Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-06-03
CANNON REFUSES
. SMITH FIGHT DATA
Does Not Consider Political
Activity as Lobbying,
He Says.
CONTINUED From First page.l

6CndDOI
sin, the only members of the commit
tee present, had questioned Cannon
about his relations to various temper
ance organizations.
The bishop had answered freely sc
long as the questions related to the
temperance organizations, but when
asked about the Ashevile anti-Smlth
conference he first read statement OF
protest, then fatty declined to answer
walsh did not Immediately indicate
what further action he might take. In
the past, some of the witnesses who
have refused to answer to Senate COM
mittees have been adjudged in contempt
Of the Senate and punished in various
ways.
At the start of the hearing Ques-
tions were directed at Bishop Cannon
as to the prohibition movement and
the anti-Smith campaign that spht the
''solid South" in 1928.
The Southern Methodist leader I'M
hesitatingly told his questioners that as
chairman of the board organized by his
church to promote temperance and
social service he had sought by every
legitimate Christians means" to pro-
mote the prohibition movement,
wherever that endeavor might lead.
The receipts of the Southern Metho-
dist Board of Temperance and Social
Service, he said, averaged $4,000 or
$4,000 a year.
$4,000 a year, but only about two
thirds Of 1t was paid.
Says Not Paid.
He had received no payment for his
prohibition activities in the last 80
years, he declared, although DR.. E. L.
Crawford, secretary Of the board, re-
ceived $500 year.
The rest of the money was spent Tor
rent, salaries, travelling expenses ana
such things. The board, he said, was
principally interested in prohibition
and peace.
at was not my habit to lobby personally
very much" he added, explaining that
he used the word lobby as meaning
legitimate activity to present views on
legislation to members Of Congress.
First Of all, Cannon asked that the
letter he sent to the committee be
placed in the record, to show that he
had asked for the opportunity to ap-
pear.
I never got dollar for the prohibition
work, and in that sense am not
lobbyist"
Then he added, peering over his
glasses:
at was here as a voice"
eff YOU want to call me lobbyist
under that definition it Is all right. I
never saw many men.
Telegram Il Read.
Questioned by Senator Walsh, the
witness read a telegram he and others
sent Secretary Mellon in 1928, saying
that If prohibition enforcement appro-
sva
ton would arise whether the Treasury
sincerely desires effective enforce
walsh asked If that meant Cannon
was dissatisfied with enforcement.
1.-THE telegram speaks for ITSELF" re-
piled the bishop.
Cannon said he urged Mellon to sup
port the Harris amendment 70 m
crease prohibition appropriations ny
Mellon replied In q telegram that the
amendment would restrict the appro-
Toriation to the Prohibition Bureau,
while enforcement also depended on the
Coast Guard and other agencies.
Cannon then wired Mellon the dis
tribution should be left to the Secre-
tary. This telegram also urged crea-
ton of additional Federal courts.
walsh, who is dry, commented that
It appeared you addressed yourself TO
heads of departments, as well as TO
congress-" He asked If the bishop
sought appointment of Government Of
any position on that for 80 years has
been that it must be an exceptional
case for me to take any part in the ap-
pointment of officials" Cannon an
swered. 81 was IN this WORK from Ift,t sne
moral point and not from the polltlcal.
very rarely did it. I have occasionally
done So"
Forecasts Change.
walsh produced letter by the South
ern Methodist Board secretary, Dr.
Crawford, 10 Cannon, saying Haywood
Hardy of Texas might succeed MRS:
Mabel Walker Willebrandt in charge OF
prosecutions. It added Attorney Gen.
eral Mitchell might want to know the
attitude of prohibition boards. Cannon
said he took no action. An exchange OF
correspondence between Cannon ana
President Hoover, before his inaugura-
ton, was read.
The letter to Hoover. dated January
"a, 1929, said:
I'm order that you may have full
information, am incloslng some state
Of $4,000, 000."
Hoover replied:
"Many thanks, indeed, for your letter
of January "a. I am very glad to have
the information you send"
The letter from Crawford to Cannon
At understand that before making
any appointment Mr. Mitchell Is going
to want to know how the great prohi-
bition board stands in the matter"
Denies whip" Selection.
Walsh read a letter from Cannon
saying Representative Garner OF Texas,
the House Democratic leader, m1gns
name Representative McDufhe OF Ala
bama Democratic whip.
$50 you took a part IN the seiec-
ton of the Democratic Whip" in
1T did not" replied the bishop. 81
took no part in that. I said nothing
to Mr.. Garner"
walsh asked Cannon if his church
board had taken any part in the cleo
ton of Congressman.
Cannon read a committee report OF
the board adopted in 1925, demanding
the law "be enforced by Its friends,
from revenue collection to President.
He read another report adopted by
the General Conference OF the Methodist
Episcopal Church South, in 1926, de-
claring "Whl.SeVer money and men are
necessary 10 compel opeuleEce W Tic
law" must be available.
A letter by Crawford to the Rev. w:
j. Carpenter of Palatka, Fla, dated
April 3. 1929. said:
Coolidge Not Helpful.
Since Mr.. Hoover's Inauguration ]
heard DR.. Clarence True Wilson say
that Mr. Coolidge never made but one
helpful declaration and then that night
ne tried to suppress the publication OF
that. 1 refer to prohibition matters. -
The letter added:
Notwithstanding the fact that the
far