Evening star., 1938-07-28
BLAST At SMITH
|SSUED>BY |CKES
Veteran Democrat Trying
to Ride Coat Tails Of
P. WA, He SAYS.

secretary OF tne interior lckeS
charged today that Representative
Howard w, Smith, Democrat, Of vir-
ginia, who Is seeking denomination In
the neighboring eighth congressional
district, was trying to muscle In" on
the New Deal and ride to victory ION
the coat tails Of the P. w. A."
Secretary Ickes. whose sympathies
are clearly with William E. Dodd, jr.,
New Deal opponent Of the veteran
Representative, was irked by circula-
tion Of letter signed by President
J. L. Newcomb of the University of
| Virginia, crcdning Mr.. Smith with
obtaining P. w. A. loans and grants
forsnew construction at the university.
Asserting emphatically that Mr..
smith's influence was "nil' in secur-
ing p. W. A. funds anywhere in his
district the Secretary retorted:
1T looks TO me that this letter
was written in the Smith headquar-
tiers, and President Newcomb merely
signed on the dotted line"
Turns Attention From Maryland.
Early in the week Secretary Ickes,
while commenting on the news over
the radio, made thrust at Senaor
Tydings in the Maryland senatorial
primary contest. He turned his at
tention for the first time today to
the hot contest being waged across
the river in Arlington County. and
other sections in the eighth Virginia
district, where Representative Smith
has been supreme until his tenure
became threatened by Mr.. Dodd.
Mr.. Ickes charged that the Virginia
Representative had deliberately OBJ
structed New Deal measures" in Con-
,, gress, after first voting for the National
Recovery Act. He declared Mr. Smith
had voted against extension of the
P. w. A. in 1885. under which law the
University OF Virginia obtained the
allotments OF funds for which he was
credited.
SO far as my information is con-
cerned. Representative Smith has had
no influence whatever in obtaining
| funds for the University of Virginia
or anywhere else in his district. and his
influence in these matters is nil," Mr..
Ickes said. This is just another case
OF Mr.. Smith using a political cam
paign to muscle in on the New Deal.
Vote Record Cited.
Except for the National Recovery
ACT. Congressman Smith has voted
against every major New Deal bill and
all acts extending the P. w. "A.
Now he is trying to ride in on the
coat tails OF the P. w. A. don't
think that is sporting"
P. w. A. officials said today 4 total
of s2,l33,4o0 has been provided the
University Of Virginia in loans and
grants, including sums for a new arts
building. class halls, hospital and
library.
These projects were considered en-
tirely on their merits and the p. w. A.,
did not consult with Representa- tive
Smith about them,' Mr.. Ickes ex-
planned
The circulated letter from the Vir-
ginia educator. which was addressed
to the Representative, referred to a
communication from F. Coleman
Rosenberger. president Of the Student
Dodd-for Congress Club Mr.: Rosen-
berger's letter was addressed to the
students, faculty, alumni and all
friends OF the University OF Virginia.
President Newcombs Letter.
In this letter OF Mr.. Rosenberger's,"
| President Newcomb wrote, on July Is.
| there occurs the following statement:
Throughout his eight years in ONCE
Representative Smith has callously
disregarded the welfare of the uni
versity'"
President Newcomb added that the
University of Virginia has never
taken part. nor does 1t now take part
in any political campaign either with
in or without the confines of the Com
monwealth."
He went on: 1T never undertakes
to prefer one candidate for Office to
another candidate for office. but, in
reply to your letter, I am impelled to
say that during your eight years in
office, I. as president Of the university,
have had frequent occasion to con-
suit your helpfulness concerning mat
ters pending in the departments at
Washington.
Loyal Service Recalled.
you have always rendered loyal
and efficient service to the University
of Virginia whenever it has been re-
quested of you. recall with gratitude
and appreciation your effectiveness in
! certain of our requests for loans and
grants from the Public Works Ad-
ministration"
Secretary Ickes. who had received a
mimeographed copy Of the letter. re-
minded that Mr.. Rosenberger in his
reference to Representative Smith had
raised no question about the P. w. A.
He charged that President Newcomb
no doubt had written for political
motives"