Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-06-13
CANNON TO REMAIN
IN POLITICAL FIELD
Bishop Declares He Will Keep
Up Fight in Ranks of
Democrats.

Bishop James M. Cannon. jr., In an
reiterated his intention Ito stay IN
politics" and added that he had been
warned that his reputation would be
destroyed unless he ceased his fight On
the Smith askob-w -Tammany-Ro-
man Catholic domination Of the Demo-
cratic party"
These same politicians" he asserted,
"have had detectives following him since
1923 in an effort to frame him
The Methodist bishop. who is chair
man of the Board of Temperance and
Social Service of the church, admitted
that these various forms OF service
will inevitably call for political activ-
ity" Referring to his alleged perse-
cutors he said: '"They will literally
stop at nothing to destroy me. and this
group would deal in the same way with
any other man who might stand in the
way of the accomplishment of their
purpose to elect a wet President, re-
peal the eighteenth amendment and
bring back the legaliZed liquor trafflc.
simply happen TO be the target to-
day.
Referring to his controversy with the
SSIIdlS ltDDS COIlIIlILlSCs HLl4Sil S4ClNSA
to his view Wednesday after he had
apologized, Bishop Cannon writes:
Blames Catholics and Wet.
cat this writing the wet and Roman
Catholic elements are demanding an
investigation of my political activity in
connection with the anti-Smith move
ment of 1923. by the committees of the
Senate appointed to investigate lobbying
have declined to recognize the rights
of the lobbying committee to investigate
the political activities Of independent
citizens. Indeed. l am Of the opinion
that it is an intolerable infringement
upon the rights of independent citizens
for Congress. whose business 1t is to
enact legislation. to attempt to lnvesti-
gate or to control the political activi-
ties of such independent citizens.
Logically, 1t would brand as a lob
byist every voter who favors or opposes
any legislation. Holding this view ex-
pect to continue TO resist this effort to
single out for special investigation the
activities of the anti-Smith Democrats.
The bishop, who was eXOnerated OF
charges of undue political activity in
the 1928 presidential campaign by the
General Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church South, in session, al
Dallas recently, quoted from resolutions
| of the conference which said such &C
tivities were the 'inalSAable right OF
every member, whether minister or lay
man."
Affirms Right to Free Attitude.
There is, it seems to me-" he con-
| tinues, no question as to what should
| be the attitude of minister who fully
realizes that he is not simply a priest
! but prophet-a preacher of righteous
| ness. He must, whenever necessary
| lift up his voice in behalf of mercy and
| love and peace, and against injustice
covetousness and selfishness in national
and international affairs, as we'll as In
| the purely private relations of life. A
| true minister must always be concerned
about any legislation which would re-
tard or check the advancement Of
morals, health and happiness, and must
demand and vigorously support what
ever legislation may be necessary tC
protect the young life and the home
life of the Nation from those who put
physical self-indulgence and monetary
gain above justice, virtue and the hap
piness Of others"
Referring to his anti-Smith activities
in Virginia, Bishop Cannon writes:
Defends Campaign Activity.
! 10
me to take an unusually active part ir
the 1928 campaign, and for that reason
have been severely criticized by GER
tain element in my own church, which
has not agreed with my views or witt
the position which 1 have taken.
have also been denounced by that sec
ton of the Democratic party which in
sisted that party regularity was more
important than the principle of prohi'
bition and which, as shown in the de-
feat of Senator Simmons Tin NORTH
Carolina), is determined to punish al
Democrats who refused to support the
| Houston candidate regardless of his at
| titude on prohibition.
| II have been villified and slanderec
by the wet-Tammany-Roma Catholic
press in every possible way. The op
position in my own church to m!
| political activities eliminated in TIT
effort made at the general conference
Dallas, to prevent my reelection a!
chairman of the Board of Temperance
and Social Service, and which was over
Whelmingly defeated"
The candidates supported by Bishol