Evening star., 1937-09-16

lne hl6n III SpP-
cif1c instead of
abstract terms was defeated by vot,
of 542 to SAL. Many impaSsionee
speeches were made, and it is interest
Ing to reproduce typical utteranc'
such as that of Mrs. Carroll Nillel
of Pennsylvania, sister of Senator
Guffey ano now Democratic nationa
committeeWoman from the keystone
State. She said:
"As you know, I am Protestant
but this issue is not an issue between
Catholics, Jews and foreign born or
one side and Protestants on the other
but it is All issue between free Ameri-
cans on one side and a vicious un-
American organization on the other
the members of which, regardless OF
their professed religious views, are in
no conceivable sense Christians.
Many Homes Intimidated
What would you, my friends, think
OF home in America where the little
children shuddered nightly in terror
izing fear of the hooded Ku Klux
klan? Oh, there are such places, hun
dreds of them, where citizens who are
guaranteed life, liberty. and the pur-
suit Of happiness by the Constitution
are denied these essential attributes
Of free life, places where a foreign
born is Disseminated against by the
shop-keeper, places where the vife
Is waiting for her husband to return
from the mine, the field or the factory,
never feels sure that he will not be
mobbed or beaten to death before he
returns to her and his family.
In the mountains of my own State
only few months ago, this guerilla
organization not only terrorized COM
munity but their demonstration re-
suited in tragedy where three people
were killed and many injured
My fellow citizens, do you call that
America? Do you call that religious? !?
Do you call that Christian No. it is
nothing but outlawry and criminality. .
Such was the spirit about the time
Senator Black is on record as having
been member of the Klan. The fact
Of his membership was widely known
In Alabama. and when his name came
before the Senate Of the United States
as an appointee to the Supreme Court
OF the United States, newspapers and
Senators from various States promptly
referred to the Klan membership as
requiring investigation.
Could Have Found Out.
President Roosevelt now saws he
didn't know when he made the ap-
pointment whether Mr.. Black was q
member Of the Klan. But after the
nomination went to the Senate there
was plenty Of public discussion about
1t and plenty of opportunity for Mr.
Roosevelt to have found out about il
II he really desired to do so. Extracts
from the Senate debate a month ago
before Mr.. Black was confirmed are
illuminating. Said Senator Burke
Democrat:
There are two gentlemen in the
City OF Washington. with one of whom
! talked, and that one told me that
he and the other gentleman in this
city were both members of the Klan
IN Birmingham, Ala, and both were
present in person on the occasion of
the initiation of Mr. Hugo Black into
the order; and both gentlemen could
be subpoenaed to come before the
committee if the committee desires tc
90 into the question"
senator Copeland. Democrat. of New
York was equally vigorous. He said
to the Senate:
We are free here in the United
States because we are guarded bv the
supreme Court. Catholics. Protes-
tants. Negroes. Jews. gentiles. all q,
us are guarded by the Supreme Court
But what would happen if a hal,
oozen men of the mental bias of the
nominee should be seated on the
bench? Is 1t likely that the remodeled
court would deal tolerantly and gener-
ousiy With religious and racial ones.
lions as the court has done in the
past?
Does the leopard change MS spots
VIII Mr.. Justice Black be different thar
candidate Black. who, according Il
tne Mobile (Ala) Register of Angus
10, 1925, backed by the Klan. had .
Valkaway in his race for the senatoris
nomination"
Tydings Urged Study.
senator 1ydings Of MARYLAND. alsc
Democrat, thought the accusation
OF sufficient Importance to reouirs
study by the Senate judiciary Com.
mittee and he supported proposa
that the nomina ton be "recommitteo,
or referred to the judiciary committee
Said Mr.. Tydings:
Il shall vote for the motion n 70
commit believing that before the vot
Is cast the Senate ought to have al
possible information on matters bear
Ing upon mans fitness to sit on tn
highest tribunal in this land. II ~
90 not have that kind Of information
who knows but that after Senate
Black is confirmed, and takes hi
place on the bench, these affidavit
or statements may be printed in III
press, and -re may never have a chanc
10 md out about their falsity or trutl
after the nomination is confirmed?
think Senator Black above eyerv
BODY else would want the Senate I
know the truth. What harm can ther
be II Senator Black is not properl
subject to these imputations for IN
world and the Senate to know It? Whs
injury could come if these imputation
were correct and We should find ii ou
after We had voted to confirm him."
Senate Acted In Haste
Notwithstanding the wise advice q
Senator Tydings, the Senate voted 6
to IA against referring the nomina
ton to the judiciary committee fo
further investigation. Today membe,
Of the Senate are squirming and say
Ing II they had known they woul
not have voted for Senator BLACK