Evening star., 1938-08-22
HOPK|NSASSA|LS
FUND APPEAL To
RELIEF WORKERS
Disapproves' Alliance Drive
for $4,000 to Fight
Rep. 0'Connor.
SAYS MOVE is LEGAL,
BUT HE DlSLIKES IDEA
Reiterates That No One in W.P.A.
Will Lose Job Because of
Way He Votes.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
HYDE PARK, N. Y, Aug. o.
Harry Hopkins, the w. p A. admin
istrator, expressed sharp criticism to-
day of reported effort by the Work.
ers' Alliance to raise campaign funds
from New York relief workers.
Mr.. Hopkins discussed with news
men reports that the alliance was
seeking to raise S5O,OoO with which
to fight Representative John j. O'Con-
nor, a sharp administration critic,
who is seeking denomination in New
York.
Mr.. Hopkins spent the night with
President Roosevelt at the summer
White House here. He told reporters
today the Workers Alliance, an Or
gani5ation of w P. A. workers, has
a perfect legal right to ask funds
from W. P A. workers. But he added:
II just don't like the idea-that's
all I think it's bad. I don't care who
the money is being raised for or
against"
Vote Freedom Reiterated.
Representative O'Connor recently
was criticized by Mr.. Roosevelt as
being one of the most effective OBJ
structionists in the lower house" He
is opposed for denomination by James
H. Fay, a staunch administration sup
porter.
Mr. Hopkins reiterated earlier as
sertions that W. P. A. workers are
perfectly free to vote as they wish.
mo one has ever been able to pin
on us a case of any one being fired
because of the way he voted" Mr..
Hopkins said There is no one who
is going to lose his job in any OF
these States that are being discussed
because of the way he votes"
Distinction Seen.
Mr. Hopkins said ne thought there
was q distinction between the sollclta-
ton of campaign funds from relief
workers and members of the w. P. A.
supervisory force.
He was questioned specifically about
the Pennsylvania situation, where SEN
ator Joe Guffey recently sent out let
ters to Federal and State officials ask
ing campaign contributions.
Mr.. Hopkins emphasized that the
letters went to State officials as well
as w. P. A. and other Federal au-
thorities. He said he thought cam
paign committee had right to ask
for funds from officials, and that it
had always been done.
The w. P. A. official said he talked
over the w. P. A. program with Mr..
Roosevelt and reported that the pres
ent enrolment of about 100000
will be about the peak load
Told that some Wall streeters had
reported a slackening of business re-
Gently, Mr.. Hopkins said he thought
such reports were incorrect.
Sheppard Plans Probe.
Chairman Sheppard, Democrat, Of
Texas said today he would lay before
the Senate Campaign Expenditures
Committee published reports that the
Workers Alliance had appealed to
W. P. A. workers for political con-
tributions.
Senator Sheppard said that under
the committees Interpretation of sec
ton 208 of the criminal code it would
be unlawful for any senatorial can
didate to receive any money or other
valuable thing contributed by per-
son receiving compensation from the
Federal Treasury.
Thus he said, while the Workers
Alliance might legally collect po-
litical contributions from w. P. A..
workers, such money could not be
used directly or indirectly to further
the chances of any senatorial candi-
date
Collection of such contributions
from the workers would be illegal, the
Senator said, if carried on by any
person himself receiving Government
cOmnenSation