Evening star., 1937-09-19
Black
Continued From First Page.)

Hampshire moved to recomn1it the
nomination, asserting that ''if a per-
son is above reproach he has nothing
TO fear from public hearings and
thorough investigation" Senator
Iydings, Democrat, of Maryland sup
ported the motion.
I feel" he said, that in the selec-
tlon OF an associate justice of the Su-
preme Court. the committee charged
with the responsibility of reporting
10 the Senate on the nomination should
investigate every rumor that has any
reasonable ground Of fact before it
reports the nomination to this body.
If the ruInors of which we
have heard are not well founded, then
the committee ought to ascertain the
facts and publish them. If they are
well founded. the Senate ought to
know that fact"
Senator Copeland then told the
Senate of the Klansnan who claimed
to have sat in the lodge with Black,
and urged that the nomination be re-
committed, at least for the purpose of
asking the nominee whether he was or
was not member of the KIan. To
this, Senator Glass. Democrat, of Vir-
ginia, no supporter of the admins
tration, rejoined that while it was his
'irrevocable purpose" to vote against
confirmation, he was utterly opposed
to wasting any more time on the sub
ject"
Borah Takes Floor.
Then Senator Borah took the floor
Ultimately to vote against the nom
anation on legal grounds, he said:
The Committee on the Judiciary
had this matter before it, and / do
not see any reason why it should be
sent back to the committee There has
never been at any time one iota of evl-
dence that Senator Black was a mem
Der OF the Khan. No one has suggested
any source from which such evidence
could be gathered. The members of
tne committee have had hundreds of
kilograms, even running into the tho,,-
SANDS, from people over the country.
sent upon the theory that the Senator
Is a member of the Klan, but in no
telegram that I have seen has there
oeen a suggestion as to any evidence
or any facts sustaining that proposi
tlon, and, for myself. am not willing
to go about hunting for the possibility
OF something which may reflect upon
member of the Senate.
we know that Senator Black has
SAID in private conversation. not since
this matter came up, but at other
tunes, that he was not a member of the
klan, and there is no evidence Ia tho
effect that he is What is there In ex-
anime OF course, the country seems
20 proceed upon the theory that there
Is something to examine. but there ,s
not. There is no fact or facts even
lnolcating 1t. 1t is rumor or hearsav
TOT myseN, am not desirous of en-
terlng upon any investigation regard
Ing 1t unless some responsible nersor
Is prepared to make the charge not
oased upon hearsay, but upon knowl-
ecee OF some facts tending to s,Jnnort
the charge"
senator Borah then added he would
,ioe vote Tor man for any Office if
ne knew he was a Klansnan. but that
IN the absence of facts. he was NOT
Wiiiing to put Mr. Black under the
humiliation Of a trial as TO whether
or not he is loyal American citizen i"
Burke Explains Lack of Probe.
Senator Burke remarked that no
lacts were put before the committee
because the members did not see ft
10 ask Tor them. He added that there
were Two men in Washington. MEM
pers OF the Klan in Birmingham. who
were present when Mr.. Black was in
itiated. Senator Borah brouoht ort
ehat Burke had not stated to the COM
mlttee he had any evidence of the fact
OF the Klan charges, and then let the
matter drop
Senator AShurst. Democrat. of
Arizona, chairman of the Judiciary
committee and an unwavering ad-
mnstration supporter. ch.ded the
Senate for opposing the President and
attacked persons outside the Senate
VINO objected TO the appointment
They are grumbletonians," he de-
elared, "and their lamentations are as
professional as are the mournings o.
a mortician."
quickly, the debate drew to an end
Senator johnson. Republican, of Cali.
iornia, also made an attack OF
senatorial courtesy" but the motor
70 recommit was forthwith votec
down. Then, without further debate
the nomination was confirmed. 6;
to is.
Reporter Revives Case.
Thus did Hugo l.. Black surrnoun
the last hurdle in his path TO tn
Supreme Court. Within a few dav
be left for Europe. That might hav
Been the end of the controversy ha,
not newspaper reporter, with limite,
facilities for investigation as compare
to the powers OF the President an
Senate, uuearthed documepts s..r,