Evening star., 1934-05-03
OUSTEROF CANNON
AS BISHOP BEATEN
IN CHURCH BALLOT
Test Vote Keeps Name on
List of Those Eligible
for Assignment.
CALIFORNIA REPORTED
ANXIOUS FOR SERVICES
Said to Have Asked Dry Cru
sader Be Sent to State
by Conference.
BY the Associated Press.


James Cannon, jr., the militant dry
crusader of the Methodist Episcopal
Church South. today won his pre-
liminary fight for continuance in
office as bishop when a test vote in
the quadrennial general conference
ordered his name added to the list of
bishops recommended for effective
reassignment.
Victory Margin Wide.
The vote was 269 for reassignment
and ITO against, or a majority of SO
votes for Bishop Cannon, giving the
bishop a pronounced victory.
Bishop Cannons face was wreathed
in smiles over the decision to retain
him as an active member Of the
college Of bishops.
After the vote was announced he
said he had no statement to make,
that the conference had spoken and
it was their business" He occupied
his accustomed seat on the rostrum
among his fellow bishops during the
debate over his proposed superannu-
alton, which came up suddenly and
deferred the regular order of business.
The vote was taken on a motion
made by Judge Nathan Newly. of
the Pacific Conference, to place the
Virginia bishop on the reassignment
list for further active duty.
The Committee on Episcopacy, with
Dr.. J. w. Perry of Chattanooga, as its
head, had passed favorably upon the
character of all of the active bishops,
including Cannon, but omitted his
name from its report asking reassign-
ment in present districts.
Stormy debate then broke out in
the conference. His supporters
charged Bishop Cannon was being
'crucified" and that the church was
'surrendering to the wet press and the
Roman Catholics" if Cannon should
be retired after his militant prohibi-
ton fight.
Infirmity Is Alleged.
His opponents urged retirement "for
the good of the church" on the claim
that the 69-year-old bishop was inf1rm.
The lead for Bishop Cannon was
taken by the Rev. r. P. Shuler of the
Pacific Conference, who said his people
in the West would welcome Bishop
Cannon for assignment in their sec
ton.
One Of the leaders arguing in favor
of retirement vas Judge c. w. Fergu-
son of the West Virginia Conference.
He has lnflrmities of mind based
on two specific grounds declared
Judge Ferguson
THE first" Judge Ferguson said,
'is the habit he has formed in his
love of money and his love of power"
Judge Ferguson was interrupted by
the raising of a point of order that
he was discussing character instead
of the motion, and he did not state
his second reason.
Was Acquitted Here.
Bishop Cannon last week was ac-
quilted by a District of Columbia
court jury on charges of conspiracy
to violate the Federal corrupt prac-
ticeS act in connection with the ham
ding of funds in the campaign
against AL Smiths presidential can
didacy. The move to retire him at
the present session of the church
law-making body, four years ahead
of his automatic retirement year.
followed.
The Episcopacy Committee early
this week voted through a recon-
mendation for his retirement at this
time by vote of 43 to Is.
G.. c. Emmons of Los Angeles told
the conference that Bishop Cannon
is no more inf1rm in the operation
of his brain than the President of
the United States"
James Cannon's feet only are af-
fected," he said
Would Cheer Underworld.
He commented that the bishop
might have described himself as be-
ing delivered from the Tammany IT.
ger rather than from the mouth of
the lion when he came to the con-
vention from his Washington trial"
His superannuation, said Emmons,
would be hailed by the underworld
and the wet press as their oppor-
tunity to tell the Methodist Church
to close their mouths"
o. L. Tompkins of Dothan, Ala,
asserted that he was mot letting
Roman Catholic nor a wet press vote
me by indirection," but pleaded that
the delegates reserve their decision
until the Episcopacy Committee sub
mits its report specifically on Bishop
Cannon.
During the debate delegates re-
Trained almost as a unit from ap-
plauding either side, leaving advance
speculation on the outcome in doubt,
but packed galleries in the auditorium
swept the house with applause at
every argument favorable to Bishop
Cannon.