National Affairs: Indicted Bishop

“Is that authentic? Oh, isn’t it just grand! Mr. Tinkham will be so pleased!” The female secretary of black-bearded Representative George Holden Tinkham of Massachusetts, longtime political enemy of Bishop James Cannon Jr. of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, almost jumped for joy. For Bishop Cannon had just been indicted, with Miss Ada L. Burroughs, bespectacled treasurer of the Virginia Anti-Smith Committee in 1928, both charged with violations of the Federal Corrupt Practices Act. It was the same charge that Representative Tinkham had made last year; but Bishop Cannon had defied the Caraway Lobby Investigating Committee and walked out (TIME, June 16, 1930). Miss Burroughs had obdurately refused to testify before the Nye Senate Campaign Funds Committee which then threatened to cite her for contempt. Last week’s charges, the ten counts of which could provide an aggregate of ten years in jail and $21,000 in fines, were made by the District of Columbia Grand Jury, which under District Attorney Leo Rover took over the evidence collected by the Nye Committee.

Counts, The allegations in the indictment are based upon the receipt by Bishop Cannon, for his campaign in Virginia against Alfred Emanuel Smith, of $65,300 from Edwin Cornell Jameson, Manhattan insurance man (TIME, May 7, et ante). Federal statute requires that interState political contributions be filed with the Clerk of the House of Representatives. Bishop Cannon revealed disposal of only $17,000 of Fat Cat Jameson’s money. The remainder, he has insisted, is his own business.

Four counts in the indictment charge Miss Burroughs with willful failure to report the full amount, and Bishop Cannon with “aiding and abetting” her, which if proved makes him equally guilty. Four counts charge mere technical, unwitting violations, implicating the Bishop in the same manner. The remaining two counts charge conspiracy “with divers other persons” to commit the (willful) felony and the (unwitting) misdemeanor.

Persecution. Bishop Cannon was in Atlanta at a church conference (see p. 22) when he heard of the indictment. No one was surprised to hear him say: “This is merely a plot to discredit me. a persecution by a Roman Catholic district attorney acting under orders of his priest.” (The case had been turned over by Catholic District Attorney Rover to Protestant Assistant District Attorney John J. Wilson, who presented the evidence to the Grand Jury last month.) With bond set at $1.000 and the trial slated for some time before Jan. i, Bishop Cannon said he did not fear. He has previously defended his action on the ground that the Corrupt Practices Act deals only with Federal officers. Presidential electors, for whom the money was spent, are State officers, says he. It was indicated that his lawyer, Robert H. McNeill, might file a demurrer to the indictment upon this ground.