Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-09
Federal Council of Churches
Also Criticized Before
Senate Committee.
WANTS FUNDS RECEIVED
AND DONORS PUBLISHED
Probe of Any Other Religious
Groups Believed Influencing
Laws Urged.
BY the Associated Press.

l oJ Tic ASSOCIdteu
Bearded and picturesque Representa-
tive George Holden Tinkham: Republi-
can, Massachusetts,, appeared today be-
| fore the Senate lobby committee to
urge an investigation of the Methodist
Episcopal Church Board Of Temperance
and the Federal Council of Churches.
and while on the stand he let loose an
attack against both organizations in
which he accused them of violating the
fundamental principles of the sepa-
ration of church and state.
This charge, however, was a broad
one and amplification Of it by Tink-
ham through a letter read into the
record and testimony was that the
board and council attempted to in
fluence legislation and to interfere with
the appointments of Federal officers and
the administration Of justice.
Tinkham said he understood the board
exerted strong pressure unsucceSsfully
to block the nominations of John P.
Mcmahon, as a police court judge, and
of Leo A. Rover, for United States at
torney for the District of Columbia.
Tinkham also said that the Board OF
Temperance, Prohibition and Public
Morals had violated the corrupt prac-
tees act by political expenditure. He
urged that the Department Of Justice
investigate this and also money re-
ceived by the Federal Council during
1926, 1927 and 1928.
Division of Income.
FV7i-z oof oHn1ff O.
fourth of the income of the council was
received from churches and the rest
from "other sources" He named the
amounts from other sources" amount
Ing in 1926 to 1854, SPA, in 1927 to
S232,018, and in 1928 to $336,339
II suggest" he said, "the sources of
the contributions be carefully idenu-
fed and analysed"
Going into the denial by the Meth
odist board that it engages in lobbying
activities, Tinkham said the definition
of lobbying was an attempt to influence
legislation. He read extracts from a
publication of the board, in support OF
his charges and pointed out that the
board had its headquarters near the
Capitol and reiterated that the board
was engaging in constant efforts 70
influence the action of Congressman.
Replies Are Invited.
Chairman Caraway announced that
the Methodist board and the Federal
Council would be given an opportunity
to appear before the committee In reply
to charges by Representative Tinkham.
At the outset of the hearing, Tinkham
offered a statement urging that the
committee investigate the activities OF
the board and council. This was not
allowed to go into the record but there
was no objection as the witness read
from it while he was on the stand.
The statement as given to newspaper
men. said:
IT believe that this committee can
render no greater public service than
to do it's part toward public exposure
of the practices of these organizations
in violation of the principle of the sepa-
ration of church and state, so that their
church constituencies, as well as the
public at large, may be informed and
so condemn such practices"
DIR. Wilson Mentioned.
He named, as a paid servant and
agent of the board, its secretary, DR..
Clarence True Wilson, and said his
duties included appearances before COM
mittees, soliciting departments OF gov
ernmentS and communicating with
members of Congress. He also men
toned a speech by Wilson at Melrose.
Mass, on April IL, 1929, in connection
with accusations that the board at
tempted by public attacks to coerce and
vilify judges.
ST object to a religious organization
supporting or opposing appointments"
Continued on Page 2, Column -