Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1898-01-15
M'KENNA Held OVER.
Allen Had Action Postponed
For a Week.
ATTACKS MADE ON THE A. p. A.
Hoar and white Urged Immediate Con-
hrmation, and Scored Opposition to
the Attorney General, because Cath
olIc-AIIen Claimed other Reasons.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 15.-Almost the
entire four hours Of the executive ses-
sion of the senate were devoted to the
indirect consideration of the nomination
of Hon. Joseph McKenna, now attor-
ney general, to be associate justice OF
the supreme court.
The debate upon Mr.. KcKenna's
nomination was precipitated by Senator
Hoar, chairman Of the committee on
judiciary, who asked for immediate
action In Going this, Mr. Hoar spoke
briefly OF the opposition to Mr.. McKen-
ma, saving that the judiciary committee
had investigated most Of the charges
made and had reached the conclusion
that they were without foundation He
said that the greater number of charges
bld been made by the members of the
American Protective association, and
that as they had been founded solely
upon the fact that Mr. McKenna was a
Catholic IN religion, they had not been
deemed worthy Of serious consideration.
Mr. fIoar GssGlt at some length upon
this point, excoriating any men who
would attempt to inject question of
religion into Il controversy over Il mans
fitness for office He said that such an
effort was entirely unamerican an un-
patriotic and should not for Il moment
receive the consideration of fair minded
men.
Senator White Gal also spoke of the
effort OF the 4. p. A. to interfere with
the course Of the senate in giving proper
attention TO a question, the determina-
ton Of which should depend upon con-
sideration Of fitness and justice as be-
tween man and man rather than upon
an appeal to bigotry, prejudice and a
false claim Of patriotism. He spoke of
the A 2. A $ as "fools who could not
be properly characterized in the senate.
He had no patience, he said, with men
who held the opinion that Catholics
must necessarily consult the pope OF
some other high functionary of the
Catholic church III every important
transactions of their lives, and added
that he was convinced that the Ameri-
can senate would not be influenced for
moment by such representations as an
order of the character of the A. P A.
would make Mr. McKenna's confirma-
ton should depend entirely upon differ
ept considerations. AS for himself,
while he did not contend that Mr.. Nc
Kenna was a giant in his legal attain
ments, still he believed him to be an
honorable man, a competent lawyer and
just jurist, and he should support his
confirmation.
Mr.. Allen interposed an objection to
immediate action, When his request
for two weeks delay was met with re-
fusal, he took the floor and proceeded to
give his reasons for the request. He
called attention to the importance of the
office to which Mr.. McKenna had been
named, saying it was a place which he
would occupy probably during the re-
mainder of his life He said that so far
as the opposition Of the A. P A. was
concerned it did not influence him in
the least, and he agreed with all that
had been said as to the improperly of
any interference in a matter of this
character ON account of religious preju-
dices or predictions. There We're still
other charges, which were to his mind
far more serious, and to prove that such
was the case he read at length from let
tiers and newspapers attacking Mr.. Me
Kenna's record as an attorney and jurist
on the ground of want Of legal attain
ments. He also stated that he had I'M
derstood that the charge had been made
that large corporations had been instru-
mental i'll securing Mr.. McKenna's
nomination. He thought this matter
also should be looked into. He added
that he might vote for Mr.. McKenna's
confirmation, but said that before doing
so he desired to be convinced that the
assertions made derogatory to Mr.. Nc
Kenna's character as jurist were
without foundation.
sIAn agreement was reached for con.
Guiding the McKenna matter at the
sitting on next Friday.