Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1937-08-16

Pie United States.
thus there is '"''u Lawrence
Faised today fundamental question
hf courtesy to the people of the United
States as citizens everywhere are ask
ing for open hearings at which testi-
nony may be presented regarding the
fitness and eligibility of Senator Black
o become an associate justice of the
6upreme Court
Senator Black is under charges
kidely made that he either was a
hember of the ku KluX Klan or &C
fepted its support for election to the
United States Senate in 1926 One
Hf the obligations of the Khan at that
ime was discrimination against the
Negro, against the Catholic and
gainst the jew.
Senator Black himself is on record
s opposed to passing any legislation
BY Congress that would stop lynchine.
n fact, While he has declared himself
fften defender Of human rights"
nd a liberal" vet he has taken a
cactionary position with reference to
vnching. He said ii a speech in the
Senate as recently as April 30, 1885
We will have made ourselves, it
GEMS to me, Just a little ABSURD, in
lew of the magnificent progress we
bave made and the improved relation
hip which exists between the races
rho live in the country, if We stop
he real business of the Senate N order
l. ,r.l,i oapnrl
ng to the maximum figures. would
have affected only IA people last year
Parker Rejected for Less.
The Alabama Senator apparently
ct interested in the principle of in
humane treatment Of American citi-
ems because only IA poor colored
persons had had their constitutional
lght to trial taken from them by
awless MODS; Vet it was much less
erious aspect of the race issue which
aused the Senate in 1880 to reject
President Hoover's nomination of
Judge Parker OF North Carolina to the
Supreme Court OF the United States
Negro attorneys, associations for the
dvancement of the interests of the
Folnred race and a number of leaders
IF public thought in different parts
Il the country insisted on presenting
p the Senate Judiciary Committee
heir objections to the confirmation
ff Judge Parker.
It seems that Judge Parker's chief
hffense was the expression of political
Jews on the question of Negro par
icipatlon in elections. Nobody. how
Fver, suggested that he was a member
Nf the Khan, and there was no ques-
ion raised as to his attitude toward
vnching He is still on the bench and
one of the most liberal judges on
he Circuit Court of Appeals.
But it is interesting that citizens in
'arlOus parts of the country demanded
public hearings in 1880 in order to
nake known their views. Senator
Black himself insisted upon having
Investigated not merely Judge Parker's
ecord on the bench but how he had
conducted his office when a prose-
3uting attorney.
Senator Black is quoted in the Off
fial records for April o. 1890. as hav-
ne said in the Senate concerning
fudge Parker
His Record Criticized.
May I state that so far as I am con-
Ferned with reference to this matter
fnd ! feel sure that I voice the senti-
|nent of many others-it is immaterial
Ivith what ability Judge Parker han
Fled the case; if it be true that as
prosecutor he had in his possession
evidence which tended to show the
innocence of defendant, and at the
Eame time prosecuted him, feel sure
hat he would get no votes for con-
lfrmation. Therefore, l think it is
exceedingly important that from some
Source, some one who knows, this |
statement be disproved if it can be
tisproved.'
Senator Overman of North Caro-
+ ina replied: Does the Senator think
! hat a man such as l have proved
Judge Parker to be-of irreproachable
character, an honest man, cour-
Pgeous man, a Christian gentleman
would suppress any testimony of that
Eort?'
1T is difficult" retorted Senator
Black. "to believe that it would be
bone, but the charge has been pub
)lcly made; and, so far as I am con-
|terned, While I do not know how l
ehall vote with this matter eliminated,
f this charge is not satisfactorily dis
proven, shall be compelled to vote
hgainst him"
II mans record as prosecuting
attorney, or if his record in public
life, has a bearing on whether he is
ut to sit on the Supreme Court of the
United States, then Senator Black
tan hardly object today, when he
himself is the nominee, to the citi-
Eens wanting to know what he did
and how he handled the evidence as
b prosecuting attorney not only in
Birmingham. Ala. but in Washing
the Senate Lobby Investigating Com
mittee. In fact, the method by which
he obtained evidence for that COM
nittee is open to the most severe
criticism.
Violation of Statutes.
In connection with that episode, the
United States Circuit Court of APP
peals has said that the $4,000 private
messages which came into Senator
Blacks possession at the time were
lnlawfully seized and that the Fed
ersl Communications Commission vio-
lated statute of the United States
In turning the messages over to the
Senate Lobby Investigating Commit
tee.
What part did Senator Black play
In inducing the Federal Communica-
tons Commission to violate the laws
OF the United States? 1t is known
that he was instrumental in persuad-
ing the commission to make the
eei1lre. and it is known also that the
attention Of the commission was called
By the telegraph companies to the