The Washington times., 1904-05-26
{. CONF FERENCE
IN A TURN
Caused by Report on Balti-
more Book Directory.
REGULARITY Or SPITE?
Proposed Changes in Personnel Arouse
DR.. Lewis 70 Violent
Speech.

'harges of Irregularities in the report /
Oh the Baltimore book directory, follow
ed by sweeping countercharge of in
trigue and petty jealousy. entered into
the proceedings of this mornings session
of the general conference Of the Meth
odist Protestant Church, in the North |
Carolina Avenue Church.
The charges were the outcome of a re-
port submitted by the committee on pub
fishing interests. in which a recommen-
dalton was made that Dr. ]. L. Mills. /
DR.. c. d. Linkinsson. and Judge w. G. |
Adamson be appointed members Of the |
Baltimore book directory to succeed DR.. |
Thomas II. Lewis. DR.. Frank T. Little, |
and the Rev. John c. Clark.
In submitting this statement the COM
mittee set forth that 'the report of the !
Baltimore directory is not complete. and |
does not comply in your committees !
opinion with the requirements of the dis
cipline."
Questionable Methods Charged.
IN the spirited discussion that follow
ed the introduction of the report. the in
timation was frequently made that ques-
tionabIe methods had been used to Dust
the three members from the committee
So heated did the argument become
that President Tagg found it necessary
at frequent intervals to call the speak
ers sharply to order. thus preventing
further charges from being made.
The session was hot throughout, and
not until the noon recess was taken did
the partisanship subside.
Dr.. Lewis Impassioned.
Opposition to the report of the COM
mittee was launched by DIR. Thomas II.
Lewis, whose name was recommended to
be dropped from the directory. In an
impassioned speech. he said that for
the first time in twenty-seven years some
unseen hand wished 10 disrupt the per
sonnet OF the directory by Diminishing
three Of its members. lie intimated that
questionable methods had probably been
used to bring about this end, but was
interrupted by President Tagg.
THE speaker Is out Of order" said DIR.
Tagg. rapping sharply on the table.
THE conference cannot permit charges
to be made that one Of its committees
was prompted by Interior motives in
reaching its conclusions.
Dr. Lewis submitted to the ruling of
the chair, but before taking his seat re-
torted:
Il do not intend that ans committee
shall come into this conference and ad-
minister a public rebuke 10 me-"
Would Restore Old Members
He then moved that the names Of John
G. Clark and Frank T. Little be retained
on the directory, and that the name OF
/ john B. Kinzer be substituted for his
II ask this as a vindication of our
Work-not because the others named are
not competent" said DR.. Lewis.
While DIR. Lewis was speaking, DIR.
Daniel Baker. whose reelection to the
directory is recommended by the com
mittee. took his seat in the conference
He Immediately asked 70 BE- acquainted
with the business before the meeting
and upon learning the cause of the Wig
orous discussion. gave expression TO his
views on the action of the committee.
He said that a great blunder had been
made in dropping DIR. Lewis and DR..
Little from the directory. and minated
that the action was probably due to
intrigue and jealousy.
Could Not Contemn Committee.
Again. DR.. Tagg called the member
to order, and said that no reflection On
the members Of the committee would be
tolerated.
Il don't feel honored in having my
name on the Baltimore directory with
those Of my colleagues dropped from its
rolls said DIT. Baker, after the Inter
ruption, and he said further that under
no condition would he accept the office
unless the former members were reap
pointed.
No Reasons Given.
J. ]. Barge. of Georgia, then took
the floor, and announced that In view
OF the opposition 10 the action of the
committee. he would withdraw the
name of Judge Adamson for member
ship on the directory.
The protest was taken up by Thomas
a Murray. OF Baltimore. who said that
the committee had strangely failed to
! name their reasons for dropping the
T three members from the directory.
= Surely, you have some good cause
for your action" he said. "and IL Is
due the three dismissed members thai
E you let them know what that is. Be
men"
The speaker WAR interrupted at thi:
, point by President Tagg. who held tha'
Z Mr. Murray's remarks were a reflection
\ on the committee. When Mr.. Murray
later arose to speak, the chairman in
d tercepted him with the statement tina
the rule lIldA a IitAnDtT MAJ
e only speak once on the same subjec
). must be observed
y This is the first time the rule ha
been enforced" returned Mr.. Murray, a
a he resumed his seat.
L To this Dr. Tagg made a protest, IN
y said he hoped the members would no
| reflect on the members when there wa
: no cause for such comment.
T No Statement of Disbursements.
Before adjournment DR.. Strayer.
3 member of the committee, made
t lengthy address, In which he said tn
I committee had found the report of tn
secretary defective In a number of par
ticuIars The report ne said. contalnc
II no statement of disbursements; It ma
Z not been certified to by any commit
s tee; there had been 10 statement Of tn
,e assets and income, and there was moth
ing TO chow II had been examined %
anyone before reference to the commit
tee on publishing interests.
le A statement was also made by Or. "
II Wells chairman of the committe
m ART the matter was held over until late
le this afternoon The delegates, at
lie O'clock attended reception at n
! | White House,
. Summer Tourist Rates via B. & o. R. ]