The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-05-16
To- Days Electio n of
Bishops Has Interest
at Fever Heat.
SW APPING DEALS
ARE MADE OPENLY
On Sunday Evening Corridors Of
Hotel Look as if Big Political
Convention Were in Pro-
gress-All Other Import
ant Conference Matters
Are Lost Sight Of.
Especial to Tho Tines-pispatchl

lSpctlalto INC Ttines-DigpatchJ
Asheville. n. c., May l5.--Intcrest in
the election of tho bishops of the
Methodist Episcopal Church. South
which opens tomorrow at tho general
conference. Is at almost fever heat. and
Tonight the corridors of the Battery
Park Hotel look as If a big political
convention were in progress The
friends of the various candidates are
pulling every wire known in the In
tcresta of their favorites, and where
auxiliaries are needed, every incoming
train supplies the deficiency. Second
ary matters, like the question Of the
Vanderbilt University ownership, the
pastoral time limit and the ministerial
Hgohibition OF tobacco have been lost
dEht of in the universal discussion
OF episcopal possibilities.
There are seven vacancies to be fill
ed by to-morrow's election. 1t is the
consensus OF opinion that the election
Of bishops. officers and editors will
last nearly a week. and several ttous-
and ballot blanks have been ordered.
Field of Candidates.
The field OF candidates at the pres
ent time consists of Rev. j. C. KIlgo,
North Carolina Conference: Rev. w. r.
lambeth of Tennessee: Rev. Collins
Denny, Baltimore Conference; Rev. G.
c. Rankin. Texas: Rev. H. y. Dubose.
mississippi Conferences: Rev. r. G..
Waterhousc. Holston Conference: Rev.
James Cannon. Virginia Conference:
Rev. c. NJ. Bishop. Missouri Conference;
Rev. W. f. MacMurray. Louisville
Conference; Rev. T.. ID. Muzon. South
Texas; Rev j. f. Dlckey. North
Georgia: Rev. ". w Alnsworth. South
Georgia; Rev. J. ". Tarboux, Brazil
mission; II. C. Tucker. Brazil mission:
Rev. +. n. Parker. of louisiana Con-
ference. and +. y. Culver. of the Ala
'.ana Conference. -
II is generally believed among tie
members of the conference that the
first three names lead in the episcopal
race. and their election is looked for
on the first ballot.
Prominent in the swapping and
trading" deals which have been open
ly conducted in the corridors of the
hotels are the delegates of the North
Carolina Conference. working for DIR.
Kilgo. and the Virginia delegates,
working equally hard in the interest
of Rev. r. G. Waterhouse. The dele
gates OF the North and South Georgia
Conferences are leaving no stone un-
turned to carry DIR. Lambeth. OF Ten
nessee. to victory to the end that his
supporters will help them 10 elect
the Rev. r. Il. Dickey or the Rev. W.
W. Ainsworth. The latter is looked
upon one of the dark horses to
be sprung on the conference in case
of a deadlock
1t is stated that Texas, with two
candidates in the field. Is practically
certain to got in one of its candidates.
The Lone Star State has had only one
=; Iy,,
last year.
The chances of the Rev. e. C. Ran
kin and Rev. L. D. Muzon for election
are therefore looked upon favorably.
Should both fail "a dark horse from
Texas will be entered to win.
Secret BnlIOt.
The balloting, which will be secret,
will begin at 10 o'clock Tomorrow
morning, after the committee on
episcopacy has sent in its report in
the case of Bishop Morrison, who last
night was eXonerated by the special
committee on investigation of all
charges of maladministration preferred
against him.
Three men Will be voted for by each
delegate on the first ballot and the
voting will continue until three can
didates have received Il majority of
the votes cast. The same procedure
will be followed in regard to the other
four.
Several things are given careful
consideration In the election of bishops,
and they are being brought into prom
inent play at this time. First of all,
the fitness of the man for the place
and the efficiency of the service he
has given the church are considered.
In the next place, territorial lines play
a considerable part, and these are not
often overlooked. 1t is seldom that a
bishop is elected from conference
that in recent years has given a bishop
to tho church II he Is yet in active
service. nor does 1t often occur that
a bishop is elected from conference
that Is close neighbor to a conference
from which one was elected one quad
rennium or two quadrenniums before.
This matter of territory is regarded
in a large degree. no doubt. to avoid
oven seeming partiality to conferences
and to States In the choice to the
episcopacy.
May he New Favorites.
Several members of the General Con-
ference who have been prominently
mentioned for months past in this
connection have strong following
here. but 1t Is not to be doubted that
when the votes are cast there will he
one or even more flaVorlteS revealed
who have not been mentioned so often,
but whose following is just as strong.
There We're remarkable Instances of
this fact In the General Conference
held In Dallas in 1922 and In that hold
In 1906 In Birmingham. Men who were
confidently expected by their friends
to go into the cpiscopacy at both those
conferences are yet in the ranks of tho
itinerancy, while men We're elected
bishops who were less prominently
mentioned in that connection.
Texas In line.
Owing to the fact that Bishop Seth
Ward, who was elected in 1906 ana
who died last year, WAS from one or
\ the Texas Conferences,g and the only
man ever elected to tho episcopaoy
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