Evening star., 1951-02-27
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80 SFONSSsH~
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Frederick Reissig. executive sec
retary of the Washington Fed
Grafton of Churches; Mrs. j. c
Readey, speaking for the Women''
Christian Temperance Union o1
this city. and the Rev. Clinton N
Howard, general superintendent
of the International Reform Fed
Grafton.
DR.. Reissig also noted that 9
petition asking that the nomina'
ton be rejected was filed by 9
group Of Methodist ministers rep.
resenting 1O8 churches tn Metro
politan Washington. which have
a membership Of 61,702.
The church leaders protested
that Mr.. Donohue was mot the
peoples choice; that he had moi
heretofore displayed any interes1
| in the community life of the Dis
trict: that his selection was "s
political appointment" and voiced
fears that because of his back
ground as a liquor attorney, hi.
decisions as Commissions
would be Influenced in favor o1
liquor interests.
Welker Asks Questions.
In this connection some opposi-
ton testimony centered attention
on the fact that Mr.. Donohue
and one of his former clients, Mil.
ton S. Kronheim, liquor whole.
saler and sometimes called the
"liquor czar of the District" were
among the largest contributors te
the Democratic campaign func
from the District in 1948.
Senator Welker, Republican, o1
Idaho, who asked many questions
of witnesses, commented:
"I am a lawyer myself and rec
ognize the right of an attorney tt
represent his clients. I have moi
heard anything yet that woulc
| persuade me to vote against Mr.
Donohue's confirmation"
At another point, Mr.. Welkel
asked that Mr.. Donohue be called
to the stand instead of waiting
until all other witnesses had been
heard.
District Committee Chairman
Nicely objected, saying he thought
it better that the opposition wit
nesses be heard first.
Wants Donohue Statement.
Mr.. Welker replied that he
thought a statement by Mr.. Dono-
hue might serve to clear up some
of the questions and declared:
"If I can't get some meat out
of cross examination of Mr.. Dono-
hue I'm not going to bother him
or myself anymore. Senator
Welker added that at the rate
things were going, We'll be here
for three weeks"
Mr.. Donohue, asked to stand Sc
that committee members coule
identify him. calmly told the COM
mittee the time of his appearance
was a matter of choice with the
committee but said he was pre-
pared to testify at any time.
Senator Welker said he with
drew his request, however. when
other committeeman suggested
they let the citizens speak first.
Two members of the committed
were outspoken in declaring thai
lit would be an unfair reflection o.
Mr.. Donohue If he were deniee
confirmation merely on tbs
grounds of his past law practice
i with liquor interests and without
| any evidence against his char.
acter, ability or integrity.
Praised by Pastore.
Senator Smith, Democrat. o1
North Carolina. told the opposi-
ton witness ."if we should refuse
to confirm the nomination in the
absence of any evidence against
| his character, he would be re-
Eferred to as long as he lives as the
man who failed of confirmation.
Senator Smith added that he
had no interest in the liquor bust
ness, commenting that large con-
tributions in the fight against his
election to the Senate had come
from such sources.
Another dry committeeman
Senator Johnston, Democrat, OF
South Carolina, also reminded
witnesses that 1--WE must fine
something against his character
If we are to refuse confirmation.
"And against his ability" inter
iected Senator Pastore, Democrat
of Rhode Island.
Senator Pastore went further tt
suggest that it was to the credit
of Mr.. Donohue, in view of hi
background as an attorney fol
liquor dealers, that he stood out
as man of character and in
tegrity.
Sees Possible Inference.
The hearing opened with Q
statement by DR.. Willingham, who
said a petition for rejection oi
Mr.. Donohue had been signed by
~ members of the ministeria.
union. He granted the right Of
the President to appoint any one
he wanted, but reminded the Sen
ators they had the right to con-
firm or reject the nomination.
"It is not good democratic prac-
| ~