Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-05-25
Elected Vice President After
Most Spirited Debate.
Presbyterian Assembly in Ses-
sion al Atlantic City, n J,
United Presbyterian Church Opens
Assembly al Washington, Pa.

Boston, May 2I-fnsurgency de-
ye'oped today at the annual meeting
OF the American Unitarian Assoeia-
ton. A third of those present fol-
lowed the lead of Rev. John Haynes
Holmes of New York in opposition to
the election of United States Sen
Duncan L. Fletcher of Florida as
enc of the vice presidents because Of
mis- vote last winter on the Lorimer
case.
On a rising vote taken after a
spirited speech by Mr. Holmes IT.
denunciation of Sen. Fletcner's action
the motion that his name be stricken
from the list submitted by the NOM
mating committee was declared lost
as ii appeared to the Chair that there
Was sufficient opposition without a
formal count. Later on in the ballot
Tor officers, six of the vice presidents
received $50 votes. the total number
of ballots. while 455 were 4cast for
Former Gov. Eben S. Draper of Hope
Gale. Mass. and 3l5 for Senator
Fletcher. Pres. Samuel A. Eliot of
Cambridge was Reelected, but insure-
eney also extended to him. his vote
being 400. while IS votes were thrown
for Rev Paul Revere rockingham of
Boston
The Fletcher debate occupied the en-
tire forenoon session ard was the most
earnest affair of its kind ever held
by the Association. Mr. Holmes was
vehement in his denunciation of the
action of Senator Fletcher Senator
Fletcher was supported by his Jack
sonville pastor. Rev. A. J. Coleman,
and by Rev. J. Todd of All Souls
church of Washington
Reports of the various committees
including that on the social work of
the church were submitted.
The evening meeting was for lay
men with addresses by Rev. u. G. r.
Pierce, chaplain of the Senate: Al
bert Moot of Buffalo. and Hon. Horace
Davis of San Francisco.
,fhe debate on Fletcher began with
the opening of the days session and
upon the report of the nominating
committee which placed his name
fourth on the list CT eight vice presi-
dents.
Nj. Holmes at once offered the res
oiution signed by nine New York
elergymen and 26 of those in and
about Boston, which was to the ef-
feet that in view of the public ser
vice attached to the name of Sen.
Fletcher we do rot regard him as
eligible to leadership in that form of
Christianity known as Untarianism
and protest against mis- nomination as
vice president"
But before Mr.. Holmes could speak
on the resolution. Rev. A. ]. Coleman
OF Jacksonville claimed the platform
and defended Sen. Fletcher. declaring
that the resolution was insulting and
an attempt to fasten a new method of
dogmatism on the Unitarians. He
claimed that ii WAS an affront to the
Southern people who had every conf
dence in Sen. Fletcher He termed the
act as immoral. Sen. Fletcher voted
Tor Lorimer because the evidence
against him was not sufficient" said
MI Coleman, and Sen. Fletcher was
compelled to vote that way no matter
what his private ideas might have
been He was actuated by high sense
of moral and political duty and the
people of Florida are proud of his rec
ord
III you repudiate Fletcher the
southern churches may repudiate what
YOU stand for were Mr. Coleman's
closing words
After Rev. Mr. Todd of All Souls
church, Washington. had also defend
ed sen. Fletcher, as one of mis- narish-
loners and resented the resolution as
unwarranted interference with the
action of an individual" Mr. Holmes
gained the platform. He resented the
charge made by Mr.. Coleman and de-
clared that the resolution was signed
by clergymen as individuals and not bv
any body and that the Unitarian As
ISOLATION could not place any stain on
the name of Sen. Fletcher that thai
gentleman had not placed there already
by his action in the Lorimer case.
1t would be better to wipe out ev
cry Unitarian church south of the
Mason and Dixon line rather than
place a dishonored name on our list
of officerss' shouted Mr.. Holmes.
Taking up the Lorimer case in more
detail, Mr. Holmes occupied half an
hour in reading extracts from the Out
look. speeches made against Lorimer in
the Senate and editorials from various
newspapers.
Now as to Sen. Fletcher" said Mr.
Homes, l DeneYe thdt he has failed
to measure up TO the standards. | be-
leve that he was conscientious but
what in thunder was the matter with
his conscience?
we do not impeach Sen. F1etcher's
private virtues or public morality, but
we have right to exact from our
chosen representatives the highest
qualities and we do not want a man
on our list for whom We have to
Apologize
Rev. =. A. Wait Of Bellingham. diff
1ered from Mr.. Holmes and said that
the issue was that of indiyidualisfn and
the assnniatl.r. t..d NJ, 49,