New Britain herald., 1930-05-07
Bitterest in ears

test in the senate against Judge John J. Parker Of North Carolina as a member of the supreme court is one of the most intense since 1916 when the senate confirmed Louis D. Rrsndeis, of Massachusetts, by close vote after weeks of discussion.
 1t is comparable to the bitter con- troversy of a few weeks ago over rhe confirmation Of Charles Evans Hughes as chief justice.
 It has been 36 years since the sen- ate rejected a nominee to the Su- preme court Twice 1t refused to confirm nominees of President CleVo- land in 1894. These two appointees were from New York and were op- posed by Senator Hill, democrat, Of that state, d bitter political foe ot Cleveland.
 Protests Raise Question
 Protests by the American Feder~ alton of Labor and the National As- sociation for the Advancement Of the Colored People contributed mainly to the opposition to Parker in the senate,
 However, the debate centered al most entirely on his attitude toward labor. Senators Borah, of Idaho and Norris Of Nebraska, republicans, led the opposition Senator's Over man, democrat, North Carolina, and Fess. republican, Ohio, carried the ten day contest for the nominee Of President Hoover.
 Senator Borah confined his attack on Parker to his decision as CIT cult judge upholding the injunction restraining the United Mine workers from soliciting membership among miners who had signed yellow dog contracts, binding themselves not to join the union.
 Upheld Contracts
 The Idahoan contended that Judge Parker by this decision had upheld the yellow dog" contract and that this attitude toward labor would en- force its seryitudc. He insisted that Parker had gone "out of his way 0 use a supreme court decision SUD- porting his course in the labor case, whereas another supreme court de- cision might have been used as q precedent for not upholding the ln- junction. He did not contend that the injunction should not have been granted but he said Parker had ig nored the plea of the mine union that the restraining order was too broad in that 1t prohibited soliclta- ton of miners even by peaceful per suasion.
 Attorney General Mitchell con- tended that Parker could follow no other course than to uphold the in- junction In letter 10 Senator Ovcrman. Parker defended his deci- son on the same grounds,
 Eess Defends Nominee
 Senator Tess likewise contcnded that Parker was bound by the su- premc court in making his decision. The Ohioan raised the contention that the fight against Parker was one actually inspired by the social Istic movement" and he charged that opposition had been stirred by leaders of that movement. He said ljlb HE lit lHtItlolt V dS oliE dl4IIN0 directly at the supreme court
 There was little discussion in the debate Of the negro protest. The National Association for the Ad- >ancement Of the Colored People complained that Parker as the re- publican nominee for governor in 1920 asserted that the negroes were l responsibilities Of government
 Senator Overman said that state nent, made in the heat of q cam paign, should not be held against the nominee. Judge Parker wrote a letter to Senator Overman assuring that he was without racial prejudice and calling his record into account. Senator Wagner, democrat, New York, referred 10 this speech Of Par ker's and protested it. Senators Ste phens, democrat, Mississippi, termed the Wagner speech an insult to the south and said all southern whites held the same view as attrlb- uted to Judge Parker,
 Other Issues in Debate
 There were other issues in the turbulent debate. A letter by Joseph NJ Dixon, assistant secretary of in terior, urging upon Walter Newton, executive secretary of President Hoover. the nomination of Judge Parker as a master political stroke" was read to the senate by Senator Mcclellan, democrat Tennessee, who found tho letter in the files forward cd 10 the senate by the justice de- partment.
 Attorney General Mitchell wrote 10 the senate denying that the Dixon letter ever had reached the attention of President Hoover and assumed full resnnnslhllltN for reComme ending