The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-10-07
But ,
BOake Carter
Justice Blacks Case
Insincerity Evident
Let Opportunity Pass

MIR. JUSTICE BLACK has
AVA made his reply. His admis-
sion of one-time membership in
the Ku Klux Khan was unsavory
enough. But he pleaded guilty,
indirectly, to something far more
unpleasant. He showed he was
inSincere.
Upon his appointment, this
column was one Of the few
which pleaded that he be given
the benefit Of the doubt. His
Klan affiliations had not been
raised then. When the Pitts
burgh Post Gazette revelations
broke I asked: Did or did not
Mr.. Black deceive his fellow
Senators?
Associate Justice Black plainly
did deceive not only his col
leagues, with whom he had
served for II years, but he de-
ceived the people upon whom
he is now to sit in Judgment.
When the Senate opened his
appointment for debate and was
informed that there was no
truth in the charges that Mr..
Black had belonged to the Khan,
he sat in silence. An honest
and sincere man would have
spoken then, but Mr.. Black pre-
ferred to cover behind a mean
deception totally unworthy Of
any one honored with so i'm
portant a post.
MR.. BLACK said he belonged
AVA to the Khan IS years ago.
That would make him about IS
years old when he joined-vol-
unfairly, mark you. A man of
that age usually has very def
mite and mature ideas and preju-
dices.
Mr.. Black says he abhors
religious and racial intolerance
now, yet at mature age joined,
with open eyes, a group whose
lawlessness and persecution was
a stencil in the nostrils of decent
men at that time.
Did he then really believe in
the Khan and its policies of
persecution, or did he simply
use it for political purposes?
If the former, then his sin
certify again may be questioned.
For his change of mind &C.
CURED not in the period of
youth to maturity, but at a time
when his prejudices and con.
ceptions were those of a grown
up and mature man.
If, however, he used the Khan
for political reasons, then he
would have won the respect of
many people had he been forth
right and honest enough so to
admit.
In either case he snubbed the
American people on this vital
point in his reply.
LIE admitted membership in
"A the Khan, but he did not
have the courage to say: II
changed my mind and resigned
because the Khan stood for I'M
clean things in American life.
I found its principles were not
my principles" He dwelt upon
the Bill Of Rights, yet admitted
he was a member of a group
that attempted to destroy the
individual liberties guaranteed
under the Bill of Rights.
He said he was a member Of
that band Of liberal Senators
who fought for economic and
religious rights Of all Americans.
BY so saying he left the thought
full citizen but one alternative:
Either he accepted the bigotry
of the Khan for political expedi-
ency or he accepted the plat
form of liberalism of the last
II years for expediency.
Mr.. Black said he did not
know what was or still may be
on the records Of the Khan con.
corning his membership. 1t is
a pity that he did not do the
American people the courtesy of
taking the trouble to find out.
He may himself consider he
is well worthy to sit in judg-
ment on the remainder of Amer
lea, but he has failed to convince
me of his tolerance, sincerity
or fitness for that post. But
one can hardly expect a man