The Washington times., 1903-09-16
SECRETARY SHAW IN
s'h WARM CHURCH WAR
Involved in a Contest in
DeS MoineS.
WOULD BE A LAY DELEGATE
Elected TO Four Conferences, But Now
= There Are Fifteen Candidates
s,. TO Beat.
WOULD BE ALAY DELEGATE


Secretary Shaw Just dOtes on poll
ties :. .....s. ...-.,, 5000.
The former governor OF Iowa and now
member of President Roosevelt's -Cabi-
net, thinks life in Washington slow COM
pared with the stirring campaign in t1e
Hawkeye State when he won the nomi-
nation for governor as a dark horse. in
strong. field Of. candidates.
In accepting a position as Secretary
of the Treasury, politics we're barred for
Mr.. Shaw, and for seventeen months ne
has brooded over the sacrifice he was
compelled TO make. But be has not spent
the entire period In sidleness. In that
time he has envolyed q plan. He has
decided, to continue in church politics,
and his long delay in reaching this de-
cision promises TO give him the political
excitement he seeks. He aspires to
again represent his old church In Iowa
as lay delegate to the Methodist con-
ference. which VIII be held this year in
Los Angeles.
When MI. Shaw retired from the Of
fee of governor to become Secretary Of
the Treasury. he was advised by church
friends to permit his membership to re-
main in the First NJ E. Church of Des
Moines. Iowa. which sent him for four
consecutive terms as lay delegate to
the general conference.
Withheld His Letter.
Many others prominent in Washington
life had been members of the Foundry
NJ. E. Church in this city, and Secretary
Shaw decided that he would withdraw
from the Des Moines church and pre-
sent his letter to the fashionable
church in Washington. He obtained the
letter. but after thinking the matter
over. it is said. he hesitated to pre-
sent IL. Then, too, there Vas the long-
ing for politics. and the church seemed
to offer the only opening for keeping his
hand in. $685. 49, go .-t
About month ago Secretary Shaw
returned his letter OF withdrawal and
asked to be continued as a member OF
The Des Moines church. In the mean
tine. however. many candidates had
sprung up for position as one of the
six lay delegates to represent the Des
Moines district.
Had Secretary Shaw refrained from
taking out a letter TO another con-
gregation he would have, been selected
for fifth term without question. and
even now he has hundreds OF friends
who would like to see him appointed
bat. unfortunately for harmony. they
have lined up for some one of the If
teen candidates who entered the field
in the belief that Secretary. Shaw was
no longer a representative OF the dis
trict The Des MoInes district began
It's conference yesterday at Indianola,
Iowa. and before adjournment the ques-
ton is TO be settled
Warm Contest Certain.
Before his election as governor of
Iowa Mr. Shaw had been delegate to
three general conferences, and since
that time he has never failed OF cleo
ton. On that account he is strong now,
and II is certain his name VIII be pre-
sented with the other fifteen aspirants
and that the fight is going to be warm
from the start.
The situation in the district, by rea-
son OF Secretary Shaw's change OF mind.
Is said 20 be decidedly embarrassing.
Members hesitate TO oyerturn the cal
culations OF all the other candidates
for delegates, who have for years been
workers in the district, and they do
not like TO have II said of the district
conference that 1t deliberately turned
down the Secretary Of the Treasury
when he aspired 10 again represent the
district in the general conference.
The fitness and great ability of Sec
Rotary Shaw to represent the district
IS not questioned. bur point has been
raised concerning his eligibility, in
view OF his absence for most of the
conference year, that may have to be
met by an appeal to the bishop.