Evening star., 1930-06-02
WALSH ANSWERS
CANNON'S QUERY
Bishops Objections to Phase
of Lobby Probe to Be
Disregarded.
ny the Associated Press.

~ the Associated Press.
Bishop James Cannon, r., is expected
before the Senate lobby committee to-
morrow despite his statement question
ming the committees right to inquire
into his expenditures In the Anti-Smith
campaign in 1925.
I'VE have not heSitRted to question
other witnesses concerning political
expenditures" said Senator Walsh
Democrat, Montana, today.
Walsh is acting chairman in the
absence of Chairman Caraway, who Is
in Arkansas.
Asked If the committee had authority
to compel Bishop Cannon to answer,
we win cross that bridge when we
come to it.
Bishops Statement.
Bishop Cannon of the Methodist
Episcopal Church South yesterday ques-
toned the propriety of the committees
inquiry into the 1928 campaign expendi-
lures of the Virginia anti-Smith Dem
ocrats.
Bishop Cannon defended his failure
to report the expenditures He quoted
from the record Of the lobby committee
hearings a statement by Chairman
Caraway to Representative Tinkham
Republican, Massachusetts,, that the
COnlIllbJeS was IlOb empowered 10
Quire into political expenditures; 1t is
only those expenditures and activities
that have to do with the influencing of
legislation or executive action that we
are inquiring into, and not political"
Cites Limit Set by Chairman.
I'm view Of this correct definition of
the limitations of the lobbying COM
mittee," said Bishop Cannon, by the
chairman himself, was surprised when
I learned, that Senator Caraway was
making inquiries concerning the treas
urer Of the Virginia anti-Smith Demo-
crats in the political (not lobbying)
campaign of 1928"
The Virginia anti-Smith expendi-
lures figured in testimony given the
committee by E. c. Jameson of New
York, a contributor After Jameson
testified Bishop Cannon sent from
Dallas, Tex, where he was attending
the conference Of his church, tele-
gram to Caraway saying he had ham
died the funds personally, but had made
no report on the Virginia disbursements,
"as none was required by law"
Senator Caraway, the bishop recalled,
commenting on the telegram, said it
was "dificult to interpret" In the light
of previous testimony.
Examines Law on Subject.
Bishop Cannon, who tomorrow is to
appear before the committee for Ques.
tioning, said he had Immediately upon
returning to Washington from Dallas
made an examination of the Federal
corrupt practices act to verify the state
ment that a committee operating in
only one State was not required to re-
port.
mot only is such a report not re-
quired," he said, but upon a thorough
examination of all the reports In the
od1ces Of the clerk Of the House Of Rep
resentatives, found that 1t has never
been customary for State committees
Democratic, Republican or otherwise
to make such reports"
He found, however, that upon written
request Of Chairman Stciwer Of the
1928 Senate campaign funds commit
tee, State party committees had filed
statements of receipts and disburse-
ments during the presidential campaign.
Request Not Received.
"No such request from Senator
Steiwer came to me-" he said, 'but, had
such request been received, I would
have sent TO him the same statement
which wired to Mr. z. c. Jameson,
namely, that of the $65, 800 which Mr..
Jameson had given to me to use In
whatever way thought would be most
effective to secure the defeat Of the wet
Tau1many candidate, Gov. Smith, had
allocated $4,000 for the use of the
headquarters committee Of the anti
Smith Democrats operating throughout
the South and had allocated $46 800
Gall Of it) for the use Of the Virginia
anti-Smith Democrats for regular State
campaign purposeS-Speaking, canvass
ing, and organizing thoroughly, and ad-
mittedly successfully, the 100 counties
and 20 cities Of the commonwealth to
insure the defeat of the wet candidate" Z"
Cannon said he could not understand
on what basis the lobby committee
could inquire into the anti-Smith Demo-
Gratis political activities or why political
activities in Virginia alone should be
investigated. He added that full re-
port had been made on the funds Of
the headquarters committee Of the anti
Smith Democrats which operated
throughout the South, and that there
should be no difficulty In Interpreting
his telegram.