Show BISHOPS OF ONE MIND CANNON chicago nov noi 2 the bishops of tiro tho methodist episcopal churches are not of one mind respecting the case of speaker cannon A number of them some time ago declared their disapproval of his attitude during tho the last congress on the question of legislation applicable to the liquor question as it touched prohibition states last week the board of bishops in session in indianapolis di bishop hamilton of boston formerly located in san francisco prepared a letter while in indianapolis to the northwestern christian adv advocate 0 in which ho he distinctly declined to oppose mr air cannons reelection election re and I 1 ex expressed presse 1 I his confidence in the speakers uprightness and correctness on the liquor question it Is known too that bishop hamilton does not stand among the bishops alone in his view on mr cannon more than one of his colleagues Is said to have urged him to write tho the letter dissenting from the criticisms of tho the sp speaker leaker the christian advocate on wednesday it Is expected will print the ham allton letter in order that his views be known before election day difo bishop give gave tor for publication here a copy of his letter which follows to the editor of the northwest christian advocate 1 I have been asked as several of the bishops have been for the reason why I 1 did not some of in protesting against the reelection election re of the hon joseph G cannon to tho the house of representatives I 1 have resided for eight years in san francisco and have not had the same opportunity to be familiar with the intricate political understandings among tho the politicians in tho the eastern and middle states 1 I did known that certain members of the committee of the general conference which visited the speaker of the house of representatives in washington in may felt that they had bad been cavalierly treated or more humorous ly entertained than comported with tho the serious mission upon which they had been sent and they belf that tho the denomination representing turly one fifth of the population of the entire nation deserved more respectful considers aloa 1 I was quite is as willing to rebuke trifling in high places when the evil in question was one that had cost the world as sir mr gladstone asserted greater suffering and loss than had been incurred by war pestilence and famine combined and as much as I 1 respected the chief ailet officers of the government I 1 was as ready to help defeat anyone of them who by hint squint or silent conspiracy as mr arl tatt taft has said had intimated that he be preferred the support of the saloon to that of the churches we have a notorious example of ono one such politician who was once ambitions eions to be the candidate for the presidency but who Is now completely stranded 1 I know mr cannon personally and could not believe that lie he would lend himself or tho the influence of his high position to oppose any honest endeavor to secure a fair expression of tho the will of the people on the one subject so much in tho mind of the whole country 1 I therefore wrote mr cannon a straightforward interrogatory letter asking him it if he had directly or indirectly sought to hinder legislation in tho the committee on judiciary or in congress tho the matter of the federal govern men in relation to its traffic in intoxicating liquors in tho the prohibitory states ho he replied so candidly that lie ho had not opposed the legislation and had not intended to treat tile the general con forence ference committee disrespectfully that I 1 was bound to accept his statement and when hla his declaration was confirmed promptly by mr littlefield himself in reply to the letter I 1 ad dreamed him on the samo same subject I 1 folt felt justified in declining to oppose mr cannons reelection election re I 1 respectfully and faithfully JOTIN JOHN W III HAMILTON AMILTON |