The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-05-11
Texas Takes Important Part.

Texas took rather an important part in the discussions of the Methodist general conference yesterday. The Texas delega- tion Wednesday introduced a measure providing for the requirement. by Ep- worth leagues of property through a board of trustees to be named by the league conferences
 When the matter came before the con ference yestert " there was a strenuous effort on the >art of James Cannon, Jr. of the Virginia delegation to put through substitute which would provide for the election of the proposed trustees by the annual conference concerned.
 J. M. Barcus of the Northwest Texas conference and chairman of the Epworth league committee made hard fight for his proposition and finally won out when the vote was taken, It Is understood that Texas is especfsfiyN iyNisterestetl- in the plan in as much as the Epworth league of that state wants to acquire seaside resort at Corpus Crist
 Texas also had the distinction of defeat ing another proposed rule which pro voked extended debate. It was proposed to change from the present method of licensing preachers by the district confer ence to the system in vogue twelve years ago of allowing the quarterly conferences to issue the licenses. J. T. Smith of the East Texas conference was the strongest advocate of the change but after speech had been made against it by E. w. Al- derson of Texas the change was voted down overwhelmingly.
 J. M. Moore of Dallas, Tex questioned the business sense of continuing a system which had not shown an increase in the number of ministers In single year dur ing the past twelve.
 System Is Too Indiscrlminate.
 MT. Alderson, who appeared on the floor of the conference for the first time as an alternate delegate opposed the change on the ground that the quarterly system is too indiscriminate and brings too many unqualified men into the ministry. He maintained that conditions were very diff ferent from what they were twelve years ago, and that what was good then was not good now. higher order of ability is necessary in the ministry, and he did not favor the adoption of any plan that would lower the present high standard, even though 1t might swell the numbers Of that ministry.
 Liquor Traffic In Panama.
 The committee on temperance presented an important document to the conference on the subject of the liquor traffic in the Panama zone. It set forth that there are already eleven distilleries and sixty bar rooms on the isthmus, and 1t was in the form of a petition to the President of the United States and Congress to take some steps to stop the rapid spread of the traffic on the isthmus. It will be acted upon tomorrow
 The text of the resolution Is as follows Whereas, The drinking of intoxicating liquor in the tropic is hurtful to physcial, mental and moral welfare; and,
 Whereas There are many of the choice young men of our southland now employed on the work of construction of the canal: therefore. be 1t
 Resolved, That we. delegated repre- sentatives of the Methodism of the south. look with anxiety and dread at the pres ent situation on the isthmus, inasmuch as we learn that there are already eleven licensed distileries and sixty retail liquor saloons in our canal zone.
 "Roselved That we hereby apepal to the President and to the Congress of the United States to take such action as will prohibit the manufacturing and sale of liquor in the territory under control of our government. And that a copy of these resolutions be sent to the President and the Senate and the speaker of the House of Representatives"
 Memorial From Tennessee Women.
 memorial which caused round of laughter when it appeared was that from tne women or MetnOulsIn oi toDdCco. It was a package of enormous bulk and was carried forward by Dr. J. A. Bur row of the Tennesse conference. It went to the committee on temperance.
 The document was a petition from the women of the Holston conference asking that pastors upon being licensed be com pelled to take. a pledge not to use to- bacco in any form.
 The question of bishops came up in minor way by the bringing before the conference by Dr. Paul Whitehead of the Virginia conference of the petition of the lay delegates to the conference in favor of the election of four bishops. It seems that the petition had been circulat- cd and signed by the lay members and then was presented in person to the chair man of the episcopacy committee for consideration but under the rules of the conference everything referred to com mittees must first come before the con ference.
 Report By Bishop Hoss.
 One of the strongest and in fact one of the most important documents brought At A.