The Washington times., 1938-06-30
HOPKINS DENIES
WPA is USED AS
POLITICAL CLUB
Brands Kentucky Charge
Rank PartisanShip
BY ROBERT A. McGILL

By ROBERT A. McGILL
0.N.S) With the spirited Ken
lucky democratic primary IN mind,
WPA Administrator Harry L. Hop
kinS today cracked back at what
he called malicious partisan at
tempts" to brand his huge relief
dispensing organization political
tool of the Administration.
Hopkins served notice the WPA
will take a fighting stand against
all who seek to undermine the
Federal relief program by mali
cious partisan gossip" and that
it will prosecute any WPA worker
found guilty Of mixing politics
with relief.
DENIES FUNDS MISUSE
His statement, a denial that
WPA funds have been used to
bulwark Senate Majority Leader
Barkley of Kentucky in his cam
paign against Gov. A. B. Happy"
Chandler, was Immediately placed
before the Senate campaign eX-
penditures investigating commit.
tee.
1t followed in less than 24I
hours a statement placed before
the committee by Deputy WPA
Administrator Aubrey Williams de-
dying that WPA is paying "exces-
sive" wages in States where Ad-
ministration candidates are fac
ing stiff opposition in political
campaigns.
Williams statement made par
ticular reference to Kentucky,
Oklahoma, Virginia and North
Carolina.
ABSENTEE VOTE SCANNED
Other matters before the com.
mittee, headed by Senator Shep-
pard Cd Of Texas, included:
1. Continuation of the In
vestigation of Williams speech
- the workers alliance, a WPA
workers organization, in which
he urged members to keep
their friends in power"
2. Investigation of the num-
Der of absentee votes case in
the Republican senatorial prin-
ary in North Dakota, where
Senator Nye is leading Gov. |
William H. LANCER a close race
m the late tabulation.
Senator Sheppard expressed the
opinion that President Roosevelt's
proposed swing through the coun-
try to lend a hand to liberals"
i'll the Democratic primaries, does
not come within the Jurisdiction
OF the committee. The committee
is empowered to investigate cam
paign irregularities and the use
of relief funds in politics. He said
he was speaking only for himself,
and the matter may be discussed
by the committee.
MEETINGS START TODAY
The committee will begin a
series Of meetings today to con-
slider stack of material that has
piled up within the last few days.
Hopkins statement was issued in
reply to newspaper articles charg-
ing WPA relief funds have been
freely used III Kentucky to help
Barkley, who faces stiff opposition
from Chandler.
He declared investigation of the
2l newspaper charges revealed
that only in two instances could
they be supported with evidence,
adding:
II am mindful Of the fact
that in political campaigns
newspapers and others have a
tendency to make loose and un.
supported charges involving the
integrity of the political party
they oppose, but the American
people have a right to know
whether these charges are true
or not.
ST am convinced that the
people will not tolerate the
prostitution Of public funds ap-
propriated to aid the unem.
ployed. BY the same token, they
will not tolerate attempts to
smear public officials who are
trying honestly to do their duty.
"I have on all occasion, where
facts warranted, discharged en-
ployes for coercive or other i'm
proper activities, and I am quite
prepared to do it again when
ever any real evidence is avail
able"