Evening star., 1938-06-14

express his political opinions as does a
United States Senator. challenge
that statement. No one wants to deny
alienable rights, but only men blinded
by misguided party zeal can fail to
see the clear distinction between the
political activity of an elective repre-
sentative of the people to the Con-
gress and the activity Of an appointed
administrative official with millions of
dollars at his disposal for hungry men
and women. The Senator or the Con-
gresham Is a politician elected to the
Office by the people of his State. He
is elected as a Democrat or Repub-.
lican. He is expected to take posi-
tive stand on political issues. If the
people of his State do not like his
political views and actions, they will
not return him to Office. But the dis
pensers of Federal funds have been
appointed to their offices, and the peo-
Pile cannot vote them out. These ad-
ministrators should only administer
the public funds appropriated by the
Congress as the Congress directs. They
have been directed by Congress TO
spend large sums of money to alleviate
the misery and suffering of millions
of unemployed people of this Nation.
Not the suffering merely of the unem-
ployed Democrats or of the unemployed
Republicans. but to all classes regard
less OF race, religion or political creed
Peoples should not be told they must
change then registration from Re-
publican to Democrat or in any other
manner. The money was appropriated
for the people of the United States
who need jobs. Hunger knows no
political boundaries and relief admin
istrators should be equally unaware of
party delineations. Because the dis
tress and needs Of different sections
predictable, the Congress has given
the administrators of relief broad dis
cretion to facilitate prompt and eff
cient alienation of misery and want.
If the will of Congress Is to be done
and the trust of a Nation is to 60
dAADA SotAlCd, tAAC okoSi CtlS'iAaAy POWClo
intrusted to administrators of relief
must be handled with the greatest
impartiality and objectivity of which
men are capable. The officials of the
Works Progress Administration spend
the money-Senators and Congress-
gresham has nothing to spend. moth
ing with which to purchase-he can
but furnish the means and regulate
their use in a manner compatible to
the situation.
"Frankenstein" Created.
1t is indeed breach of faith If
the relief administrators use that
broad power to destroy Senators and
Congressman who have voted contrary
to the wishes of the executive depart
ment. If the power is so used, we
members of Congress have fashioned
a Frankenstein which has turned
from its appointed job Of mercy and
rehabilitation to battle and destroy
its creators. The people of the Ma
tion want and are entitled to the
atives on issues political and eco
nomic. What Senator or Congress-
man says will be debited or credited
to him by the people of his State 1t
is the people who command and their
representatives who obey. But an
appointed relief official who controls
the spending of billions of dollars is
not directly responsible to the voters.
His opinion is that of one who may
give or Withhold the necessities of life.
He, of course, is entitled to his own
personal opinion as to the candidacy
of one seeking office, but he is mis-
using his Office if he gives that opinion
as relief administrator to influence the
millions dependent on the funds he
distributes.
The President of the United States