The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-01-15
A COMPROMISE REACHED
Consideration of McKenna Nomi-
nation Goes Over.
IN EXECUTIVE SESSION
Senators Hoar and White Score the A
P. A. for Interfering in the Matter on
Religious Grounds-It Was an
Appeal to Bigotry.

Washington, Jan. 4.-Almost the en-
tire four hours of the executive session
| OF the senate to-day was devoted to the
| indirect consideration of the nomination
of Hon. Joseph McKenna, now attorney
! general. to be associate justice of the
! supreme court The discussion was the
| result of an effort on the part of Sena-
tor Allen (pop., Neb.) to secure a post
| ponement for two weeks. In the end
/ compromise was reached. deferring con-
sideration until a week from to-day, on
the condition that the Nebraska senator
should agree to allow vote to be taken
on that date. The Hawaiian treaty was
not touched upon during the session.
The debate upon Mr. McKenna's NOM
ination was precipitated by Senator
Hoar, chairman of the committee on ju-
dietary, who called up the motion in
accordance with his notice of yesterday
and asked for immediate action. In do
ing this, Mr.. Hoar spoke briefly of the
opposition to Mr.. McKenna, saying
that the judiciary committee had in
vestigated most of the charges made
and had reached the conclusion that
they were without foundation. He said
that the greater number of charges had
been made by the members of the
American Protective association, and 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..
Hoar dwelt at some length upon this
point, excorlating any man who would
attempt to inject d question of religion
INTO a controversy over a mans fitness
Tor Office He said that such an effort
was entirely un-Amercan and unpa-
triotic, and should not for moment re-
ceive the consideration of fair minded
men
Soma tpr of no
Of the effort of the A. p. A. to inter
fere with the course of the senate in
giving proper attention to question,
the determination of which should de-
pend upon considerations of fitness and
Justice as between man and man, rather
than upon an appeal to bigotry, preju-
dice and false claim of patriotism He
spoke of the A. p. AS as fools who
could not be characterized i'm the SEN
ate He had no patience, he said, with
men who held the opinion that Catholics
must necessarily consult the pope or
some other high functionary of the
Catholic church in every important
transaction in their lives, and added
that he was convinced that the Ameri-
can senate would not be influenced for
moment by such representation as an
order of the character of the A. p. A.
would make. Mr.. McKenna's confirma-
tlon should depend entirely upon differ
ent considerations. As for himself
while he did not contend that Mr. Nc
henna was giant in his legal attain
ments. still he believed him to be an
honorable man, competent lawyer and
a Just 1urlst. and he should support his
confirmation
1t was here that Mr.. Allen interposed |
an objection to immediate action. When |
his request for two weeks delay was |
met With refusal. he took the floor and |
proceeded to give his reasons for tho |
which in l,a,
wanted. and he thought the senate |
should have. more time for considera- |
tion than had been given to it. He |
called attention to the importance of the
Office to which Mr.. McKenna had been
named. saying ii was a place which he
would occupy probably during the re-
mainder of his life and that the senate
ana the American public had a right to
ne emand that the charges should be
slfted to the bottom. He said so far as
the opposition of the A. p. A. was con-
eefned It did not influence him in the
east ana he agreed With all that had
oeen said as to propriety of any inter-
ference In a matter of this character on
account of the religious preiudices or
predictions. There We're still other
'hafges which We're. to his mind far
hore serious and to prove that such
vas the case, he read at some length
rom letters and newspapers attacking
Mr. Mckenna's record as an attorney
'hu Juflst on the ground of want of le-
'aI attainments. The greater part of
Mr. Aliens speech was devoted to read
ng these documents. He called speciaI
lttentlon to an attack made by the bar
lf the Pacific coast which, he said. was |
ieserVlng of more scrutiny than had
'een given it. He also stated that he
,ad understood that the charges had |
'een made that large corporations had |
'een instrumental in securing McKen- |
Ia nomination. He thought this mat
er should be looked into more thor
ughly than the senate had had oppor-
unity TO do. Mr.. Allen disclaimed any
Intention to father any of the charges
made. but asserted that his sole pur-
ose was To secure time for their proper
nVestlgation. He added that he might
lmsef vote for Mckenna's confirma-
ION, but said that before doing 50 he
eslred to be convinced that the asser-
ons made derogatory to Mr. McKen-
a $ character as a jurist We're without
1undation. 1t was 30 in the afternoon
hen the agreement was reached for
1ncluding the Mckenna matter at the :
ttlng on next Friday, and by gen
raj consent the senate postponed con
deration of the Hawaiian treaty until /
ext Monday.