The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1938-06-09
PUMPING THE PRIMARIES

More evidence of the possible poll
teal use of federal relief funds, gath
cred from the taxpayers and used
supposedly to defeat. the depression,
comes from the words of New Deal
statesmen themselves. =" ~ '.'" 7
First, charges in the present pri-
mary campaigns about the use of po-
litical pressure on PWA and WPA
workers came from Pennsylvania, and
these were so serious that a grand
jury investigation was threatened.
Mr.. Hopkins, generous dispenser of
the public funds in Washington, made
the grandiose announcement that his
department was free from political
pressure and that those on his relief
work rolls were free to vote as they
pleased
Curiously enough, however, it was
a statement of Mr.. Hopkins himself
which first set off the fireworks in
Congress. In response of query from
a newspaperman, Mr. Hopkins is
quoted as stating that were he in
Iowa he would vote for Congressman
Wearin against Senator Gillette for
the Democratic nomination for the
United States Senate. Mr.. Hopkins
only few days before had endorsed
Candidate Hess against Governor
Martin in Oregon, but this endorse
ment caused little comment
In the Iowa situation, however, his
words had an immediate effect. In
the Senate came denunciations from
Senator Wheeler and others alleging
that the New Deal administration, was
seeking to defeat all Democratic SEN
ators who had had the temerity to
vote against President Roosevelt's
court packing bill. In, addition to
Iowa, it is charged that the New
Dealers are seeking to cook up oppo-
sition against Senator George in
Georgia, McCarran in Nevada, Loner-
gan in Connecticut and Tydings in
Maryland, where it is said Congress-
man Lewis is being groomed as a
candidate
1t is reported that this New Deal
strategy is being arranged by such
political geniuses as Mr.. Ickes, Mr..
Hopkins, Tommy Corcoran and Jimmy
Roosevelt. 1t is hardly necessary to
state that National Chairman James
A. Farley, with his political astute-
ness, opposes the idea and is calling
for harmony within the! Democratic
ranks.
1t is becoming evident that the
anti-court packing senators do not in
tend to take their medicine lying
down, and the future holds some in
teresting political potentialities.
In the meantime some interesting
comparisons may be drawn. 1t will be
remembered that private employers
have frequently been charged with
seeking to influence the, votes of their
workers by pay-envelope pressure.
Now with the Roosevelt depression
reaching its lowest depths, Mr.. Hop
kins is the biggest employer in the
United States. In making known his
choice of New Deal candidates he is
eXerting a pressure which would call
down the wrath of the high heavens
on hapless private employers who
would take the same attitude, and for
the same reasons. i,
When the pump-priming bill was
put under way some Republican
statesman was facetious enough tc
state that the bill was not intended
primarily to prime the pump but tC
pump the primaries. 1t begins to APP
pear that the statement is not humor.
Gus but a sober fact. Of course the
New Deal purveyors of relief would
MT play politics with human misery
But just the same they are not averst
to using their INFLUENCE which comes
solely through their ability to spread
relief funds-for the purpose of pack
ing the Democratic primaries. The
general election will come later