The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-01-15
DISCUSSED M'KENNl.
Nomination 10 Supreme Bench Held
Up In Committee.
ALLEGED LACK OF LEGAL ATTAIN.
MENTS THE OBJECTION.

A.P,A. Protests Not Deemed Worthy of
Serious Consideration-order Made the
tubject of Many Uncomplimentary Re-
marks-Senator Allen the Chief Objec-
tor
q Washington, January 14.-Almost the
entire four hours of the executive session
of the Senate today were devoted to the
indirect consideration of the nomination
of Hon. Joseph McKenna, now attorney
general, to be associate Justlcesof the Su-
preme court. The decision was the result
of an effort on the part. of Senator zAllen
of Nebraska, Populist. to secure q post
ponement for two weeks. In. the end a
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.. McKenna's noml-
| nation was precipitated by Senator Hoar,
| CHAIRMAN VI U1lo COllllllbtC0 oh Jod4SANAJ !,
who called up the domination in accor-
dance with his notice of yesterday and
asked for immediate action. He spoke
briefly of the opposition to MIR. Mchenna.
saying 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 had
been made by the mem bers of the Ameri-
can Protective association, and as this
had been founded solely upon the fact
| that Mr.. MoKenna was Catholic IN re-
| ligion, these were not worthy OF consld-
ration. He dwelt at some length upon
| this point. He said that such an effort
was, entirely un-American and unpa-
triotio and should not for moment re-
ceive the consideration OF falr-mlnded
men.
Senator White of California also spoke
of the effort of the A. p. A. to Interfere
with the course of the Senate in giving
proper attention to question, the de-
termination of which should depend up
on the considerationsEof fitness and JUS
| tice as between man and man, rather
than upon an appeal to bigotry, preju
dice and false patriotism. He spoke of the
IA.P. AS as fools who could not be
properly characterized in the Senate. He
had no patience with men who held the
opinion that Catholics must necessarily
consult the Pope or some high function
ary of the Catholic church in every tran
saction of their lives, and added that be
was convinced that the Senate would not
te Influenced for a moment by such re
| presentations as an order OF the character
| of the A. P. A, would make. Mr.. Nc
Kenna's confirmation should depend en-
| tirely upon different considerations
While he did not contend that Mr.. Nc
| Kenna was a giant in his legal attain
ments, still he believed him to be an hon
orable man, competent lawyer and {
! Just jurlst, and he. would support hii
confirmation.
Here Mr.. Allen interposed. an objection
| to immediate action. Whe'r request fol
two weeks delay was met with refusa
he gave his reasons for the request, whiot
were in the main that he wanted and
| thought the Senate should have more
time for consideration than had been
given to it. He called attention to the
| Importance of the Office to which Mr. Nc
Kenna had been named, saying that the
Senate and the public had a right to de-
mand4that the5ohaTrges should be sifted
to the bottom. He said that, SO far as
the opposition Of theta. p. "A. was con-
cerned it did not influence him and be
agreed with all that had been said as to
the impropriety of any interference in
a matter of this character on account o1
religious prejudices. There was still 9th.
or charges which were to his mind fal
more Rserious. He read from letters and
newspapers attackingi Mr.. MoKenna's
record as an attorney and jurist on the
ground on the want Of legal attainm ent.
The greater part of Mr.. Aliens speech
was devoted to reading these documents.
He called especial attention to an attack
made by the bar of the Pacific coast
which he said was deserving of more
scrutiny than had been given it. He also
stated that he had understood that the
charge had been made that large cor.
porations had been instrumental in secur.
| ing Mr. McKenna's nomination. BE
| thought this also should be looked into
more thoroughly than the Senate had had
opportunity to do.
| He disolaimed any intention to father
any of the charges made. but asserted
that his sole purpose was to secure time
| for their proper investigation. He added
| that he might himself vote for Mr.. Nc
| Kenna's confirmation, but before doing
so he desired to be convinced that the
assertions made derogatory to Mr.. Nc
| Kenna's character as lurist were with
| out foundation. 1t was 43O O'Clock be
| fore the agreement was reached for con
cluding the MeKenna matter at the sit
ting on next Friday. By general con
sent tho Senate postponed consideration
of the Hawaiian treaty until next Mon
day.