The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-09
CANNON REPEATS TUSkECEE MENACE
 REPORTS RELIABLE
Methodist Bishop Declares Organized Interference
 Was Threatened

S(AkNtlNA
 Moderation of the statement that Tuskegee institute was "menaced by threats of organIed interference" has been received from Bishop James Cannon, Jr., chairman of the tenn perance and social service commission of the Methodist Episcopal church, south. in letter to Dy L. A. Johnson, chairman of the central committee Tuskegee, Ala, a copy of which, over Bishop Cannon's signature, has been received by The Age-Herald, with the request that it be published in full' Bishop CgnnOn's Comment.
 The communications to The Age Herald from Bishop Cannon are as follows:
 Washington. D. C., August f, 1923.
 Some weeks ago the commission on temperance and social service Of the Methodist Episcopal church, south, adopted a resolution concern ing the situation at Tuskegee, Ala
 This statement was given out to the secular press on July ID. Later on 8 reply was made to this state rnent by committee of the citizens of Tuskegee. Owing to absence rom home and pressing duties elsewhere reply has not been made to the IuS- kegee committee until today.
 T am today mailing to the Tus- kegee committee the enclosed state ment which l will be glad II you can find space to puDilsh III It's eheii ie'' in your columns.
 Yours sincerely,
 "JAMES CANNON. JR., Chairman, Temperance and SociaI Service Commission, Methoolsl Episcopal Church. South"
 Letter To Tuskegee. oo
 August 3, 1923 "Dr l.. A. Johnson, Chairman. Cen tral Committee, Tuskegee, Ala
 hama,
 "My Dear Sir: On July the com, mission on temperance and soclai service of the Methodist church. south adopted a statement concern . ing the situation at Tuskegee, Ala, ana gave that statement to the press for publication on the morning or July 10. That statement declared that there had come to the commission through reliable newspaper reports and private sources or uhuoupteu re liability that the interests of the Tuskepee institute are seriously menaced by threats Of orgah'|eu lH- terference.
 Statement Challenged.
 "As chairman of the aforesaid com mission l have received statement from the central committee or the council of Tuskegee citizens Of when committee you are the chairman. This statement declares that the state ment made by our commission on So- cial service that the Iuskeeee lhsti tute was 'menaced by threats or organized interference' Is unfounded and untrue, and furthermore the statement of the Tuskegee commit tee declares that our great pody in conference has acted hastily, un
 
 edge of the true situation AS the chairman of our commission but as only one member of the same, l was present at every meeting and present the facts.
 S"On July a resolution on this suo- ject was presented to the comnlssioh based on reliable private information and what have proved to be ac- curate press reports. The resolution was thoroughly discussed and then re- ferred to a committee. Ihe commit tee brought in report the following day and that report was referred to another committee for further con sideration and for accurate state ment The statement which was finally dapotde on July after four days investigation and de- liberation was not only not the result of nasty or unwise action but was carefully considered, was well-founded and Is true. The uncon- tradicted press report, for example Montgomery newspaper states that 67 automobiles filled with hooded anu yelled men were driven along the road between the professors houses and the buildings of the Tuskegee in- stitute. The Tuskegee committee may not consider this threat or organized interference with the Tuskegee institute, but until the Tus- kegee committee can give some ade- uuate explanation for this organized parade around the. grounds of the Tuskegee institute it will be general ly accepted outside of Tuskegee that this demonstration was a most 'seri- ous threat of organized interference' Furthermore, this demonstration of purpose to threaten organized inter- ference the orderly pursuit of the lawful and beIieVolent laborS of the Tuskegee institute with it's record or 30 years of successful cooperation between the white and colored races is certainly calculated not only'to de- stroy the splendid work which has been done at Tuskegee through the spirit of cooperation between the white and colored people but it Is also calculated to affect most seri- ously the opinion of the whole civil ized world IS to the spirit and in- tentions of our southern peoule to- ward the colored people in our midst
 Before the commi ssion gave any  first hand reports of the Tuskegee situation, not only from the secular press but from southern-born, south rn-sympathizing citizens of Nir- ginia, Georgia, and Alabama, all of the highest character and intelli gence. Whatever may be the final outcome of the discussion concern ing the hospital at Tuskegee, con- corning which our commission made no statement whatever, l am satis- hot f1aa tt1,Na ar1t of the great bulk of our southern people in expressing a most fervent hope that whatever adjustment is made of the hospital matter nothing will be permitted to minimize the splendid work which is being done by the Tuskegee institute in accord ance with the plans agreed upon by Booker T. Washington and his wise white friends in the state of Ala bama. Yours sincerely,
 JAMES CANNON, Jr., Chairman, Commission on Temper ance and Social Service, Methodist L-Nfp