Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-14

had received from all parts of the Ma
ton.
BY whom the oath of Office will be
administered today was undetermined.
For many years it was customary tnaU
the clerk of the Supreme Court give the
oath to incoming Chief Justices. Will
! liam Howard Taft, who resigned week
and half ago as head of the Nations
judiciary, however, departed from TINS
tradition in taking office. He was sworn
in by the senior Associate Justice, then
Joseph McKenna OF California.
The question will probably be settled
by Mr.. Hughes personal preference.
When President Hoover submitted the
nomination of Mr.. Hughes, 1t seemed
probable that his appointment would be
approved by the Senate without opposi-
ton. The determined objection that
arose came as one of the most surprising
developments of the present congress
Sional session.
Its first manifestation was in the vote
of the judiciary committee on the nomi-
nation. All the Democrats and admin
iStration Republicans voted for ap-
proval, but Chairman Norris and Sena-
tor Blaine of Wisconsin. allied with
the independent Republican faction,
cast their ballots for rejection.
NOTTS IIl6Tl U6BdH WIldG was dOilllC-
tedly a hopeless battle, but one that
toward the end gave promise of VIC
tory. Quickly he was joined by other
members of the independent group, and
one by one Democratic members took
their stand with him. Late in the day,
yesterday, Walsh of Montana, the act
ing Democratic leader, after indicating
he would vote for confirmation changed
his attitude and let it be known that
he would cast his ballot for rejection.
The attack was centered upon Hughes
economic views. He was aSsailed as a
champion of the Nations corporate in
terests and of the rights of property.
Norris declared him mot fit to sit in
Judgment in a contest between organized
wealth and those who toll"
Several Democratic members went
back to his authorship of the Shreve-
port decision, when he was an Asso-
ciate Justice of the Supreme Court. and
contended the decision had deprived
the States of control over commerce
within their borders.
There were frequent references to the
fact that Hughes resigned from the
Dental nominee of the Republican
party. To promote him to the chief
justiceship after he had once left the
court TO enter the political field was
asserted to be setting a dangerous
precedent.
Hughes record as a lawyer was thor
oughly reviewed in the course of the de-
bate, his opponents pointing out en-
phatically his frequent association with
vast corporations as an argument for
the rejection of his nomination
Senator Walsh recalled the Oil scandal
of the Harding administration, and as
sailed what he termed Hughes silence
as membersof the cabinet while the
disclosures Of the leasing of the naval
oil reserves were being made.
Court Itself Criticized.
Several times the Supreme Court it
self was criticized, particularly for its
recent decision permitting the Balti-
more Street Railway Co. to increase its
rate. Mr.. Hughes was denounced as an
exponent of the same view.
Their strength increasing, the oppo-
sition moved first of all to carry the
debate over until today A motion by
Senator Norris to recess overnight was
defeated, As to IS. Then a motion to
send the nomination back to the judici-
airy committee was lost, 40 to 81.
The breaking down of the plan to
recess, followed by defeat of the motion
to recommit, virtually ended the fight.
Senator Watson, Republican leader, in
a sharp clash with Senator Norris, re-
fused to permit the Senate to recess.
and when the Nebraskan's motion to
that end was defeated an all-night ses-
sion was threatened II the fight con-
tinued. In the face of this it was
brought to a speedily conclusion.
The debate began shortly after IL
am. and lasted for nearly eight hours.
In that time Mr.. Hughes nomination
was assailed by Senators Carter Glass,
Democrat, Of Virginia. Gerald p. Nye,
insurgent Republican, of North Dakota;
Robert NJ. La Toilette, jr., insurgent Re-
publican. of Wisconsin,: Walter F.
George, Democrat, of Georgia; Thomas
Kenneth Mcclellan, Democrat, of Ten
nesSee. Senator Norris. who assailed
him Tuesday, made another lengthy
speech against him. Senator Joseph E.
RanSdell Of Louisiana, Democrat, alone
spoke out in his support.
The speech against confirmation by
Senator Walsh of Montana, who had
voted in the judiciary committee to
report the nomination, came as a sur
prise. He said he had been led to
change his mind for number of rea-
sons and scored the action of Mr.
Hughes in descending from the bench
to run for President and his silence
after the oil scandal disclosures while
Secretary of State in the Harding
cabinet.
Though it was generally agreed that
the debate was of high order, there
was clear indication yesterday that pol
itics was playing a part. Strong pres
sure was exerted on the Democratic
side to get Senators 70 line up against
Mr.. Hughes for party reasons, and,
aVnupd h.
lican leaders felt the fight on Mr.
Huphes WAS in mart aimed at the ad-