Evening star., 1937-10-04

fronted them with facts and docu-
ments born to blush unseen, which
they assumed had been lost or for
gotten. He is well known for his
Unsuitable passion for facts, and his
remorseleSs logic in drawing deduc-
tions from them.
The investigation, therefore, OF
Justice Black by Senator Hugo Black
was not only attended by the largest
audience in American history, but is
q model Of clarity and precision which
will elicit the admiration of future
students of public inquiries.
The cross-examination proceeded
as follows:
Senator Black: Mr. Justice. what Is
the supreme law OF our country
Justice Black: The Constitution.
Senator Black: And what Is its
heart?
Justice Black: The bill OF rights.
Senator Black. Mr.. Justice, do you
believe that any movement or action
by any group that threatens complete
liberty of religious belief is a menace
to freedom. and incompatible with
the spirit of the bill of rights?
Justice Black: I do, indeed.
Senator Black: Did you believe this
TO be true in 1923?
Justice Black: mo words have ever
been or ever will be spoken by me
directly or indirectly, indicating that
any native or foreign born person in
our free country should or could be
restricted in his right to worship ac-
cording TO the dictates of his con-
science"
Senator Black: Were you in 1923 a
member of the Ku Klux Klan?
Justice Black: ! was.
Senator Black: What was the in
evitable effect of this organization on
American life?
Justice Black: Frankly, Mr. SEN
ator, ''it tended to revive religious dis
cord or antagonism, which could
spread with such rapidity as to i'm
peril the vital constitutional protec-
ton of one of the most sacred of
human rights. 1t brought the polit-
ical religionist back into undeserved
and perilous influence in affairs of
government. 1t elevated the least
worthy to political position, because
religion or race barred others from
password. 1t bankrupted many
business men, whose sole offense was
that they had religious beliefs which
did not accord with the prevailing re-
ligion in their communities. 1t set
neighbor against neighbor and turned
old friends into new enemies"
Senator Black: Mr.. Justice, why,
since these are, according to your own
testimony, your beliefs and always
have been your beliefs, did you join
the Klan?
Justice Black: I don't recall.
Senator Black: What part did the
Klan play in electing you to the Sen
ate?
Justice Black: I don't recall.
Senator Black: Why did you resign
from the Khan?
Justice Black: / don't recall.
Senator Black: Were you not after
ward. while you were a member OF
the Senate, reinstated in the Khan?
Justice Black: I never asked for
reinstatement. I didn't use the card.
I don't keep it.
Senator Black: Didn't you receive
this membership card at a meeting
of the Klan, and didn't you publicly
acknowledge your indebtedness to the
Klan for your election, and didn't you
in receiving the card again indicate
your solidarity with the principles of
its members?
Justice Black: I don't recall
Senator Black: Are there no records,
stenographic reports or other docu-
ments from this period Of your Klan
membership which could be SUBJ
poenaed to throw light on this i'm
portant question?
Justice Black: What appears ncw
or what appeared then on the records
Of the organization, do not knows
Senator Black: You frequently
availed yourself of the senatorial