Evening star., 1938-06-08
SENATORS AWAIT
ROOSEVELT WORD
ON POLITICS QUIZ
Resolution for Probe of
W. P. A. Activity Charge
Given Committee.
$4,000 IS NOT ENOUGH,
TOWNSEND DECLARES
Holt, Saying He Is Friend of
Senator Gillette, Denounces
Hopkins Statement.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN,

BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.
Administration leaders in the Senate
today were waiting for some word from
the White House regarding the Tydings
resolution calling for the appointment
of a special committee Of three Sen
ators to investigate charges Of w. P.
A. political activity.
The resolution, which is indorsed
also by nine other Democratic Sena-
tors, was referred to the Committee
on Audit and Control of Contingent
Expenses of the Senate, since it car
ries an appropriation of $4,000 to
make the investigation. Senator
Byrnes of South Carolina, chairman
of the committee, declined to express
an opinion on the resolution. but said
he would call his committee together
when he had an opportunity. He called
attention to the fact that 10 or a dozen
other resolutions also are before that
committee.
Senator Townsend Of Delaware, the
Republican member of the committee
said it would be farce If a special
investigating committee to look into
w. P. A. political activity was given
only $4,000. He said such a COM
mittee should have at least $4,000.
Meanwhile the agitation over the
use Of the w. p A. organization in
political campaigns continued un-
abated. President Roosevelt's COM
ment yesterday to the effect that
Harry L. Hopkins was justified in
announcing he would vote for Repre-
sentative Wearin in the Iowa primary
failed to allay criticism.
Opposes Statement.
Senator Holt, Democrat, OF West
Virginia, who has bitterly criticized
Mr.. Hopkins and the w. p. A. for
political activity, said today:
Harry Hopkins is quoted as saying
that Gillette should be elected to the
Senate. I am a friend of Senator Gil
lette. but such statement should bt
condemned just as much as the state
ment he made in support Of Wearin.
There is no difference between TAX
ing part in the Democratic primaries
and taking part in a contest between
parties. Both mean playing politics. I
hope some of my Democratic COL
leagues will join in condemning his
most recent statement"
The Tydings resolution, which made
no specific reference to the Iowa situa-
ton, was offered by administration
supporters as well as Roosevelt critics.
The signers, in addition to Senator
Tydings, were Senators Adams of
Colorado, Bulkley of Ohio, Burke of
Nebraska, George of Georgia, Gerry OF
Rhode Island, Hatch of New Mex
leo, King of Utah, McAdoo of Cali
fornia and Wagner of New York.
Will Try Again.
Senator Hatch said he would try
again at the next session to impose
restrictions on participation by relief
workers in party conventions or other
political activities.
He was the author of an amend
ment to the $3,723. 3.000,0 900 relief bill
to require dismissal of w. P. A. ad-
ministrative employees who used their
influence in elections. On one test
last week. the proposal failed by a
single vote.
Senator Gillette's victory led Senators
Wheeler, Democrat, of Montana and
Burke, Democrat. of Nebraska to pre-
dict that administration ieutenants
would be chary of intervening in other
primary contests. Like Senator Gill
lette, the two Senators opposed the
Presidents court bill.