Kansas City journal., 1898-01-15
ROuNDLY DENOUNCED IN THE SEN
ATE YESTERDAY.
M'kENNA APPOINTMENT UP.
ACTION DEFERRED, BY AGREEMENT,
UNTIL NEXT FRIDAY.
Senators Hoar and White Strongly
Condemn the Antf-CathOlic Op-
position to Confirmation
Senator Allen Asks for
More Time.

Washington, Jan. 14.-Aimost the entire
four hours of the executive session OF the
senate to-day were devoted to the indi-
rect consideration of the nomination OF
Hon. Joseph Mckenna. now attorney gem
eral. 10 be associate justice of the supreme
court. The discussion was the result of
an effort on the part of Senator Allen OF
Nebraska to secure a postponement Tor
two weeks. In the end. Il compromise was
reached, deferring consideration until a
week from to-day. on the condition that
the Nebraska senator should agree TO al
low vote to be taken on that date. The
Hawaiian treaty WAS not touched upon
during the session.
The debate upon Mr.. Mckenna's nomina-
ton was, precipitated by Senator Hoar,
chairman OF the committee on judiciary
who called up the nomination. In accord
ance with his notice of yesterday, 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 reached the concll-
sion that they were without foundation.
He said that the greater number OF
charges had been made Cor the members
of the American Protective Association
and, 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. MIR. ioar
dwelt at some length upon this point, eN-
coriating any man who would attempt 10
inject a question of religion into a contro-
yersy over u mans fitness for office. lie
said that such an effort was entirely un-
American and unpatriotic, and should not
for a moment receive the consideration OF
far-minded men.
of TaliF smoke
of the effort of the A. =. A. to interfere
with the course of the senate in giving
proper attention to a question. the deter
minatio of which should depend upon con-
sideration of fitness and justice as between
man and man. rather than upon an appear
to bigotry, prejudice and false claim OF
patriotism. He spoke of the A. p. AS as
fools who could not be properly character
lied in the senate. He had no patience, he
said, with men who held the opinion that
Catholics must necessarily consult the
pope or some other high functionary Oh the
Catholic church in every important trans
action of their lives, and added that he
was convinced that the American senate
would not be influenced for u moment by
such representations as an order of the
character of the A. p. A. would make, Mr..
McKenna's confirmation should depend en-
tirely upon different considerations. AS
for himself, while he did not contend that
Mr.. McKenna was a giant in his legal at
tainments, still he believed him to be an
honorable man, competent lawyer and
jurist and he should support his con-
frmation.
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 pro-
ceeded 10 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 consideration than
had been given to it. He called attention
to the importance of the office to which
Mr.. McKenna had been named, saying 1t
vas place which he would occupy prob
| ably during the remainder of his life, and
! that the senate and the American public
| had a right to demand that the charges
| should be sifted to the bottom. He slid
| that, so far as the opposition Of the a.
| p. A. was concerned. it did not influence
| hm in the least, and he agreed with all
| that had been said as to the impropriety
| OF any interference in a matter Of this
| character on account of the religious pre-
| JUDGES or 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 let
ters and newspapers attacking Mr.. Nc
kenna's record as an attorney and jurist
on the ground of want Of legal attain.
| TentS.
The greater part of Mr.. Aliens speech
vas 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
corporations had been instrumental in Sc
| curing Mr.: Mckenna's nomination. II.
thought this matter also should be lookee
| into more thoroughly than the senate hat
bad opportunity TO do. MIR. Allen dis
| claimed any intention to father any of tn,
charges made. but asserted that his solt
| purpose was to secure time for their prop
er Investigation He added that he NIGH
himself vote for Mr.; Mckennas coniirma
| ton; but said that, before doing so. he de
| sired to be convinced that the assertion.
| made derogatory to Mr.. Mckenna's char
| sctcr as turist were without foundation.
1t was 4:3O in the afternoon before al
, agreement was reached for concluding tn,
| Mckenna matter at the sitting on neN
| Friday, and. by general consent. the senat,
| postponed consideration of the Hawaiian
| treaty until next Monday.