re: #149 Gus

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Also part of the Hatton W. Sumners Foundation.

Meet Hatton W. Sumners:

Early in his career, he spoke out against the Dyer Anti-Lynching Bill, claiming that the bill’s sponsors did not have adequate statistics to prove their case, that the bill would increase racial mob violence, and that the bill ultimately impinged on states’ rights.[3]

Speaking on the House floor while some African-Americans watched from the balcony, Sumners continued to attack the Dyer Anti-Lynching Bill with racist tropes. “Only a short time ago… their ancestors roamed the jungles of Africa in absolute savagery…[Y]ou do not know where the beast is among them. Somewhere in that black mass of people is the man who would outrage your wife or your child, and every man who lives in the country knows it.” [4] [5]

Sumners served on the Judiciary Committee of the House of Representatives and was appointed regularly to investigate allegations of corruption among federal judges, serving on the impeachment committees for three federal judges.[6] Sumners became Chairman of the Judiciary Committee in 1932,[2] and as a loyal Democrat supported much of President Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal legislation. However, when the Supreme Court began invalidating key parts of the New Deal, Roosevelt proposed a plan to expand the Court, his so-called Court-packing plan was announced in 1936. As Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, Sumners discreetly worked in opposition, but as the plan was clearly in trouble, Sumners reportedly said, “Boys, here’s where I cash in my chips,” referring to his waning support for the President.[2] Ultimately, Chairman Sumners came out formally against the Court-packing plan. As a consequence of this, he faced two serious opponents in the 1938 election, but Sumners was re-elected and was not seriously challenged again. In 1946, Sumners announced he would not seek re-election.