Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-01-15
NOMINATION or MKENNA.
Objection of the 4. Il. A.-Alleged
Want of Legal AttrinmentS.


WASHINGTON. January 14-Almost the
entire four hours of the executive session
OF the Senate to-day were devoted 10 an
Indirect consideration of the nomination
Of Hon. Joseph McKenna, now Attorney
General. to 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 postpone
ment for two weeks. In the end COM
promise was reached. deferrng consider
alton until a week from tomorrow. on
condition that the Nebraska Senator shall
agree to allow vote to be taken on that
day The Hawaiian treaty was not touch-
ed upon during the session.
The debate upon Mr.. McKenna's nomi-
nation was participated i'm by Senator
Hoar. chairman of the Committee on Ju-
dietary who called up the nomination IL
accordance with his notice of yesterday,
and asked for immediate action. In do
ing this. Mr. HOar spoke briefly or the op-
position TO Mr. McKenna saying that the
Judiciary Committee had investigated
most of the charges made, ana had
reached the conclusion that they We're
without foundation. He said that the
ereater number of charges mad been made
Association and that as they had been
founded solely upon the fact that MT.
NfcKenna was a Catholic i'm religion, they
had not been deemed worthy OF serious
consideration. Mr. Hoar dwelt AT some
length upon this point. eXcoriaung any
men who would attempt to inject ques-
zion of religion into a controversy over a
-nan'e fitness for Office. He said that
such an effort was entirely un-Americah
and unpatriotc and should not tor
moment receive the consideration OF Itr-
minded men. -.
Of the effort of the a. p. \. TO interfere
with the course Of the Senate III sNins
rroner attention TO a question the de-
termination Of which should depend upon
considerations Of fitness and justice as
hetueon man and man. rather than upon
an appeal 10 bigotry. prejudice ana
folee claim'of patriotism. He spoke OF
tho p As as fools who could not De
nroperlv characterized in the Senate.
If was here that Mr. Allen interposed
an objection TO immediate acuoh' IN
his nroposition for two weeks delay was
met with refusal he took the floor ana
-rcceeded 10 give his reasons for the re-
aueet which were I'm the main that ne
,.a,ted and he thought the Senate
.borld have. more time for consideration
tban had been given. He called attention
- the Importance Of the office to which
Mr. McKenna had been named. He sald
that so far as the opposition OF the a. J.,
A was concerned. il dld not lhluehce
him in the least. and he agreed with all
mat tir,, had been said as TO the impropriety
wa. " ,terference i'm matter Of this charae-
Ter on account of religious prejudices OF
predictions .,,.,u.s how
There were still other chaTses, NV NV
.hicb vrere TO his mind far more
sorioue and to prove that such was the
cseo he read al length from letters ana
newspapers. attacking Mr.. Mckenna. ;
ln."rd ne"rF''p as an attorney and jurist on the
round of want Of legal attainments.
If was 4.3O p. NJ. before an agl1Si.ga'
.,.a~ VIZ ~ the sitting on next Friday, and
n'' e,eneral consent the Senate postponed
co5nsideration Of the Hawaiian treaty un-
fu Monday.