Evening star., 1936-05-25
THE POLITICAL
MILL
BY C. GOULD LINCOLN.

w. p. A. They are keeping away, Tor
the most part, from attacks upon relief.
The political activities of the w. p. A.
workers are something else. This is the
kind Of thing If 1t once sinks definitely
into the consciousness of the voters
generally, that may have decided effect
on the coming national election. Sporadic
attempts to have these charges of polit-
ical activity thoroughly investigated and
aired have been made. But nothing has
come Of them, except whitewashing re-
ports made by the w. p. A. itself and
its head. Harry l.. Hopkins.
The latest attack OF this kind comes
from the Republican national committee
man for Missouri, Arthur NJ Curtis.
Curtis. who is here as an assistant to
Chairman Henry P. Fletcher Of the
G. o. P. National Committee, embodied
his charges in a letter to Mr.. Hopkins,
and asked what Hopkins intended doing,
If anything, about them.
Missouri has one Of the strongest, in
way, Democratic organizations in the
country, located in Kansas City. 1t is
ruled over by Boss tom" Pendergast 1t
has functioned 100 per cent in the past.
What it will do, aided and abetted by
VIC W. "a WOAACAo La blAC IJCdtCs Will
probably be a plenty. For according to
Mr.. Curtis the Pendergast organization
has complete control of the w. p A.
and all its relief work throughout the
State.
Pointing out that they had come to
him voluntarily and without pressure of
any kind, Mr.. Curtis cited letter after
letter showing the loss of jobs by w. p. A.
f,r -,F,
Democratic, expressing a preference for
Republican automobiles to carry them
to the polls, declining to contribute to
Democratic campaign funds or to join
Democratic clubs, defending the fact
Of having voted Republican in the past,
resisting attempts to let Democrats mark
their ballots in violation of the election
laws, or merely voicing Indignation of
these abuses and attempted coercions.
There is always the chance that such
charges as those made by Mr.. Curtis
may eventually come before the Senate
Campaign Expenditures Committee,
whose chairman is Senator Lonergan of
Connecticut, Democrat. This committee
so far has been dormant. 1t was set up,
as usual every campaign year, to ferret
out heavy and excessive expenditures of
| money in elections for the Senate and
for President and Vice President The
Democratic high command has fire.
quently charged that the Republicans
would have an enormous slush fund this
year to use against the reelection of the
New Deal President. The Republicans
were able to get into the resolution Gre
ating the investigating committee. how
ever, proviso that the use of Govern
ment funds for political purposes, when
charged, should also be investigated.
**
The political activities of w. P. A.,
as locally administered, may be of very
considerable effect in the elections for
the Senate and House, the Republicans
insist, if it is not checked or at least
| made clearly known to the great mass of
voters. Mr.. Hopkins has again and again
declared the Federal administration of
w. p. A. was free Of politics and deter
minedly opposed to political activity.
There have been cases where the Federal
administrator has fallen out quite vio-
lently with some of the local politicians
over the administration of relief and
relief works. One was in Maine, where
Gov Brann. Democratic chief executive
of the State, was dominating the situa-
ton. Despite Mr.. Hopkins feelings in
the matter, and those of other New
Dealers, including Representative Moran,
the Democratic high command felt that
it was entirely necessary to have Brann
on the party ticket again this year, and
is backing him heartily for United
States Senator against Wallace II.
White, Republican, who comes up for
reelection this year.
Senator White is a good Senator. 1t is
widely admitted by his colleagues and
his constituentS-even by the Democrats.
He is hard-working, constructive legis-
lator. He makes it his business to know
thoroughly all the facts connected with
important legislation. About certain
subjects he is q recognized authority,
particularly the merchant marine, fish,
cries and radio. He has given a great
deal Of study to the shipping question
and to the bills which have been put
forward at this session of Congress by
Senator Copeland of New York, chair
man of the Commerce Committee, and
by Senator Guffey of Pennsylvania. In
the past he took q prominent part in
the drafting and consideration of the
merchant marine act of 1923 and earlier
acts dealing with shipping, the uniform
bill OF lading act, an act authorizing
five-year construction program for the
Bureau of Fisheries, and acts for the
conservation and control Of fisheries.
He also had shis part in framing the
radio act Of 1927 which later was en-
bodied without great change in the
communications act of 1894.
A specialist in these fields, Senator
Whites continuance in the Senate
seems wise thing for his constituents.
Maine Is vitality interested in shipping
and fisheries. 1t would be particularly
unfortunate If the political activities
Of relief workers and the w. p. A. should
prove effective in defeating him this
year. The Maine election for Governor
and Senator and members of the House
takes place ins September, almost two
months before the the general election
in other States. Both Republicans and
Democrats will be engaged in a drive
Of unusual proportions this year to carry
the Pine Tree State, for the psychological
effect.
Down in West Virginia the United
Mine Workers made their play recently
for control of the State government
through the nomination on the Demo-
cratic ticket of the organizations own
nxHA;Io%~ . u;o uav nfffrav