The Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1931-1952, 1934-06-21


those Of Judge Parker.
: The national office telegraphed
Judge Parker on March rs, 1880
asking if the Greensboro Daily
News had correctly quoted him.
The telegram was delivered and
signed for. Judge Parker failed
to reply To It. The N.A.A.c.P. then
urged President Hoover 70 with
draw the nomination, citing as pre-
cedent the withdrawal by Presi-
dent Taft of the nomination of
Judge Hook on February 8, 1912,
after protest by the Association.
President Hoover ignored the
Associations complaint, however,
because he was evidently commit
ed to the lily-white policy an
nounced In his Elizabethan, Tenn
speech during the 1923 campaign,
designed to conciliate southern
white sentiment and win support
for the Republican party in Dixie
by sacrificing the Negro and his
rights as an American citizen. The
N.A.A.c.P. then began an active
campaign to procure enough votes
to defeat the Parker confirmation
in the Senate. When a sub-com-
mittee Of the Senate judiciary COM
mittee took up the nomination,
Walter White appeared before 1t
on April 5 presenting a memorau-
dunn setting forth the grounds Of
Negro opposition to the appoint
ment of Judge Parker, saying it
constituted: IAN open, shameless,
flouting of the fourteenth and fif-
teenth amendments to the Consti-
tuition" and holding that a man
who for political advantage "can
flout two amendments to the Con-
stitution to pamper to race preju-
dice" was unfit to sit upon the
highest tribunal of the nation.
Swinging Into Action
It being evident that President
Hoover intended to use the full
power of the administration to pro-
cure confirmation of Judge Park
er's appointment, the N.A.A.C.P.
began modifying black and white
opinion for the impending fight.
The national office communicated
with all branches wherever Ne
groes voted; with all church, fra
ternal and other bodies; with pro-
minent individuals, white and
black, and with political leaders.
In response to this appeal. an ava
lanche of kilograms, telephone mes
sages and letters descended upon
senators from northern and even
from southern states. Senator af-
ter senator hastened to assure the
| N.A.A.C.P. that he would oppose
Judge Parker's confirmation. AS
direct result of this mass pres
sure, the Senate judiciary sub-com-
mittee voted 10 to 6 on April 81 a.
gainst confirmation of Judge Par
ker's nomination.
Aroused by this militant opposi-
ton, the Hoover administration
used every means, honest and 9TH
erwise, to discredit it. Senator Ov-
erman of North Carolina declared
Negroes had voted for Parker in
1920. This the Association proved
false by numerous affidavits from
North Carolina Negroes, broadcast
to the press. Certain Negro lead
ers" procured to endorse the Par
ker nomination had their pedigrees
promptly broadcast to the press.
The Society of Friends and other
strong groups joined in the fight
on Parker's nomination.
. Yielding to such a hot fire from
constituents, senator after senator
announced his inability to support
Parker. The N.A.A.C.P. maintain
ed daily drumfire of releases dis
tributed through the Associated
Press, the United Press and other
news services. The Negro press
almost unanimously backed he
fight. The N.A.A.C.P. staged great
mass meetings in Philadelphia, in
Chicago, Cleveland, New York aud
other cities, which gained exten-
sive press notice.
White politicians in North Car
? DINA personally threatened leading
Negroes there to halt their oppc
sition to Judge Parker. The As
ISOLATION promptly exposed the
plot and called on the Governor OF
North Carolina to protect the
threatened citizens. The admin
stration then sought to delay ac-
ton and thus tire out Parker's OPP
pcnents when it was seen that the
| Senate would not back the Parker
nomination. The Association mere
" intensified its efforts.
The Fight Is Won
Nerves grew tense as it develop
ed that perhaps a single vote
! might determine the outcome of
the fight. That one deciding vote
I was procured when Senator Tho