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eo 9-56) ag" os UTTAR OEAN TR eevee eee cee 20 Years as _ By GENE WORTSMAN * Seripps-Hownrd Blatt Writer A SUPREME COURT JUSTICE, once a member of the Ku Klux Klan, was nominated to the court 20 years ago today Ad _ by President Roosevelt. i ‘There are those who say the resurgence of the Klan In recent years in the South pth partly from the decisions of Hugo lack, now 71, mii Justice Black Is aware of this criti- cism, he shows no signs of it. Neither does he indicate awareness of the significant changes which have come overt him during his 20 years as an As: sociate Justice. . * “ A native ef Clay County, Alabama, Mr. Biack's nomination from the U. S. Sen- i ate lo the bench kicked off a storm of protest back in 1937, For one thing, he was a member of the 'Congress which voted pay raises to the justices, Some critles claimed it would violale the U.S, Constilution for him then to accept appointment to that bench. Mr. Black was a pro-labor Senator. Perertrecceenet SS Coto Coote ennnnnten Samemrnny llis nomination caused Republic Steel Corp., fo hire a private detective to turn up something about Mr. Black which might bar his appointment, This officer found that Mr, Black had belonged to the KKK, Yel within five days of his nomination, Mr. Black was confirmed by the Senate, “16. He personally took no part in the con- troversy about his KKK membership until Oct. 1, 1937, three days before he joined the be neh, In a nationwide radlo broadcast, Mr. Black admitted he had been a Klansman but said he later resigned and had never used or kept an unsolicited membership card piven him after nomination to the Senate, Br AUSE of his part In the Supreme Court, school desegregation ruling of 1954, his crities say Rastice Biack con- : » fributed to the rebirth of the Klan in the Opponents attack him on other fronts, too. On Feh, 28, 1937, for Instance, he con- demied the Supreme Court for rewriting | the U.S. Constitutlon. He sald the court SOON what t Pmajority says it is. a Black, on FDR Appoi philosophy was that the Constitution #s——sisians, and to outlaw use of publi a Justice SRaSABAAS NAAR! NISAARAENS SSIS SENSES SSS NSN . IESE STESSCOMORPRRSSKEREROTHER SS SES SoHE NENT RNR SRNR Rear CreneeEneeeeeceinene JUSTICE BLACK “T ,.. belleve it is time to stop these judicial usurpations,” he declared. Yet today Justice Black is accused of participating {n this same procedure as a& member of the court. Justice Black doesn’t let deununciatlong bother him, e ‘AT 71, he could retire at full salary of $35,000 a year, but has shown no cHnation to do so. his children and prandchildren. He enjoys Visits wi His backers have been satisfied with hie service on the bench. They know he has been praised for his courage, damned for for policies, and noted for his independence oO spirit. "the most important in ihe past 20 year, Among them were those {o uphold the Government's right to interne West Coast Japanese-Americans during World War Il} to stop union leader James C. Petrillo from forcing radio stations to hire extra mu- His opinions have been among buildings for religious instruction. Wash. Star N, Y. Herald GIB vid Ie an \ pre, t cate aL Aue Wash. Post and Nichols i Boardman Belmont Mohr Parsons Rosen _,-<._____ Tamm 1 Trotter Nease Tele. Room Holloman Gandy eee eo ZOD ivot Times Herald , /, Wash Newe Abobha FUE Tree Tribune N, Y. Journal- American N, Y. Mirror N. Y. Daily N. Y¥. Times Daily Wotke The Worker New Leader Date t a. News Tt