Evening star., 1936-03-10
ROBINSON STRIKES
BACK At RELIEF
|. PROGRAM CRITICS
Aims Barbs at G. O. P. High
Command, Liberty League
and du Points.
CHARGES SUPPRESSION
AND FACT DISTORTION
Declares Attempt Is Made to
Make Political Foot Ball Out
of Unfortunate Unemployed
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
Declaring the Republican high COM
mand and the American Liberty
League are attempting to make a
political foot ball out of the unfortu-
nate unemployed" Senator Robinson
Democrat, of Arkansas today launched
a New Deal offensive against critics
of its relief program.
Robinson, in speech from the
Senate floor, entered the relief con-
troversy at a time when Republicans
were demanding Nationwide in
vestigation of the w. P. A. The
Democratic leader asserted the Re-
publican National Committee and "its
corporate affiliate, the Du Pont Liberty
League" we're engaged in desperate
effort to throw mud on the relief pro-
gram by holding up certain projects
to ridicule."
Defending white collar projects
Robinson said the league and the G
o. P. leadership were "suppressing
distorting and misrepresenting the
facts"
They aim at President Roosevelt, u
he declared in a 7,000-Word address,
but in reality they hope to ridicule
and drive back into the soup lines the
great number of unemployed men and
women who are simply asking an op-
portunity to earn a living for them
selves and their families in the old
fashioned and respectable American
way"
Cites Local Sponsorship.
He cited criticisms that local re-
sponsibility was breaking down and
said that "in virtually every case
local officials themselves sponsored
the projects on the ground that they
would be "of lasting benefit to thei,
communities"
Robinson asserted the administra-
ton had consistently and persistently
tried to keep politics out of relief" ano
that no matter what charges were
hurled at Harry L. Hopkins, the ad.
ministrator, the record speaks fol
itself"
Undoubtedly in some jurisdictions,
he added, "blunders are being made
and it Is the privilege and duty ol
right-minded individuals to expose anc
correct maladministration wherever
and whenever it is exposed or can be
brought to light. The point is that
sound corrections can only be basec
on facts They cannot be made il
the facts are perverted or misrepre-
Sented."
Robinson said the Liberty League
and Republican National Committee
had singled out 100 of 10000 projects
and described each in the worst light
possible"
Aims Barb at Du Points.
Discussing some of the projects criti.
cized, Robinson said the $1,349 allo.
Gated to paint fire hydrants in Viii.
mington, Del, was requested by Mayor
Walter w. Bacam, Republican, wht
was quoted as saying city funds were
too low to permit the expenditure fol
this necessary project"
"Just think of that!" Robinson com.
mented After II years of Republican
prosperity, Wilmington was in sucl
financial straits that 1t was too poo
to buy some Du Pont paint for it
fire hydrants."
The Senator also placed similar evi
dence in the record in defense O.
the now famous" $25,000 dog pouns
in Memphis; the project for repair
ing shoes of needy children of Mineola
Long Island; the teaching of sewing
and cooking to needy housewives il
(See ROBINSON, Page A-2)