Evening star., 1938-06-04
The Political Mill
Senate Gives Amazing Exhibition by Inviting W. P. A.
to Play Politics With Human Misery

ment. They were followed by the
rank and file of New Dealers who Jump
to do the administration's bidding
and by one or two Senators who
might have been expected to vote
otherwise. There were, for example,
the votes Of Senator Harrison of Miss
issippi and OF Snator Tydings of
Maryland against the Hatch amend
ment. Neither Of these Senators took
part in the debate and therefore gave
no reasons for opposing the amend
ment.
On the other hand, several veteran
Progressives who have followed Presi-
dent Roosevelt as the lamb followed
Mary during the last five years. voted
for the Hatch amendment. There were
Senator Norris Of Nebraska, who
helped to perfect the Hatch amend
ment; Senator La Toilette Of Wiscon-
sin and Senator Shipstead Of Mime
sofa, all supporting the amendment.
Sees Death of Democracy.
Sepator Hatch's main reason for
Offering his amendment he gave as
follows: TT is my firm judgment
and belief that If we build up a
system by which we can use funds
from the Federal Treasury to con-
troll the votes of the people of the
Nation, 1t is no exaggeration to say
that the moment that is done democ-
racy in America is dead" Who will
gainsay Mr.. Hatch? Yet in the five
years-almost six years since the
Roosevelt administration began SPEND
ing funds from the Treasury in the
name Of relief-it has put out ap-
proximately $4,000 900 900, and most
of 1t has gone for work relief and
direct relief.
The two principal speeches made
against the amendment were delivered
by Senator Barkley. the Democratic
leader. and Senator Chavez, Mr..
Hatch's colleague from New Mexico.
Mr.. Barkley, mindful of the fact that
a United States Senator Is paid by
the Government and that Senator
should have full right to participate
in political campaigns and elections,
said he would not deny to "any public
servant the same right that I enjoy"
When Senator Hatch called atten-
ton to the fact that Civil Service
law does just that thing, Senator
Barkley countered lamely with the
suggestion that employees who have
lifetime" appointments under the
Civil Service ought to be dealt with
in a manner different from that ap-
piled to Government employees admin
istering the w. P. A. That Is a novel
suggestion.
"Indiscretion" to Barkley.
To Senator Barkley, the statement
made by Mr.. Hopkins the other day
in support Of Mr.. Wearin was no
more than an 'indiscretion." And yet
Mr.. Hopkins is about to have placed
in his hands 81 ,425, 100000 more of
public funds to hand out to those
who are unemployed and in view Of
the Senate's action, to those who vote
right"
Senator Chavez argued that poll
tics Is politics and that We should
have more of it, He said also
that 1t would be unfair to Senator
to deny him the possible support of
such Federal employees as the w. p. A.
administrators If Governors of States
are to have the support of their own
State employees. That's an idea. 1t
seemed to strike home with Senator
Barkley.
The Senate had an opportunity last
night to reverse itself on this issue.
1t was called upon to vote on an
amendment offered by Senator Austin
of Vermont, Republican. The Austin
amendment sought to do Just what
the Hatch amendment did-prevent
the use of the w. p A. as a political
organization. However, it went much
further and would have imposed
fines as high as $1,000 and imprison-
ment of not more than three years.
The Senate stuck to its guns. how
ever, under the leadership Of Senator
Barkley and voted IS to SO to kill
fho opnaydprort