Evening star., 1938-06-14
WHEELER SCORES
RELIEF POLITICS
In Forum Talk, He Calls
Hopkins Tactics Threat
to Democracy.


by Senator Burton K. Wheeler, Demo-
crat, of Montana on politics and the
Works Progress Administration, de-
livered last night on the National
Radio Forum, arranged by The Star
and broadcast over a Nation-w wide
network of the National Broadcasting
Co.:
Tonight it is my privilege, through
the courtesy of The Washington Star,
to address you on a practice which,
though condoned by many high in
public service. in my judgment, con-
stitutes real threat to the processes
Of democratic government in the
United States
Political activity by the relief
agencies, upon whom millions of the
underprivileged depend for sustenance,
has been inferentially condoned by the
United States Senate, and expressly
defended by other public authorities.
But, to my mind, there is not. nor
can there be, any defense for playing
politics with human misery.
Morality and good sense demanded
passage of the Hatch or Austin
amendments. The amendment to pre-
vent political activities by executives
charged with handling relief was
supported by some % Democratic
Senators, by II Republican members
and by Farmer-Laborite Shipstead,
Independent Norris and Progressive La
Toilette.
Amendment Praised.
The defeated amendment would not
have completely insured non-political
and non-partisan administration of
relief, but it would have minimized
the danger of any coercion of those
who, through no fault of their own,
must look to the Government for aid
during one of the worst depressions of
our time. In the debate which pre-
ceded Senate rejection of the Hatch
amendment, heard Senators defend
the old spoils system. I heard the
extension of that system to the ad-
ministration of relief advocated on
the grounds of political necessity
1t seemed to some of us that an all
time low was reached in the Senate
during that debate 1t was contended
that political activity in the w. P. A.
and other relief agencies was not only
all right, but necessary in order that
Democratic Senators might retain
their seats in the body. This debate
countenances the political exercise of
power derived from the expenditure of
billions for public purposes.
Through economic pressure it Is
possible to subvert democracy. Eco
nomic coercion may and can prevent
the operation of the basic mechanics
of democracy. Liberals and others of
all parties have long contended that
economic coercion renders worker
an economic and political slave.
With that contention have agreed
and do agree. With that philosophy,
I am in accord.
1 have personally experienced, and
you good people have doubtlessly OBJ
served economic pressure exerted by
corporations upon their employees to
vote for or against certain candidates
for Offices from constable to President.
Through economic pressure great cor
porations and other employers have
sought to destroy the independence of
their workers. Some Montana work.
ers who too openly or too fervently
espoused my candidacy have on occa-
sions been blacklisted or otherwise
Disseminated against. Corporations
have sought to defeat me through
such economic coercion. They will do
it again. Farmers have been warned
by those to whom they owed money
that to vote for me would spell eco
nomic disaster. This destruction of
the independence of large groups. by
whomsoever attempted. is inimical to
our form of government.
More Than Gratitude Felt.
II am wrong in condemning these
coercive practices by the great corpo-
rations of the country, then am
wrong in condemning the administra-
tor Of a relief agency for having
projected himself and his organization
into political elections? If am right
in condemning these practices by cor
porations and private industries, am I
not much more right in condemning
such practices on the part Of Govern
ment officials charged with distributing
relief?
Those who administer relief, those
through whom benefits are paid to
the farmer, to the worker or other
private persons are possessed of a tre-
mendous power to influence elections.
Whenever Federal funds are dispensed,
the beneficiaries thereof feel debt of
gratitude. That feeling is seldom di-
rected to the American taxpayer who
furnishes the money, seldom to the
Congress who appropriates the money,
but rather to the appointed agent who
administers the funds. w. P. A.
workers feel more than sense OF
gratitude; they look to the Works
Progress Administration as their sole
means of support The farmer who
receives an agricultural benefit check
neither feels nor expresses gratitude
to all the people or to the Congress.
He recognizes only the administration
AAOAAi liC 1CSClFSo VIC CIlSCk as
his benefactor.
Thus it is that the w. P. A. worker
will heed the word of the agent who
satisfies his hunger, who clothes his
body and who furnishes him shelter.
This constitutes a perfect example of
economic slavery that we have heard
so much about. The very existence
OF a true political democracy has
been challenged by some students on
the ground that it is impossible in
q society that has definite employer
and employe classes. Different peo-
Piles OF Europe have exchanged per-
sonal liberty for only promises of
economic security. Hunger and des-
tltution recognize as master that agen-
cy which alleviates. Economic de-
pendence can easily and readily extin-
guish political independence.
In 1886, when employers placed GER
tain slips in the pay envelopes of their
employees, leaders of the Democratic
&