The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1936-09-03
COP. Bares WPA
Propaganda Note
Hopkins Secret Memoran-
dunn to State Chiefs
Is Made Public.

CHICAGO. - The full extent
of government propaganda under
the New Deal, as paid for by tax
payers, is revealed for the first
time in a confidential memoran-
dunn marked mot for release"
which was issued to the Works
Progress Administration propa-
ganda service about March l, 1896.
The memorandum was made pub
lie in a statement by the Republi-
can National committee here.
On page two of these propaganda
instructions, each state administra-
tor is directed to "survey his IA
cilities for the distribution of infor-
nation, and to supplement such IA
clllties sufficiently to provide an
adequate information service" It is
added that 'it is imperative that
competent technical and profession
al personnel be utilized to carry
out this responsibility" They are
further reminded that:
THE camera should be utilized
as one of the most helpful aids
in the work of the Information Serv-
ice. = /" The old Chinese saying,
"A picture is worth 10000 Words is
very applicable here. Therefore,
Photographic unit is essential to
each State Information Service"
Moving pictures are to be arranged
for through Washington.
Likes Texas Plan.
Harry L. Hopkins evidently liked
a plan already in effect in Texas,
for guide" worked out by L. E.
HARDWOOD, of the Texas WPA Infor-
nation Service, is quoted from eX-
tensively.
I'm this connection may we ear
nestly commend to your attention."
says the HARDWOOD letter to all Tex
as district directors, "the sugges-
ton of J. P. Henderson, director of
the Ell Paso district, who says: 4
am going to invite a committee
from the Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions,
Committee of One Hundred, Cham
Der of Commerce, County Commits
sioners and City Aldermen, etc. Try
it in your home town.
Suggest to one of the leading
club members that he tell the local
newspaper about the proposed visit,
SO that reporter and photographer
may accompany the party"
Approving this Texas idea, the
main document goes on:
Publishers, editors and report
ers should be included Con these
visits to be arranged), BUT ONLY
ONE IN EACH CAR Capitalized
words are UNDERSIGNED in Docu-
ment 851S) so that they may hear
what the others say"
Cartoons Well Favored.
The propaganda instructions then
reveal how posters and cartoons are
to be used.
when good cartoons. can be
found, in the administrative staff,
or ELSEWHERE, his services
should be utilized in making car
toons for intra-departmental and
similar publications, for exhibits,
and for reproduction in mat form
for newspapers, if there is any as
surance that the newspapers will
use them"
The next sentence shows what
the New Deal propagandists seek:
Ellis cartoons should be carefully
planned and reviewed by the head
of the Information Service, TO
MAKE SURE THAT THEY RE-
Fleet THE SPIRIT OF THE
WORKS PROGRAM"
Free Radio Time.
New Deal propaganda also is to
be dinned into the citizens ears.
The instructions state:
"Talks in which policy is con-
cerned should be specifically ap-
proved by the head of the Informal
ton Service. =" If possible, Works
Program speakers, especially radio
speakers, should be persons who
have had some training in delivery,
voice meditation, etc. If no trained
persons are available, effort should
be made to have those who do most
of the speaking trained in at least
the elements of successful oral pre-
sentation.
at is not difficult for an admin
istrator or his representative to OBJ
tain free time from radio stations
in his state for talks about the
Works Program for news broad
casts, radio skits, question and an
swer interviews and other pro-
grams. AS the time is given free,
the particular period will be at the
discretion of the station manager,
but THAT IS A MATTER OF AR
RANGEMENT."
Information Personnel.
The secret memo continues:
SAT least one capable, expert
enced newspaper man, preferably
one who has had extensive mana
gerial editorial experience and
preferably one WHO HAS WORKED
IN THE STATE WPA HEADQUAR-
TIERS CITY AND KNOWS THE
PERSONNEL OF THE NEWSPA-
PERS AND PRESS ASSOCIA-
TONS, should be in every State
Information Service. If it is not adj
visable for administrative reasons