The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-09-14
Former ~. s. Sen.
 Black m Expose
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which the writer said Black "re- newed his oath of brotherhood" to the klan on September 2, 1926.
 The writer said that Black sat on the stage of the Great Klavern with Col. Bibb Graves, now gover- nor of Alabama and then the Dem- ocratic nominee for governor, and that both received gold grand passports" or life membership cards, in the klan.
 According to the writer, Graves then was exalted cyclops of the Montgomery klan, and both Graves and Black accepted life member ship with speeches in which they expressed gratitude for klan support in their successful political cam- paigns just completed and pledged adherence to klan principles.
 Governor Graves Interviewed
 Governor Graves and his wife, whom he recently appointed to Blacks senate seat, were interviewed last night in Atlantic City, N. J., where they are attending the an- nual governors conference. Of Blacks reputed klan affiliation, Graves said:
 I've heard 1t talked about, but so far as I know there's nothing to 1t. There's not @ thing in the world I could say. You'll have to ask him him about It."
 As for himself, the governor said he had no personal sympathy for the klan nor any suspicion of ever having been close to 1t.
 T know that two-thirds or more of them always voted against me-" he said.
 Administration spokesmen came quickly to the defense of the former senator, who was appointed to the country's highest tribunal by Pres ident Roosevelt to succeed Justice Willis Van Devanter, who retired.
 Cummings Defends Him
 From Manchester, Va, where he is vacationing, Attorney General Homer s. Cummings telephoned this statement to the department of jus tice:
 His (Black's) record of public service and selection on two occa- sions by the state of Alabama as United States senator made his suit ability beyond question"
 Another justice department offl- cial explained that Blacks appoint ment was flor life," that the senate had confirmed 1t, and that the sen- ate could not now reconsider that action. Senator William H. King, Democrat, Utah, who voted against confirmation, said membership in the klan could not be an "impeach- able offense," and Senator Edward P. Burke, Democrat, Nebraska, who had raised the klan issue at the time of Blacks appointment, agreed, saying:
 T don't see that there is anything to be done"
 Vigorous Debate
 The "expose" prompted vigorous debate throughout the country, however, and even became an issue in the New York city mayoralty campaign. Former Governor Alfred E. Smith planned to discuss Blacks appointment tonight in an address in behalf of the candidacy of Sen- ator Royal s. Copeland, who is seeking both the. Republican and Democratic nominations.
 Copeland already had described the Post- Gazette's articles as shock ing" and had declared that the senate and the supreme court must find way Ito keep this man from wearing the black robe of justice by day and the shameful white robe of the klan in the dark by night"
 , Life Membership
 Imperial Wizard of the Klan Hiram w. Evans, of Atlanta, who denied yesterday that Black was member of the organization, was present at the Birmingham cere- mony at which Black accepted life membership, tn ePost- Gazette's sec- ond article said.
 The article said that Grand Klaliff Ellis" sounded the keynote of the klorero." The writer quotes:
 "Grand Klaliff Ellis" as follows, explaining that he had just handed grand passportS" to Black and