Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1937-10-21

created such a ~furore, has donned
his black robe and considers the in
cident of his association with the
Ku Klux Klan a "closed issue" We
QUESTION seriously whether the issue
is closed, and from newspaper re-
ports all owe the country, we are
not alone. in that conviction. 1t ISN'T
closed either so far as Mr.. Black
himself is concerned, and perhaps
the President as we'll.
l.
No reader who is not familiar
with the facts surrounding the storm
of protest that swept the nation
when the man who was to occupy a
place on the highest tribunal in the
land was found to have been an ac-
tive member of an organization born
and fostered on a creed of racial and
religious prejudice. We may dis
agree as to the import of Mr.. Blacks
association with the Klan-how that
association, whatever it may have
been, might or might not affect his
ability to weigh the questions he
will be called upon to Judge impair
italy and competently, without in
any way being influenced by the
narrow prejudice or bigotry that
must surround any organization
such as the Khan. There are human
elements of strength or weakness in
character however upon which hard
ly any can help but agree.
The underlying thought which
seems ever present is that, knowing
there was probability his connection
with the Khan might be made an
issue, Mr.. Black showed extreme
lack OF consideration for the Presi-
dent who appointed him in not max
ing his membership in the Khan
known either at the time his name
was presented to or was being con-
sidered for approval by the United
states senate. President Roosevelt,
when the sensational news was first
released, plainly exhibited an atti-
tude of deep concern over the mat
ter, and it has been iutimated that
the new justice, who had exchanged
his white robe fUs. n Of black, was
severely taken to task personally
upon the chief executives return to
Washington after his trip through
he west. There can be little doubt
left In anyone's mind that, had Mr..
Black given the same pronounce
ment Of fealty to the white-rObed
night riders to the Senate committee
at the time his appointment was be-
ing debated, he would have
been seated nor the President know
ing it, ever have presented his name.
xs
1t must then be concluded, and
Justly so, that Hugo Black obtained
his appointment as a supreme court
justice under false colors. untrue to
a principle of justice and honesty
that should most certainly be a car
dinal factor in ones qualifications
for the position he now holds. We
submit that on three occasions Mr..
Black had an opportunity of doing
a big thing. and failed. First, when
the president informed him of his
intentions, had he said, "Mr. Presi-
dent, there is one thing you should
know before submitting my name;
I 1o,ro hAAn a n antira n,nynhar af tho
Ku Klux Khan" Again, the oppor-
tunity came when confirmation OF
his appointment was so bitterly con-
tested in the Senate; he might have
gone before that committee and said
Gentlemen, in view of the fact that
you might be SUI ,ected to undue cri-
ticism. it is orIy fair that, in con-
sidering my appointment you should
be appraised of my past association
with the Khan" The strength of
characted in such a crisis would
have lowered far above all the per-
sonal honor or distinction that could
possibly come from occupying the
position that he sought.
The final test came, after having
received his appointment and con-
frmation. When after he had care
fully absented himself across the
sea from the thunderous storm OF
protest that broke and his associa-
tIon with the Khan made public,
knowing the embarrassment that
must of natural consequence come
to the President, again he could
have done a big thing. But the sac
riice OF his personal ambitions was
too great. Instead, he gave his fa-
nous radio explanation, forced his
presence on the group of eight dis
tinguished justices whose personal
integrity remained unassailed, and
then, as If to appease his enemies,
adroitly proceeded to appoint a Ca
tholic as his secretary, a Jew as his
law clerk, and his personal messen-
ger a Negro Catholic.
Mr.. Black could only have joined
the Khan in the first place for one OF
two reasons; either he wanted TO
use 1t solely as a stepping stone In
his ambitious political career, or he