The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-05-11
FRAUD IS CHARGED
BY JUDGE STROTHER
An Acrimonious Debate in
the Conference.
THE WAR CLAIMS MATTER
Strother Says the Book Agents Used
Misrepresentation.
BISHOP GAMBLER MAKES A STATEMENT
Resolution to Employ Stenographer TO Write up
the Procee dirgs Including Testimony
Given During Examination of
the Claim Matter.
(By the Associated Press.)

(By the Associated Press.l
Dallas, Texas, May 9.-The publishing
house war matter which has agitated the
Methodist Church, South, for several
years was the dominant feature today in
the proceedings of the general conference
of that church. DR.. McGhee, of the
South Georgia Conference, called the con-
vention to order Bishop Morrison. in a
PERSONAL explanation declared that he
knew absolutely nothing about the
Racon-C Clay letter on the book publishing
war claims until it was read in confer
cnce Wednesday. He was not consulted
and did not endorse the action taken.
Statements were made in succession by
DR.. Lovejoy, Doctors Grass and Alexan-
der, and Bishop Gambler, terminating i'll
a declaration that Bishop Gamblers let
ter to Senators Bacon and Clay should
be read and referred to the Committee
on Publishing interests for the informa
ton of the conference.
Bishop Gambler asked permission to
make a statement. He said he had ten
dered the letter to the conference, that
he mad nothing whatever to conceal, and
that all who wanted the letter might have
it.
Bishop Gambler then read the letter. 1t
was a plain request to a Senator, who
is his personal friend, for information
concerning the opinions of Senators as
to whether the Senate had been deceived
by the publishing house agents. The
statement of eighty Senators that no
Misrepresentation had been made had al
ready been published. The matter was
referred to the Committee on Publish
ing Interests.
Judge Strother, of Los Angeles, Cal,
acting for himself and others of the
publishing committee of the conference
of 1898, presented a paper under the head
of personal privilege"
He plainly charged deception, mis-
representation and other wrong doing,
in connection with the publishing house
war claims particularly on the part of
the book agents in their dealings with
Congress during the tendency OF the
claims. The accuracy of some of the
statements in the report of the boob
committee read yesterday is challenged.
The reading of Judge Strothers paper
precipitated and acrimonious debate.
The papers and Judge Strother's per-
sonal statements to the conference were
severely attacked by DR.. Collins Denny,
chairman of the Book Committee; John
o. Wilson. South Carolina; E. c, Reeves,
of Johnson City, Tenn, and others.
1t was decided not to permit the pa
per to appear in the journal and sug
gestion to have it referred to the Com
mittee on Publishing interests was not
allowed On a call of subordinate con-
ferences for resolutions a large number
were presented and referred without
reading.
An important incident of the conven-
ton was the adoption of a resolution af-
ter much contention, ordering the Com
mittee on Publishing interests to employ
a stenographer to write up all the pro-
ceedings including the testimony given
during the examination of the claim mat
ter.
r. w. Boswell of the Mississippi Con-
ference, withdrew his challenge against
the right of ~ c.. Morrison, of Louis
Vile, to a delegate seat. Reports of
standing committees were filed and re-
ferred. These including the reports on
church extension. board of missions, etc.
Rev. p H. Whisner, Secretary of the
Board Of Church Extension, submitted
the quadrennial report today. A sum-
mary of twenty years work, 1SS2-1902,
shows handsome increase in money col
lections.
Progress of missionary work in China,
Japan. Korea, Mexico Brazil, Cuba, etc,
is said to be marked.
The convention adjourned until nine
o'clock tomorrow.