The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-05-16
POLITICS INV VADES CONF FERENCE ON EVE
 OF EPISCOPAL VOTE
State Delegations Busy and Reports of Trades in Be- half of Favorite Sons
 Numerous
By Associated PreHs

Hot Springs, Ark. May 1s.-Poli- tics eclipsed every other issue before the nineteenth quadrennial general conference of the Methodist Episco- pal Church, South, here tonight, the eve of the Episcopal elections. and individual delegaates were active un- til late hour in interest of their fa- vorite for the highest office the church can bestow.
 State delegates also were busy and reports of trades" whereby one del- egation agreed to support a man in return for support for 'favorite son" were numerous. Especial ef- forts were being made to obtain the support of the Texas and Georgia delegations which will cast two of the largest blocks of votes.
 Because every ordained minister ef the church is eligible many names were being mentioned tonight as pos- abilities. Five men will be elected. Prominently Mentioned
 Among those mentioned most fre- guently as probable of election were Dr. Franklin Parker of Emory uni- versity, Atlanta, and pr. S. R. Hay of Houston, Texas. Friends of Dr. hCI " 6IC Ills QTcDdDlt election on the first ballot from the fact, they said, that he was elected An 1918 but declined and that the conference always followed a pre- cedent in re-electing man who had been chosen by the preceding conference but had not been able to take the office at that time. Dr. Parker declined the office at the At Hanta conference to continue his edu- oY %rlr l. |. e.ao T. here that he will accept if elected thts time.
 Others mentioned prominently to- night for places included Dr. W. B. Beauchamp Of Nashville, director general of the sslonary Centeni- : ary. Dr.. J. r. Decker, Griffin, Ga, former president of Emory collegt at Atlanta: Dr. H. A. Boaz, president of Southern Methodist university. Dallas, Tex, pr. T. N. Ivey, Nash vile; pr. s. R. c. Bergin of Louis vile, secretary of the church exten- sion board and Dr. Charles D. sBulla of San Francisco, editor of the Chris fian Advocate.
 May Require Days
 The ballots, officials said, might continue several days. Under con ference procedure there are no for- final nominations but each delegate writes the names of the five men he believes most eminently qualified for the office. The man receiving the required vote Is declared elected and the balloting begins anew.
 The conference will meet tomorrow under a new rule calling for morn ing and afternoon sessions. The rule was adopted at today's business ses- sion at which the delegaates were told that the body was far behind with the work.
 z At the session today the confer scnce disposed of considerable routine business, arranged for the creation of the subordinate branches of the new general board of lay activities. and decided to resend it's action of Saturday in setting forth an outline which the commission of 15 would ] follow in reorganizing and consoli- dating the various general boards of the church. The outline, as adopted, provided for the establishing of four new boards. including one devoted to women's activities.
 Dissatisfaction Widespread
 Today the Rev J. H. Fakes of Atlanta. chairman of the committee which recommended appointing the commission, announced that the com -mittee had found widespread dissatis-