The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-09-15
RETURN OF HUGO
 BLACK AWAITED
CContInusd from rage n

reporters in his press conference yesterday afternoon, that such a promise was not necessarily intend- ed in his brief declaration.
 The president said he had not heard of the reported klan co1nec? ton at the time he was considering Black for the appointment. He said he did not know whether the de- partmert of justice had inquired into such Q possibility in it's regular i11- vestigation of the candidates fitness.
 Tn any event, 1t was pointed out, the president preferred to avoid nasty action, wanting to await Blacks return rather than trying to get his side of the case from hitn while he is far removed from the scene. By the time Black returns for the October term of the court, developments may have changed the situation and made its solution simpler from the administration viewpoint.
 VIII Not Die Out
 Several congressional opponents of MT. Roosevelt's defeated supreme court enlargement program indicated that they would fight vigorously any effort to let the question of Blacks relationship with the klan die out before the facts are definitely deter mined.
 Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Post Gazette published the third of sc- ries of stories copyrighted by the North American Newspaper Alliance, Inc, which purports to reveal Blacks relationships to the klan. The author of the articles, Ray sprigle, quoted further from what he said was stenographic record of the fourth annual klorero of the Alabama klan on Sept. 3, 1926, at which Black and Blob Graves, now Alabarnais governor, were alleged to have received "sold passports" or life memberships in the klan.
 Even though the charges were es- tablished as true there would be nothing to interfere with Blacks ser- vice on the supreme court bench ex. cept his resignation or action by the president on suggestions of Sen. David I. Walsh, D., Mass, that he exert his personal influence to ob- tain Blacks. resignation.
 Persistent reports that, prior to his nomination to the court, Black had told several senators that he was not a member of the klan were circulated, but lacked confirmation. Three senators mentioned specifical- ly as having heard Black make the statement, denied the reports when questioned.
 Sen. Walsh said Justice Black should declare politically whether he Is Q member of the klan to relieve the president of embarrassment.
 Formal Statement
 The presidents formal statement said:
 T know only what I have read in the newspapers. I note that the stories are running serially, and their is not complete.
 MT. Justice Black is in Europe, where undoubtedly he cannot get the full text of these articles. Until such time as he returns, there is no further comment to be made"
 BLACK IS SILENT
 London, Sept. 15.--(UP)-Allega- tions that Supreme Court Associate Justice Hugo L. Black is . member of the Ku Klux Klarl made front page news in London today for the first time.
 The Evening Standard featured 8 two-colunn photograph of the justice and Mrs. Black seated on 6 sofa. | Under 1t was a caption in half-inch blackface type which read:
 "Mr. Justice Black will not answer the charge of being @ Ku Klux Klan member. Tn London on vacation and have nothing to say while storm rages."
 An Evening Standard reporter described an unsuccessful attempt to get statement. His story said:
 "Mr. Justice Black does not wish to talk about the matter. I called on him today at the Park Lane hotel. He opened the door of his suite at my knock, but kept 1t only @ few inches ajar until 1 told him who I was.
 Will Say Nothing
 "Then he said he said he was not making any statement either denying or confirming the allega. tion.
 "T have come over here for a va- cation and do not wish to be both- ered,'" he said. "'I have not read the papers today and do not wish to see them
 T pointed out that until he de- nied the reports, the situation would embarrass the president. He re- piled:
 "I still have nothing to say.'
 "The judge has given instructions that no telephone calls, no matter from what source, may be put through to his suite. Yesterday calls were coming in from all parts of the world, including Washington, but he refused to accept any of them. He has given orders that no newspapers may be delivered to his room"