Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 May 1896 — WESTERN. [ARTICLE]

WESTERN.

The THTfiOif Supreme- Gdiirt has decla red the Cody Sunday barber law unconstitutional. The Court holds that the law is class legislation; that it singles an especial business, and is therefore'contrary to the spirit of the "Constitution. It is also declared to be puritanical and not applicable to present conditions. The Court -was unanimous on the question of the unconstitutionality of the law. One of the boldest bank robberies that ever occurred iu that locality was perpetrated Thursday at Buffalo, 111., a village twelve utiles east of Springfield. Two masked mon'cntercd the Bank of Buffalo, Owned by A. A, Pickerel! & Co., bound Carl Kloppenberg,. the assistant cashier, and robbed the safe of between SIO,OOO and SII,OOO in cash. The robbers were entirely original in iheiiL ipethodse Instead of comiiig tfieold traditional style on horseback and with revolver laden belts, they rode into the village on bicycles. Their appearance nt--teaoted no attention and. they managed to get away With their booty without exciting the town. After they had disposed of KloppetjLerg the wheelmen leisurely gathered up nil the money they could fimi. It amounted to between SIO,OOO and sll.000, but one of the robbers said* “it Ts a poor haul.’’ The men then went outside, mounted their wheels and rode leisurely out of the village, as if nothing, had happened. Mr. Kloppenberg, the cashier, is a man of unquestioned integrity, and enjoyed to'the utmost the confidence of Mr,

PickorCll and the merchants of the town. Thursday’s meeting of tho Methodist general conference at Cleveland was marked by the largest attendance of the session, both of delegates ansi spectators. Jopogf-ufJtliK_cpminittee op missions to increase the contingent fund from $25.- ’ 000 to $50,000 was adopted. The committee also recommended a Hiug-Hua mission in China, It was adopted. The -report of—the committee on education. which excuses students from taking the conference examinations in those branches in which they, have passed satisfactory examinations in some Methodist school, was adopted unanimously. .The committee on church extension made a report against the extension of work in foreign lands. Great interest was niani-, fested in the committee on episcopacy. Dr. Buckley, the chairman, made the report upon three distinct subjects. In the opinion of the committee Bishops Bowman and Foster are too old to stand the strain of their duties, and the report reeonimends their retirement at the end of this conference its non-effective. All the other bishops were returned as effective, with the exception of Bishop Taylor, and his name was not mentioned. A generous appropriation was urged for them, and the respect felt for them was fully set 1 * forth. As soon as the report was read Bishop Foster, in the midst of-a most impressive silence, said he knew 1 lie question was one of great delicacy and lie begged to be permitted to retire. Cries of “No, no,” came from all parts of the Ijall, ’and Bishop Foster extended his arms, saying: “Please, please.”' It was a most pathetic scene. Bishop Foster spoke for a few moments, and the conference, by a rising vote, granted his request. Bishop Bo.wm.au .sail he would make the Ka-me--req<+est r -as...he.li adjustlea rued for the first time in his life that he was noteffective. A call was made for a few remarks from him, but he declined to say anything, and' the two white-haired fathers left-the hall. Bishop Foster’s speech was touching in the extreme, and die-left everything in the bands of the conference.