Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-05-28
THE CANTEEN DISCUSSED
RESOLUTION BEFORE METHODIST
CONFERENCE CENsUREs PRESIDENT.
It's Consideration ArOuses Political
Bias In the Meeting
This Morning.

CHICAGO. Nav 2s.-The Methodist gen.
eral conference today took unexpected
action in regard to the committee reports
on card playing, dancing, and other pro-
hibited amusements. The official vote by
which the minority report was accepted
recommending no action was announced as
333 ayes and go noes. Then, to the sur
prise of the large audience, on motion OF
Dr. Buckley, the minority report was laio
on the table by vote of 235 to 2'3
Bishop Fitzgerald then ruled. however
that the question was no longer Helofe Ilie
house 1t is extremely improbable mat tle
matter will again be taken up for action
so the standing of the Methodist Church
for the next four years in regard 10 iorpiu-
den amusements will be unchanged.
Samuel Dickie Of Michigan then present
ed the report of the committee on temper
ance and for the first time the great Meth-
odist body took on strong politicdi t,p-
pearance The majority report contalned d
strong arraignment of President Mcklh!eI
and Attorney General Griggs for their at
titude on the anti-canteen law. ana over
this point the conference debated all morn
ing. The majority report on liaod lliae pom hme
Initiated and exasperated by the puerlle ana
absurd construction placed on the anu
canteen law by the Attorney General or the
United States and with all due respect 10
the exalted station, we record the fact that
we are panied and disappointed at the
course of the President in accepting as nnai
and satisfactory an opinion without pinolhs
fcrce Such an abuse of power Is nuihhca-
ton in its most dangerous form.
Upon the President, as ch1er OF our
army rests the responsibility for the ex-
istence of the canteen saloon. an eVll "hich
he has ample power to suppress, more
deadly foe to the soldiers than the bullet or
the tropical heat.
DR.. j. d. Price Of New York presented
the minority report, which struck out all
- in which PRESIDENT
Mckinley was condemned:
eve are here to deal in principles and
not indulge in personalities, said @ ",
Price, amid vigorous applause. Ihls ls
not simply a question of whether or not
the President of the United States Is at
fault l hold that the cause OF temperance
and prohibition and the cause OF tne churol ,lozi
of Christ cannot be advanced by this per.
sonal arraignment of our Chief Magistrate.
Judge Lore of Delaware, In speaking III
favor of the minority report, presented
strong tribute to the President, with Whona
he served four years in Congress. love
this elemental manhood" said Judge Lore,
land 1 hope the Methodist Church will not
strike down one OF the most loyal Hleh
DR.. A. B. Leonard made an impassioaed
plea for the adoption Of the majority re-
port.
F. n. Lynch Of West Virginia. Governor
Shaw Of Iowa and DR.. Buckley also took
part in the debate.
minority report, which was accepted by
Or. Price, which, among other things. ap-
pealed to the President to use all his inf1u-
ence to promote the passage of the amended
anti-canteen law now before Congress.
DR.. Frank B. Bristol Of Washington.
President McKinley's pastor. aroused tre-
mendous applause by protesting against
what he termed an 'unbrotherly. unjust,
unpatriotic, unprotestant attack upon the
President Of the United States. '4.e Is to-
day the most distinguished Christian lay
man in the world.
''I object to any man making campaign
speech" shouted delegate. but he was
promptly ruled out of order DR.. Bristol
gave an international aspect to the debate
by asking why the delegates from Ger
many, Italy, Great Britain. China, Japan
and other countries should join in an at
| tack upon the President of the United
States.
| Mr. Dickie then closed the debate.
This Is not partisan ISSUE" he said.
| THE great Methodist Church. rather than
| the President of the United States. is on
trial"
The minority report, with DR.. Buckley g
| amendment, was then adopted by an over
whelming vote, with the further amend
| ment that the action was not in the inter-
est of any political party.
| The conference then took q recess till 3 80
o'clock.