The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1898-01-20
MKENNA's APPOINTMENT.
Foolish Opposition to His Being Con-
frIned by the Senate.

B
| frmed by the Senate.
| Washington. Jan. 14.-The senate to-
| day spent several hours of its session in
! considering the nomination of Joseph
| McKenna, now attorney general, to be
associate Justice of the supreme court.
The discussion was the result of an eff
fort on the part of Senator Allen of Ne
braska (pop.) to secure postponement
| for two weeks. In the end compro-
/ mise was reached deferring considera-
ton until week from today on the
| condition that the Nebraska senator
| should agree to allow vote to be taken
on that day. The Hawaiian treaty was
not touched upon during the session.
The debate upon Mr.. Mckenna's nom
Hoar, chairman of the committee on ju-
dietary, 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. McKenna, saying that
the judiciary committee has investigated
most of the charges made and had
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 a Catholic in
religion, tiey had not been deemed
worthy of serious consideration. Mr.
| Hoar dwelt at some length upon this
| point, excoriating any man who would
| attempt to inject Il question of religion
| into q controversy over a mans fitness
for office. He said that such an effort
was entirely unamerican and unpatrl-
otc 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 proper
| ntteNtiOn to a question, the determine
| ton of which should depend upon con-
| sidcration of fitness and justice as be-
| tween man and man, rather than upon
| an appeal to bigotry, prejudice ard Il
| the \. 7. AS as Fools who could not
be properly characterized in the SEN.
ate" He had no faith. he said, with
men who held the opinion that Catho-
lies must necessarily consult the pope
or some other high functionary Of the
Cathollc church an every important
transaction of their lives, and added that
he was convinced that the American sen.
| ate would not be influenced for a mo-
ment by such representations as an Or
der of the character of the American
Protective association would make.
Mr. Mckenna's confirmation should de-
pend entirely upon different considera-
tons, AS for himself, while he did not
contend that Mr.. McKenna was a giant.
IN his legal attainments, still he believed
him to be an honorable man, compe-
tent lawyer and just jlIrist and he
would support his confirmation.
1t was here that Mr.. Allen interposed
an direction to immediate action. When
ms MIS- request for two weeks, delay was
proceeded to give his y @sso oa Moor cor dP'
request, which were IN the maiiF -
ne wanted and he thought the senate
should have more time for consideration
than mad been given it. He called at
tenti0n to the choice of the office to,
which Mr.. Mckenna had been named,
saying It was place he would occupy
during the remainder of his life and the
senate and the public had right to de-
mand that the charges should be sifted 70
me bottom. He said so far as the A.
L. a; was concerned, it did not infIu
ence him in the least. There were stil
9 9 charges which were to his mind
rur more, .I serious, and to prove that such
was the case he read at length from
letters and newspapers attacking Mr..
Mchenna record as an attorney and
Jurlst on the ground of want of legal at.
tainments. >e"' ~
me greater part of Mr.. Aliens speech
RI ~" ue,oteu 10 reading these documents
ne called especial attention to an at
tack made by, the bar of the Pacific
coast, which, he .said was deserving of
more attention than had been given if.
lie also stated that he understood that
the charge had been made that large
corporations had been instrumental in
securing Mr., McKenna's commission
I lie thought this matter also should be
looked INTO more thoroughly than the
senate senate mad opportunity to do. Mr.. Alien
uifscialmed any intention to father any
I Tis Inc chrages made, but asserted that
MS MS sole purpose was to secure time for
their proper investigation. He added
mat ne might himself vote for Mr. Nc.
faen continuation. but said that be-
lore dong so he desired to be convinced
t INA me assertions made derogatory TO-,
Mr. Mckenna's character as inrist
were without foundation.
II was 4:3O before an agreement was
reached for concluding the McKenna
I h, aer at the sitting on next Friday, and
ny general consent the senate postponed
consideration on the Hawaiian Question
until next Monday. ques''oh