Evening star., 1932-11-04
CANNON DECLARES
HOOVER SUPPORT
"0nIy Way to Defeat Roose.
veIt," Bishop Tells M. {.
Conference.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press
BIRMINGHAM, Ala, November A.
Bishop James Cannon, jr., told the
North Alabama Conference Of the
Methodist Episcopal Church South last
night that he would vote for President
Hoover "aS the only way to defeat
Roosevelt"
The dry leader, who four years ago
was active in the anti-Smith campaign
in the South, said that in casting bis
vote for Mr. Hoover this time he wanted
it understood he totally disagreed"
with some of the Presidents statements;
felt that "he has not done all he could
have done to make prohibition effec-
tive" and considered his modification
plan vague" and Impractical.
Smith Address Scored.
Bishop Cannon, discussing the entry
of Alfred E. Smith, Democratic nominee
in 1923, into the campaign, said his
Newark speech was deliberate, care
fully prepared, direct attack upon the
moral and religious forces behind the
eighteenth amendment
I'm order to whip into line sullen, re-
sentful, Smith idolators. Smith delib-
erately injected the religious issue into
the political campaign. He de-
nounced opposition to his candidacy in
1923 as 'bigotry' and not prohibition.
and then openly denounced 'Methodists'
and others as an aggregation Of
bigots.'" the bishop said.
Bishop Cannon said in his Boston
speech Smiths statements regarding
MethodistS were "a malicious outburst
of Smith spleen, pent up for years,
which demands a fiat denial"
Final Lineup" Decisive.
"The final lineup" Of the elements
supporting Gov. Roosevelt, Bishop Can
non said, added to his own record and
position, has become decisive in deter
mining how many dry Democrats will
vote"
Il cannot possibly vote for Roosevelt
with such an openly declared position
against the eighteenth amendment and
with such an aggregation on the firing
line in his campaign" said the bishop.
Therefore, although I am not a Re-
publican, I shall vote for Mr. Hoover
as the only way to defeat Roosevelt
But in voting for Mr. Hoover it will
be with distinct. clear-cut declaration
that I totally disagree with certain
statements in his acceptance speech.
without calIlnS IN question MS sincerity,
I cannot agree that he has done all
that he could have done to make pro-
hibition effective. At the very begin
ming of his administration he should
have called upon Congress TO provide
whatever money and men might be
necessary and Congress would undoubt-
edly have given him whatever he asked.
"A Vague Generality"
Moreover. what he proposes to take
the place of the eighteenth amendment
removes the brand of the criminal from
the liquor traffic and his proposition to
prevent the return of the saloon and to
protect the dry States seems to me TO
be a vague generality which l think will
be found to be impractical in operation
Nevertheless, Mr.. Hoover does rec
ognize clearly the evils of the liquor
traffic and has more understanding of
conditions and more sympathy with the
underlying purpose Of prohibition than
any other candidate who has chance
of election"
Bishop Cannon said the final line
up behind RooSevelt'S candidacy" in
cluded the able. shrewd, intolerant
Smith, with treacherous, grating Tam
many; Hague of Jersey City, Curley of
Boston. Cermak and Igoe of Chicago