New Britain herald., 1930-09-24
Rev. Forest J. Prettyman Says Committee of 12 to Probe Every Angle of Case - Letter Urging Resignation of Widest Importance.

 Investigation of the moral fitness of Bishop James Cannon, Jr., to -oc- cupy a position of leadership in the Methodist Episcopal church is the objective of the new formal move ment against the militant divine, Rev, Forest J. Prettyman told the United Press today.
 Prettyman with Rev. Costen J. Harrell and Rev. J. T. Mastin of Richmond, Va, and Rev. l. P. Mar tin of Abingdon, Va, recently filed charges against Bishop Cannon with Bishop w. N. Ainsworth, Birming ham.
 Prettyman explained today that he used the phrase moral fitness in it's largest sense and not in the restricted popular meaning which commotes loose living. He promised a thorough investigation of all pub lished reports against the bishop, who became especially prominent in 1928 as an outspoken opponent Of the presidential candidacy of Gov ernor Alfred E. Smith.
 New Data Sought
 This case" Prettyman told the United Press, twill not be confined to the threshing out of old straw. There are persons in whose heads there is the idea that it will be a repetition of the Dallas incident of last May when a group of laymon headed by former Secretary of Navy Josephus Daniels brought charges against Bishop Cannon with respect to bucketshop operations.
 This case will be thorough in vestigation of all the published re- ports that may come to the attention of the committee"
 Prettyman explained that under church law Bishop Ainsworth now must appoint a committee of 12 eld- CTS of the church to investigate the Cannon charges. They would not be limited to allegations contained in the paper filed by Prettyman's group with Bishop Ainsworth but would have full authority in deter mining Cannon's fitness to occupy HIS nlgn O1llCe.
 Letter Called Important
 To the letter of Bishop H. M. Dubois, Nashville, Tenn, published yesterday suggesting it might be for the good of all concerned for Can non to relinquish his church office, Prettyman attributed the widest possible importance. HeF explained that for fellow bishop, a co-lead- CT of the Methodist Episcopal church to state such an opinion was was sure Bishop Dubois would not have written the letter without good grounds.
 Prettyman is confident the infor- nation filed with Bishop Ainsworth Is sufficient to justify converting the committee of twelve, although he was unable to cite precedent because the case of Bishop James Cannon Jr. is the first in the history of the church. he said, in which such dras- tic action has been taken.
 The Dallas investigation. Pretty man explained, was confined entire- ly to the Bishop Cannon's alleged bucketshop transactions and the general conference in Dallas did not possess the confirming evidence of court testimony subsequently pub lished. He said there actu3lly was no trial at the Dallas conference but merely an investigation and a re- u-h in hN or church law passed Bishop Cannon s character" He recalled the bishop had appeared before a committee at the conference with letter of re- pentance.
 But one of the evidences of genu- inc confession and repentance, in Prettyman's opinion, is a desire to take an humble position, whereas Cannon retained office as a bishop. It was evident Prettyman believes the bishop now is confronted with q, more severe test than that to which he was subjected at Dallas. He said his group had conformed to church law by notifying Cannon in South America that the new movement against him had begun.
 Committee Has Authority
 The committee of 12, as Pretty man described 1t, will possess exten- sive authority. Cannon presumably will appear before it. If the con- mittee's investigation indicates a trial is necessary, it must suspend Cannon until the next general con- ference of the church in 1884. Can- non, Prettyman explained, would have no recourse from the commit tees decision. It would be possible but expensive to convene a special conference.