Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-06-13
WALSH ABANDONS
CANNON QUIZ FIGHT
Move for Political Question
ing Will Not Be Urged by
Him, He Says.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
To avoid any charge of attempting to
prosecute Bishop James Cannon, ir.,
Senator Walsh Of Montana today aban-
doned his proposal to seek specific Sen
ate authority for the lobby committee
to investigate political activities.
II think such a resolution should be
introduced" he said but shall not
introduce it. The bishop has repeated
ly charged trat his investigation was q
Catholic and wet persecution. Since 1
am a humble member OF the Catholic
church would Immediately be charged
with attempting TO persecute him.
Therefore, shall take no further &C
ton"
The Montana Democrat, who Is a
prohibitionist, was voted down three to
one yesterday in an attempt to have the
lobby committee ask for Senate au-
thority which would allow it to question
the Southern Methodist bishop about
his 1928 aDti-Smith activities.
BIaines Move Is Beaten.
The committee also voted four to one
yesterday against a proposal by Senator
Blaine, Republican. Wisconsin, to cite
Cannons refusal to answer questions
to the Senate for possible contempt pro-
ceedings.
Blaine declined to say whether he
plans any further action.
The Wisconsin Senator contends,
however. that when the record of the
lobby proceedings is laid before the
Senate the Vice President is required
by law to submit 1t to the district
attorney to present to a grand jury.
Vice President Curtis refused today
to take any position in this regard.
Chairman Caraway contends the Law
would not apply because the commit
tee had decided it had no right to ask
the questions the bishop refused tc
answer.
Walsh expressed the opinion that nc
more witnesses would be questioned by
the committee and that its hearings
were ended.
The transcript Of Bishop Cannon's
testimony. however, will be laid before
the Senate and a variety of opinion Is
expressed as to what may be expected
to follow.
Senator Blaine believes the Vice Presi-
dent is required by law to lay before the
district attorney the fact that Cannon
refused to answer questions and that
the district attorney must in turn carry
the case before a grand jury.
Chairman CaraWay disagrees' He
contends Cannon was within his rights
and bases this belief upon the COM
mittee's ruling it had no power to in
vestigate the bishops political &C
tivities.
Meeting in executive session late
Yesterday the committee agreed not to
REQUIRE answers from Cannon on his
campaign against Alfred E. Smith and
decided to submit the transcript of the
bishops testimony to the Senate.
Two proposals for action against the
dry leader were defeated. The first was
a motion by Senator Walsh to ask the
Senate for authority which would cover
the Cannon case and the second mo-
ton by Blaine that the bishop be cited
for contempt. The voting was three tc
two and four to one, Blaine and Walsh
supporting the first motion and only
Blaine the second.
This circumstance. however, was not
regarded as the forerunner of any
further activity on the part OF the COM
mittee.
Bishop Cannon last night issued q
statement saying the committees ruling
made it clear he did not refuse to an
swer any questions which the commit
tee itself has judged to be pertinent tc
the investigation with which it Is
charged