The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-01-15
OPPOSITION TO MIR. M'KENNA
TT IS DENOUNCED BY SENATOR'S
 HOAR AND WHITE.

"Founded Solely Upon the Fact That MT.
 McKenna is a Catholic" Says Hoar and
 ''is Entirely Un-American and Unpatri-
 otio"-Alien Calls Attention to Attack of
 Pacific Coast Bar.
 Washington. Jan. 14.-Almost the en- tire four hours of the executive session of the senate to-day were devoted to the indirect consideration of the Hon. James McKenna, now attorney general, to be associate justice of the United States supreme court. The discussion of Senator Allen of Nebraska, pop, to secure postponement for two weeks. In the end a compromise was effected delaying action for one week. The Fla waiian treaty was not touched upon during the session.
 The debate upon MT. McKenna's nom- ination was precipitated by Senator 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. He spoke briefly of incorporation to MT. McKenna, saying that the Judiciary committee has investigated most of the charges made and had reached the con- clusion that they were without founda- tion. He said that the greater number of charges had been made by members of the American Protective association, and that as they had been founded soleA ly upon the fact that MT. McKenna was Catholic in religion, they were not worthy of serious consideration. He dwelt at some length upon this point. He said that such an effort was entire ly un-American, unpatriotic, and should not for a moment receive the considera- tion of fair-minded men.
 Senator White Of California also spoke of the effort of the A. P. A. to in terfere with the course of the senate in giving proper attention to question. He spoke of the A. P. As as fools who could not be properly characterized in the senate. He had no patience with men who had the opinion that Catholics must necessarily consult the pope or some other high functionary of the Catholic church in every important
  that he was convinced that the senate would not be influenced for moment by such representations as an order of the character of the A. F. A. would make. MT. McKenna's confirmation should depend entirely upon different considerations. While he did not con tend that MT. McKenna was giant in his legal attainments. still he believed I, ,1 o Tln. tent lawyer and a just jurist, and her would support his confirmation.
 Here Mr. Allen interposed an objec- tion to immediate action When his resolution met with refusal he gave his reasons for the request, which were III 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 MT. McKenna had been named, saying that the senate and the public had a right to demand that the charges should be sifted to the bot tom. There were still other charges far more serious. He read from letters and newspapers attacking MT. Mckenna's record as an attorney and jurist on the ground of want of legal attainment. The greater part of MT. Aliens speech was devoted to reading the long docu- ments.
 He called special attention to an at tack 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 corporations had been instrument tai in securing MT. McKenna's nomina tion He thought this also should be looked into more thoroughly than the senate had had opportunity to do. He disclaimed 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 McKen- mas confirmation, but before doing so he desired to know that the charges were without foundation. It was 4:30 o'clock before an agreement was reach ed for concluding the McKenna matter at the sitting on next Friday. By gen. eral consent the senate postponed con- sideration of the Hawain treaty until next Monday.