Evening star., 1938-06-30

w. P. A. workers have been making
out political check lists of w. P. A.
workers, apparently with the object of
finding out their affiliation and lining
up the vote. Lee Garden, chief
w. P. A. supervisor for the district, is
reported to be directing this political
project"
Charge No. 8 Answered.
THE facts concerning charge No. g."
said Mr.. Hopkins, ARE: Lee Garden
did distribute registration cards. We
have taken steps to see that this man
minds his own business. He was told
that any such activity on his part in
the future would result in his being
fired"
Apparently. from Mr.. Hopkins
statement, Mr.. Garden was not fired
for what he had done.
Charge No. Is involved Cleve Keeney.
who was said by Art Hargis. working on
the job, to have told him about two
months ago that the fellows on the
job were going to have to support
Barkley if they stayed on the w. P. A."
Mr.. Hopkins reports. about this
charge, Mr.. Keeney and Mr.. Hargis,
returning from meeting addressed
by Gov. Chandler at Newport. KY,
did discuss politics and Mr.. Keeney
did say that they should support Sem
ator Barkley An affidavit was OBJ
tanned from Mr. Hargis on which this
charge was based. We regard this
remark by Mr.. Keeney as reprehen-
slble and State Administrator Good
man has been instructed to take the
necessary punitive action. Mr.. Hargis
is still on the same w. P. A. project"
Mr.. Hopkins did not say what the
necessary punitive action" was.
Claims Accusation Disproved.
After concluding comment on 20
charges-all of which except the two
just mentioned-were discredited, Mr..
Hopkins continued:
There you have the record on every
specific charge made in this series of
articles. Against the unsupported
statements Of the reporter and the
afhdavits of disgruntled workers and
party workers, stands the documented
evidence and the sworn testimony dis
proving every important accusation.
General charges of political favor
ltism by w. P. A. officials have been
based upon these specific cases. They
have no more validity than the spe-
clflc cases upon which they depend
for support, and thorough investi-
CATION, as fully set forth above, has
swept away their foundation in fact.
Il recognize that in a far-flung or
ganization covering the $500 counties
in America, with $4,000 projects and
2.700, 900 workers. there will occur in
dlscretions by overzealous partisans in
the midst Of heated campaigns. but
that is a vastly different thing from
planned and organized political
campaign on the part of the respon-
sible heads of any Government agency.
Il am mindful of the fact that in
political campaigns newspapers and
others have tendency to make loose
and unsupported charges involving the
integrity of the political party they
oppose. In the heat of a campaign
partlsans on occasion give out mis-
leading and inaccurate information.
This seems to be inherent in our DO
ntical system. While know that this
series OF articles was based on inaccu-
rate information, am quite aware
of the fact nevertheless that other
similar misleading and inaccurate
statements may be made before the
coming elections are over.
The American people have a right
to know whether these charges are
true or not. / am convinced that