Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-06-10
Specific Power Requested as
Way Out of Bishops
Defiance.
Committeeman CONFER
TO DETERMINE ON ACTION
Chairman Caraway Devises Plan,
but Declines to Make
Matter Public.
By the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
A proposal to ask the Senate fol
specific power to investigate politica
activities was made today by Senator
Walsh, Democrat, Montana, as a wa!
out of the problem resulting from thu
defiance of the lobby committee b.
Bishop James Cannon, jr.
The Montanan, who was acting chair
man when Cannon refused to answer
questions and walked out, said he die
not know the attitude of other COM
mittee men toward his Investigations.
since the question of the commit
tees authority has been raised" Walsh
said, 1T think it would be better to bt
certain about our authority before We
proceed further. I don't think we
should take any chance"
Chairman Caraway held informal
conferences with other committee men
He has devised plan for dealing with
the churchman, but declined to make II
public pending an agreement. Whether
the other members would sanction the
proposal was problematical, but the
lobby chairman said he hoped some de-
cision would be reached during the day.
Caraway, who was absent when Can
non refused to answer questions about
his 1928 anti-Smith activities ana
walked out on the committee, has par
TALLY studied the record of the hearings
and hoped to finish today. He said he
had learned enough to give him a def
mite idea of what should be done. He
refrained from intimating what course
he favored.
Make Contempt Charge.
Senator Blaine, Republican, wisconsin,
contends the committee did not exceed
its powers in questioning about political
activities and that Cannon was guilty.
Senator Robinson, Republican, IN
diana, sides with Cannon. Senator
Burah, Republican, Idaho, has not
made his position known.
A formal committee meeting Is sched-
uled for tomorrow.
Caraway, who had been counted upon
to support the bishop in his contention
that the committee had no power TO IN
ouire into his political activities, told
newspaper men that he had not read
the record of what took place in his
absence and that he would not reach
decision until he had made thorough
study of the proceedings.
While in Arkansas Caraway issued
a statement which was interpreted as
meaning he did not believe the COM
mittee was empowered to inquire into
political activities. He explained yes
terday he had meant the committee
could not investigate purely political
activities" He added, however, that If
the political activities could be linked
up with lobbying, it would be a differ
ent situation.
THAT is not the first time I have
talked and then found out later what I
was talking about" he laughingly told
newspaper men. He expressed regret
barraSsment to Senator Walsh, Demo-
crat, Montana, who has been acting
chairman, and Senator Blaine, Repub-
1ican, Wisconsin.
They were the only two members
present when the bishop defied their au-
thority to question him and later
walked from the room with state
ment that if they wanted to subpoena
him he would be at his office.
Walsh is a Catholic and dry, while
Blaine is the only wet member of the
committee.
Denies Persecution.
Caraway denied Cannon's charge that
the investigation was inspired by politi-
cal and religious persecution. He added
that four of the five committee men,
bers were dry and that he thought a
majority belonged to the Methodist
Church
Walsh and Blaine contend the COM
nittee was not exceeding its authority
and believe Cannon was guilty Of con-
tempt of the Senate in leaving the room
without being excused.
Caraway would not indicate what he
thought of the bishops action in turn
ing his back on the committee. He
added, however, that witness walks
out at his peril"