, of Philadelphia,
Rev. F. N. Lynch, of West Virginia,
Gov. Shaw, of Iowa, and DR.. Buckley
also took part in the debate
DR.. Buckley offered an amendment
to the minority report, which was ac-
cepted by Dr. Price, which among 9TH
er things, appealed to the president to
use all his influence to promote the
passage of the amended anti-canteen
law now before Congress.
DR.. Frank B. Bristol, of Washing
ton. President McKinleys pastor.
aroused tremendous applause by pro-
testing against what he termed an
"unbrotherly, unjust. unpatriotic, I'M
protestant attack upon the president
of the United States
He is to-day the most distinguish
ed Christian layman in the world
Il object to any man making cam
paign speech" shouted a delegate.
but he was promptly ruled out OF or
der. DR.. Bristol gave an interna-
tional aspect to the debate by asking