Evening star., 1902-03-12
Southern Branch of Methodist
Church Interested.
LIBEL SUIT RESULTED
ADVOCATE EDITOR
THE DEFENDANT.
An Alleged Deception In the Payment
of a Commission to e. B.
Stahlman.

The coming trial Of the libel suit of e. b.
Stahlman OF Nashville against Rev Dr.
w. b. Paimore. editor, and the Christian
Advocate OF st. Louis Is matter Of
considerable interest to local members Of
the Southern Methodist Church and to
members throughout the country. Indeed.
the northern branch Of the church people
| Is giving the matter some attention. as the
Christian Advocate circulates widely among
them. and Is influential organ OF the
denomination. The trial is to take place
before the United States court at Nashville,
Tenn.
The suit grows out of the famous war
claims case. well remembered In which. 1t
Is said. Mr.. Stahlman became a lobbyist
before Congress and secured an appropria-
ton OF s2SS.0O0 by act Of that body, to re-
| imburse the Book Concern Of the Methodist
Episcopal Church South with headuuar-
ters at Nashville. for damages to property
claimed to have been sustained during the
civil war.
Mr.. Stahlman Is leading Methodist and
| the lobby work. 1t is claimed. was planned
and carried out through a number of years
and at great expense to him. he receiving
| no financial assistance from either the Book
Concern or the publishing agents Of the
| church.
There were two contracts entered INTO
between Mr.. Sta hlman and the Book Con-
Germ. 1t is alleged. one providing that should
Congress pass the bill Mr.. Stahlman should
| receive the sum Of $4,000. and the other
that he should receive a commission of 81
| per cent. 1t is understood he received his
| commission, amounting to nearly 100000.
An Alleged Deception.
When the facts In the matter first be-
| came generally known in the Methodist
| Church South the members were disposed
to question the legal right OF the publishing
agents to enter into such contracts with
| Mr.. Stahlman or any one else. and they ex-
pressed considerable indignation over what
was said to be deception practiced on
Congress in securing the passage of the
bill. The alleged deception, consisted Of
| statements made to Senators Pascoe OF
| Florida and Bate of Tennessee by the pub
| fishing agents.
The story Of the alleged deception is to
the effect that Just before the formal vote
on the bill was taken In the United States
| Senate there was rumor afloat that 40
| per cent Of the $2SS,0OO about to be appro-
| priated was to go to a private lobbyist. and
not to the church at all. Senator Pasco
| himself a Methodist and familiar with
+ Methodist law. was satisfied that such a
| contract could not properly be entered into
| Senator Bate. however. telegraphed the
| publishing agents at Nashville for an ex-
plicit denial Of the story that 40 per cent
| of the money would go to a lobbyist. The
| reply he received was construed TO be a de-
| NAL, and the bill was passed 1t is stated
| that In several ways persons whose votes
| and influence were needed were made to
| understand that Mr.. Stahiman's interest
| was that of loyal Methodist and not Of a
| person having personal pecuniary inter-
est.
When 1T became known that Mr.. Stahl-
| man did receive a commission some of the
| senator's brought the matter up and said
| they had been deceived The bishops OF the
church then personally offered to return
| the money If the Senate were not satisfied
| That body, however. considered the claim
as justly due and. after Investigation.
| passed resolution generating the church
| from any blame in the matter, but reflect
| ing somewhat on the Book Concern for the
| alleged deception.
The Libel Suit.
: The libel suit OF Mr.. Stahlman against the
Rev. DR.. Paimore was brought about by a
| statement made in an open letter to Mr.
| Stahlman that the deception did not pre-
vent the granting Of the money. but did
prevent legal safeguards In the grant
| against any part OF the money going into
| the hands of the lobbyists. This open let
| ter was published in the Christian Advo-
| cate, and 1t appealed to Mr.. Stahlman to re-
| turn the 100000 he had received corn-
mission for getting the appropriation
! through Congress. 1t Is also said that tho
| article accused Stahlman of deliberate de-
| ception.
There has been some agitation in the
| church in regard to returning the money.
| number of the annual conferences have
taken the matter under consideration, and
| a great many Of the laymen have entered
into the controversy. 1t Is argued that In
| asmuch as the money was honestly due,
| the church can spend 1t In commissions or
| otherwise as It sees fit.
The matter will come up for settlement
at the quadrennial general conference Of
tho church. which meets in Dallas, Texas.
| In May. Fraternal delegates will attend
| it from the British Wesleyans and Meth
| o6f.st Church North. Two new bishops win
be chosen, and hymnal common to Meth
| odists North. South and in Canada adopt
| ed. Tho educational and twentieth century
| funds will also be given attention. But the
| war claim controversy overshadOws all
| others. The return OF the money will. Ii 10
| said, be a severe drain on the finances Of
| the Book Concern, and can only be made
by an appeal to the entire denomination.
Rev. Mr.. Prettyman's View.
Rev. Forest ]. Prettyman. pastor Of Mount
| Vernon Place NJ. E. Church South. In this
city. when interviewed in connection with
the above matter. said that he had natur-
| ally kept close track Of the proceedings, in
asmuch as he was stationed In the capital
! city. He says he regrets that the question
has been revived In the secular press be-
| fore the general conference meeting.
"The Senate. has. by a resolution. without
| dissenting voice exonerated the church
from all blame in connection with the mat
questioned the business OF the claim itself.
OF course. the matter will be finally set
| tied at the general conference. and l be-
| Neve there will be no serious thought en-
tertadned In favor Of returning the money.
| DR.. Prettyman says the church In this
city and in the entire Baltimore con-
ference are not In favor Of parting with
the appropriation. and In his opinion 1t will
| not be returned. He said DR.. BaFbee.
senior book agent OF the Book Concern, has
| expressed his unwillingness to be reelected
| to his present position. and when q new
book agent has been installed the whole
matter will probably rest
'sWdth reference to DIR. Barbee." said Rev.
| Prettyman. mo man stands higher In the
| estimation Of the whole church He has
| managed the affairs Of the Book Concern
| with signal success and ability, and there
has been no question as to the entire sin
cerity and honesty Of his purposes and
| acts"
Deteriorating Influences.