Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-28
Judge Parker's Defense.

Judge Parker's Defense.
Judge John ]. Parker, whose noni-
nation to the Supreme Court comes up
for consideration in the Senate today,
has spoken out in his own defense. In
o letter to Senator Overman Of North
Carolina, his own State, Judge Parker
replied to criticisms of organized labor
and Of the National Association for
the Advancement Of Colored People
which have been lodged against him.
The Senate committee on judiciary,
which reported his nomination adverse
y to the Senate, failed to invite Judge
Parker to come before it, although he
had expressed Q willingness to appear
Il the committee desired him to do 20.
Whether or not Judge Parker's defense
Of his court decisions and Of his record
tn connection with the colored people
would have affected the vote In COM
nnittee In problematical But the feel
ing Is unacceptable that he should have
been heard, whether on his own initia-
tive or that Of the committee. How
ever, through the letter now sent to
Senator Overman and made public the
country Is at last informed Of Judge
Parker's defense.
Organized labor has attacked Judge
Parker because of a decision he handed
down in the case of the United Mine
Workers Of America VS.. the Red Jacket
Coal Co. Of West Virginia, a case in
which the yellow dog" contract Of the
company with mine workers was IN
volved. Judge Parker pointed out in his
letter that the Supreme Court had de-
termined the validity Of these contracts
and declared that. the highest court In
the land having acted, the lower court
could only follow the decisions Of the
Supreme Court.
"Any other course" said Judge Parker,
e'would result in chaos"
That Is his defense, In q nutshell, OF
his decision In the Red Jacket coal case.
IN regard to the criticisms leveled
against him by the National Association
Sor the Advancement Of Colored People
yudge Parker's answer was to the effect
that when he was Republican candidate
Coz governor IN 1920 the Democrats Of
North Carolina sought to defeat him by
satsing the race issue. They were
uharging, Judge Parker said, ''that the
Republican party Of North Carolina In
tended to organize the colored people
and restore the conditions Of the recon-
mkrlction era. 7 knew the
haneful effect OF such q campaign and
nought to avoid it. For years the best
men Of both races In the State had been
seeking to create friendly sentiments
and peaceful relations between the
races; and I did not want their EFFORTS
20 be sacrificed, or the party whose
nominee I was to be embarrassed by the
raising Of q false issue OF this char
acter."
Judge Parker insisted that he had no
prejudice against the colored people
and no disposition to deny to them
any Of their rights and privileges under
the Constitution and the laws.
Inc lines nave UccAl Aa"A ~ "AA~
Senate apparently for a bitter tight
over the nomination Of Judge Parker.
What effect, If any, Judge Parker's
statement will have on the result 1t Is
impossible to say. It is statement
which should have been available be-
fors his nomination was reported to
the Senate. Many Of the members Of
the Senate have already committed
themselves for or against his confirma-
ton. It is true that Senators are priv
Ieged to change their minds, If fuller
information is brought to them. But it
Is dif1cult, once a position has been
taken, for Senator-or any other man
to change.