The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-01-15
M'KfNNA'S NOMINATION
A VOTE WILL BE TAKEN ON 1T gEXT
FRIDAY.
The American Protective Association Oppose
His Confirmation on the Ground That
He Is a Catholic.
He is a Catholic.


Washington, D. c., Jan. 14-Almost
the entire four hours of the executive
session of the Senate today were de-
voted to The indirect consideration of
the nomination of Hon. Joseph Nc
Kenna, now Attorney General, to be
Associate Jnstice of the Supreme court.
The discussion was the result of an
effort ON the part of Senator Allen, of
Nebraska, Populist, to secure n post
ponement for two weeks In the end
compromise was reached deferring CON
sideration until a week from today, On
the condition that the Nebraska Senator
should agree to allow a vote to be taken
on that day. The Hawaiian treaty was
not touched upon during the session.
The debate upon Mr.. Mcl[enna's
nomination was precipitated by Senator
HOar, Chairman of the Committee on,
Judiciary, who called up the nomination
in accordance with his notice of yester-
day, and asked for immediate action.
In doing this Mr.. Hoar spoke briefly of
the opposition to Mr.. McIGenna, saying
that the judiciary Committee had inYes-
tigated 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 that as
they had been founded solely upon the
fact that Mr. McKenna was Catholic
in religion, they had not been deemed
worthy of serious consideration. Mr..
Hoar dwet at some length upon this
point, excoriating any man who would
attempt to inject a question of religion
into a controversy over a mans fitness
for office. He said that such an effort
was entirely un-American and un7pa-
triotic,. and should not for moment re-
ceive the consideration of fair minded
men.
Senator White, of California, also
spoke Of the effort of the American Pro-
tective Association to interfere with
the course Of the Senate in giving prop
er attention to a question, the determina-
tion 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
false claim of patriotism. He spoke
of the A. r. AS as fools who could not
be properly characterized in the Senate.
1t was here that Mr.. Allen interposed
an objection to immediate action, When
lis Ttques6 1Of. TWO weeks delay was
met with refusal, he took the floor and
proceeded to give his reasons for the re-
quest which were in the main that he
wanted, and he thought the Senate
should have more time for. considera-
ton than had been given to it. He call
ed attention to the Importance OF the
office to which Mr.. McKenna had been
named
He said that so far as the opposition
of the American Protective Association
was concerned, it did not influence him
in the least, and he agreed with all
that had been said as to the impro-
priety of interference in a matter Of
this character on account of religious
prejudices of predictions. There were
still other charges which were TO his
mind far more serious, and to prove that
such was the case he read at length
from letters and newspapers attacking
Mr.. McKenna's record as an attorney
and jurist on the ground of want of
legal attainments.
1t was 4:30 O'clock p. m. before an
agreement was reached for concluding
the McKenna matter at the sitting on
next Friday, and by general consent the
Senate postponed consideration OF the
hawaiian treaty until Monday