Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-17
The Political Mill
By C. Could Lincoln.

Political history is full Of sirnilarities.
For example. the row over the appoint
ment of Judge John J. Parker OF North
Carolina to be an associate justice of
the Supreme Court Is the duplicate, in
a measure to the row over the last
appointment to the Supreme Court
from North Carolina. Seventy-seven
years ago President Fillmore, a Wing,
appointed George E. Badger, then a
Senator from North Carolina, to be an
associate justice of the Supreme Court
Immediately there arose opposition to
the appointment although Senator
Badger was distinguished Senator and
popular with his colleagues. The DEM
ocrats held him to be a conservative
They determined to stave of his con-
firmation in the Senate until the Presi-
elect, Franklin Pierce, should come
into the White House and have the
opportunity of placing Democrat on
the bench.
The nomination of Senator Badger
to the Supreme Court was considered
In several sessions of the Senate. FL
nally, on February IL, 1853, the Senate
voted to postpone further conSidera-
ton until March of that year. Presi-
dent Fillmore considered this postpone
Knent as tantamount to a rejection, and
on February "a he sent to the Senate
the nomination of McCou. But the
Senate did not take up the nomine-
ton. On March 81 the new President,
Mr.. Pierce, appointed John A. Campbell
of Alabama and the nomination was
confirmed. Judge Campbell served on
the Supreme Court until his State Sc
coded at the time of the Civil War.
He resigned and became assistant Sec
rotary of war Of the Confederate States.
Although his Democratic colleagues
had prevented confirmation of Senator
Badgers appointment to the Supreme
Court, because he was a Wing and
considered a conservative, they put
through q resolution at the close Of his
term on March 3, 1883. expressing the
appreciation of the Senate for "his
uniform courtesy, ability, liberality and
valuable service during his long and
distinguished career" in the Senate.
Such a resolution was unique in the
annals Of the Senate It seems beyond
dispute that his colleagues wished to
make amends to him for their opposi-
ton to his appointment to the Supreme
Court. In those days, as today, there
was strong division between the con-
servatives and liberals. with the Demo-
Gratis ranged strongly on the liberal
side.
In the case of Judge Parker, his
opponents cannot hold up his nonina-
ton until the close of a presidential
term of Office, as the Democrats did in
1853 when Senator Badgers nomination
was submitted to the Senate. Presi-
dent Hoover has three more years Of his
present term to serve. Sooner or later
there must be a showdown in the
Parker case. Politics is entering into
the case to an extraordinary degree
even more so than in the consideration
OF the appointment of Chief Justice
Hughes, not long ago. What Is agitatine
some of the regular Republican mem
bers of the Senate, who might be ex-
pected to vote confirmation for any
appointee whose name Is sent to the
Senate by President Hoover, Is the re-
action the confirmation Of Judge Parker
may have on the Negro vote in many
Of the Northern States. A determined
drive against the confirmation of Judge
Parker has been made by the Associa-
ton for the Advancement of the Col
ored People. The representatives of the
association have attacked Judge Parker
because Of a speech attributed to him
during his campaign for Governor of
North Carolina on the Republican
ticket in 1920. In this speech, Judge
Parker Is quoted as saying: THE par
ticipation of the Negro in politics Is 9
source OF evil and danger to both races
and is not desired by the wise men in
either race or by the Republican party
of North Carolina"
It is this line of attack which Is les
sening the strength of Judge Parker
among the Republican regulars in the
Senate. But the opposition of Senators
~ HnNFfe DC 1t Aaf
sion rendered by Judge Parker in a Goa
mine case involving the so-called yellow
| dog" contracts. Union labor is hot OF
the trail Of Judge Parker because of Thu
opinion. So he is attacked from two dt.
! rections. President Hoover so far fa!
stood firm behind the appointment. II
| support Of Judge Parker a decision II
a case which came before him, favorable
to the colored people, is advanced ano
also the fact that many of the coloreo
people of his State have spoken for him
A proposal has come from some quar-.
ters in the Senate that when the Parker
| nomination Is taken up for considera'
ton the discussion be behind closeC
doors But with the new rule providing
| for the consideration of nominations In
open executive session Of the Senate
unless otherwise ordered by a vote OF
| the Senate, it does not appear possible
that such a course will be followed
Furthermore, the nomination ought Il
be considered In open session. If fol
political reasons any Senator desires t.
conceal his vote in this case, his desire
should not be gratified.
X X X
The Pennsylvania Federation of Labor
has Endorsed the candidacy of Secretary
James j. Davis of the Department O.
hn
senatorial nomination in the keystone
State. Senator Grundy, his principal
opponent, is not popular with labor
| Indeed, the federation went on record a.
| denouncing Grundy. The federation
meeting In Harrisburg yesterday, took q
| shot at Frank Feeney, internationa
president Of the Elevator Constructors
Union, who In Philadelphia gave his in.
dorsement to Grundy. The federation
Is suggesting that President William
Green of the American Federation OF
Labor investigate the motive behinc
Feeney's Endorsement of Grundy, re.
garded as a foe of organized labor.
X X
Whether President Green acts on thi,
suggestion or not, the Senate campaign
| investigating committee, headed by Sen.
ator Nye of North Dakota, may lool
into this matter. Pennsylvania is to bc
| one of the first States where the sena.
torial inquisitors will go to work thi.
year Mr.. Grundy has been outspoker
in his demand for an inquiry there BY
the Senate committee. The Vice Presi-
dent has had terrible time getting the
sluSh fund committee appointments tc
stick. -Four of the Senators he has
| named have asked to be excused. It is
a mean job at best, with a lot of work
attached. Furthermore, the Senate cut
down the list of availables by providing
that no Senator should serve on the
committee who comes from a State in