Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-02
Senators Defer Action
On Confirmation Of
Chief Justice Warren

Chief Justice Warren
A Senate subcommittee de-
ferred action today on the con-
f1rmation of Chief Justice Earl
Warren after receiving 81 docu-
mentS or statements described as
opposing the nomination.
The former California Gov
ernor, given an interim appoint
ment as Chief Justice by Presi-
dent Eisenhower last October,
was not present at the Senate
Judiciary Subcommittee's open
hearing this. morning. Chair
man LANCER, Republican, of
North Dakota said Mr.. Warren
had not been expressly invited
for this session. The Subcom-
mittee. however, has not yet de-
cided whether to ask him to
appear when it meets again
within a few days, Senator
LANCER added.
The subcommittee did not dis
close the nature of the 81 docu-
ments or statements studied in
an hour-long closed session after
the open hearing. Senator
LANCER insisted the main reason
for taking no action on the
nomination today was that the
subcommittee had been unable
to consider the documents
thoroughly.
Backed by Bar Group.
The hearing opened with a
reading of statements by Sem
ators Knowland and Kechel,
Republicans of California and
the American Bar Associations
committee on the Federal jul
dietary. These urged prompt con-
f1rmation of Chief Justice War;
rem. The bar associations state
ment said he was well qualified
for the position and that lit is
a pleasure to report that since
he Joined the court he has pre-
sided with great dignity and dis
tinction."
The subcommittee then heard
three witnesses, two of whom
opposed confirmation. Robert
G. Taylor of Media. Pa, a re-
tired banker, recalled that he
was the only witness teStifying
against the confirmation of AS
Sociate Justice Reed in 1888 and
the late Chief Justice Vinson
in 1916. He said he was con-
WINGED that Mr.. Warren will
prove to be one of the ablest
chief justices.
Hit by Crusaders.
One of the opposition wit
neSSeS was the Rev. Wesley A.
Swift of Los Angeles, who said
he represented the Christian Ma
tionalist Crusade. headed by the
Rev. Gerald L. K. Smith and
also the American Anti-Com-
munist League. The other was
Albert F. Levy of Los Angeles,
who introduced himself as "a
darn good plumber"
The subcommittee read into
its record a 16-page letter from
George Mclean of Glenwood.
Calf, chairman of the Cali
fornia Institute for Social Well
fare. an organization interested
In old age pensions. The Nc
Lean statement asserted that
Mr.. Warren was not fitted by
temperament or background to
be Chief Justice and that as
Governor he had been ruthless"
in prosecuting both Mr.. Mclean
and the Institute for Social We'll
fare.
Quizzed on Literature.
The Rev. Mr.. Swift said his
organizations opposed Mr.. War
rem principally because as Gov
ernor he had vetoed bills to re-
quire public school teachers to
take a loyalty oath.
Senator Hennings, Democrat
OF Missouri, asked the witness
whether the Christian Nation
allst Crusade was the first group
which tried to flood the Repub-
lean National Convention in
Chicago two years ago with
"scurrilouS" literature attack
Ing Gen. Eisenhower. The wit
ness replied that he did not
know what sort of material the
organization sent to the con-
vention. He complained, how
ever, that the Leagues opposi-
ton to the Eisenhower candidacy
was not an issue at the hearing
concerning Chief Justice War
rem.
Senator Hennings told him
that lit is important to bring
out such information to show
the background of an organiza-
ton that sent you here to OPP
pose an appointee of President
Eisenhower"