Evening star., 1932-02-19
LIBEL TRIAL DUE,
Cannon HEARS
Bishop, in Gallery, Listens as
BIanton Discusses Tink-
ham Challenge.
BY the Associated Press

BY the Associated Press.
With Bishop James Cannon. jr.,
listening attentively in the gallery.
Representative Blanton, Democrat, OF
Texas told the House today a court
trial OF the clergyman's S500,000 libel
suit against Representative Tinkham,
Republican, Of Massachusetts, was as
sured
Tinkham had challenged Cannon
yesterday to arrange an open court
trial OF the suit. 1t was filed after the
southern Methodist churchman had
been charged by Tinkham with viola
tion OF the Federal corrupt practices
law.
Both May Be Questioned.
"All that remains is to set the date
for the trial." shouted Blanton. They
VIII have Cannon there, with his at
torneyS, FOR questioning and they will
have George Holden Tinkham there
and the bishops attorneys can question
him."
Terming Cannon a spurious self
designated moral leader and ecclesiast-
ical Whitened sepulcher" Tinkham In
a speech to the House called on Bishop
Cannon to permit court determination
of his charge that the churchman was
a shameless Vlolator Of the Federal
corrupt practices act"
He urged arrangements to have the
libel action tried at the present term of
the District Supreme Court. Represent
ative Blanton inquired why Tinkhams
attorney had answered the bishops fl
ing with the contention that the Repre-
sentative could not wave immunity.
Tinkham replied he knew nothing of
this and that mo such claim has been
made or will be made by me-"
II understand that If your lawyers
will withdraw your law question" OBJ
served Blanton, there will be a trial.
I hold no brief for Bishop Cannon.
am just interested in wnat the real
facts are that keep you from going to
the bat"
Tinkhams charge was first made on
the House floor. At the bishops chal-
lenge, he repeated it ouside, expressly
waving congressional immunity. The
whole affair is the outgrowth Of the
churchman's participation in the anti
Smith campaign of 1923 and his failure
to report some campaign contributions
Recently the District Supreme Court
sustained the clergymans demurrer to
an indictment charging him with vio-
lating the law in 1928 bv failing prop
erly to report s65, 300 in campaign
contributions to his Anti-Smith Demo-
Gratis Committee from E. c. Jameson,
New York Republican.
Bishop Cannon did not dare to sub
nit himself to cross-eXamination under
oath before a senatorial committee in
relation to the handling of funds which
he received for political purposes dur
ing the 1928 presidential campaign, ="
Tinkhaln said.
He continued
There is still a way. however, for
this House and the country to learn the
damning facts in this case I
hereby call upon him through his
counsel to arrange with the counsel
representing me for an early trial at
this term Of court before 1t adjourns
at the end Of June"
Tinkham said the bishop had PROM
ised to present important facts" on the
case when the Government takes its
appeal on the demurrer ruling, but
added:
Unless Bishop Cannon's statements
are made under oath, when he is sub
ject to cross-examination. they will be
utterly worthless and will merely be a
travesty upon the truth"
Bishop Cannon, according to the
press, apparently will escape confine-
ment at the Federal Penitentiary at
Atlanta by employing the same methods
invoked by notorious gunner and pro-
feSsional criminals. namely, by making
a technical objection to the criminal
indictment" he said at one point.