Evening star., 1937-09-16

oath one pledging impartial admins
tration OF justice, and has been filed
with the Justice Department.
Cropley added. however, that he
assumed Justice Black will repeat
the second oath at the bench when
the Supreme Court begins its Fall
term on October 4.
1T is always DONE" he said. ut is
not question of legal compliance
but of CUSTOM
Meanwnne, colleagues of Black in
the Senate continued to show dis
taste for the disclosures, several who
supported his nomination claiming
they would have voted otherwise If
they had known of his connection with
the vigilante group.
Senator Burke, Nebraska Democrat.
who broke with the administration on
the Supreme Court reorganization pro-
posal, predicted yesterday in Omaha
that the present controversy will be
followed by an effort on the part Of
the administration to effect a recon-
ciliation with all Senators who op-
poSSd tiic SOuit pidii DulkS WliO
opposed the Black nomination when
maoe, attempted to reach the justice
on the telephone in London, but was
unsuccessful.
The Nebraskan was desirous, he
said, of giving the justice an oppor-
tunity to deny the charges now being
made.
Clark Issues Statement.
Senator Clark, Democrat, of Mis-
souri,, in statement announced by his
secretary, said he certainly would not
have voted to confirm Justice Black
if 1 had been aware of his Klan affil-
iations."
In my judgment, he could not have
been confirmed if these facts had been
known" the statement continued. THE
prejudice and intolerance of the Klan
are contrary to the Bill of Rights of
the Constitution, which must be con-
strued and enforced by the Supreme
Court"
Senator Tydings, Democrat, of Mary
land declined to comment, but referred
questions to q speech he made in the
Senate before Black was confirmed.
At that time Tydings warned his
colleagues if they failed to Investigate
the questions of Blacks alleged mem
bership in the Klan they might not
have chance to do so after confirma-
ton.
Tydings' remarks followed a state
ment by Senator Burke that he knew
Of two men in Washington who
claimed to have been present at Black s
initiation into the Khan.
1T may be that these reports are
not authentic" Tydings said in his
Senate speech, "and 1 frankly doubt
very much that Senator Black has
been or is member of the Khan. .
Would Question Eligibility.
obviously, if Mr. Black had been a
member OF the Klan I should very
seriously question his eligibility, even
at this late date, to sit on the court
and render the kind of justice that one
ought to expect at the hands of the
Supreme Court of the United States.
Asserting he would vote to send the
nomination back to the Senate Judic-
iary Committee for further investiga-
ton so that the Senate would have
AL possible information" on the sub
ject. Tydings continued.
If we do not have that kind Of
information. who knows but that after
Senator Black is confirmed, and takes
his place on the bench, these affidavits
or statements may be printed in the
press. and we may never have a
chance to find out about their falsity
or their truth after the nomination is
confirmed?"
Senator Pittman of Nevada, presi-
dent pro tenn Of the Senate, said yes
terday he knew nothing about" the
reports linking Black with the Khan,
and said he had mo comment to
make"
Representative O'Connor, Democrat,
OF Montana said yesterday he desired
all the facts" before he would indi-
cate his views toward the allegations.
He said he received wire signed by
Representative O'Connor, Democrat,