Evening star., 1938-09-09
Politics
Continued From First Pare.)

Politics
Continued From First Page)
almost exclusively in political activ-
tiles for Gov. Chandler.
After studying the Maryland cam
paign, the committee referred to the
Justice Department and to Postmaster
General Farley its conclusion that
Mrs. Maude Toulson, postmistress of
Salisbury, Nd, had broken Federal
law and postal regulations by assist
ing Representative Lewis, administra-
ton opponent Of Senator Tydinss.
Representative Lewis has announced
he will defend Mrs. Toulson against
the charges
THE fact that she was acting vol
unfairly, as claimed by her, or that
she was actuated by the desire to sup
port the national administration pol
icies does not justify violating the law
or the regulations of the Federal Gov
ernment relating to Federal employees
in the Postal Department" the COM
mittee said.
Although the committees complaint
against Mrs. Toulson had not reached
the Department of Justice this morn
ing, it was said at the Office of the
Attorney General that an independent
investigation by G-men of the charges
is in prospect.
1t is the policy in such cases. it was
explained, for the department to make
its own inquiry and then. on the basis
OF its findings. to decide whether
prosecution action is justified Attor-
ney General Cummings returned to-
day from New England, but had moth
ing to say regarding the complaint
against the Salisbury postmistress.
Mrs. Toulson Denies Violations.
Mrs. Toulson, informed of the COM
mittee's action. said she had done
nothing irregular, but that she was
perfectly willing to pay the price" if
some persons believed she had acted
improperly in her loyalty and al
legiance to President Roosevelt"
Meanwhile, Secretary Perkins an
nounced she would investigate COM
plants that Frank S. Revell, district
immigration commissioner at Balti-
more. had engaged in political acttu-
ties for Senator Tydings.
In the letter TO Mr.. Hopkins the
committe said, I'VE feel that our ef-
forts will result in accomplishing little
to prevent these abuses unless we have
your enthusiastic and hearty support"
Submitting additional reports of in
vestigators. Chairman Sheppard con-
tinued, This summary impresses the
committee as tending to indicate that
in certain parts of Kentucky, if not
in fact in the whole State, officials
and agents Of the w. P. A. have
flagrantly violated the regulations with
respect to political activity. We be-
lieve also that some of this evidence,
supported by afidavits, indicates viola
tions Of criminal statutes" Senator
Sheppard asked the Social Security
Board to say what action it intended
to take in view Of the evidence and
what legislation it could recommend
to prevent future abuses"
The committee wrote the board that
funds were solicited from these (social
security workers and in many in
stances virtually assessed in the politi-
cal interest of Candidate A. B.
Chandler"
State Workers Levied.
The letter said that $7,700 was COL
lected from employees Of the Old-Age
Assistance Division OF the Kentucky
State Welfare Department, each Of
10 district supervisors collecting ap-
proximately 2 per cent OF the annual
salaries of employees under their direc-
ton. Each supervisor. the committee
asserted, turned in the amount he
collected to DR.. A. Y. Lloyd, State
director of the Old-Age Assistance
who paid it in turn to Sherman Good
paster, Chandler campaign official.
A total of $500 was collected from
$50 employees Of the Unemployment
Compensation Commission of Ken
lucky on 2 PEI cent basis, the COM
mittee reported, and $56,09970 was
collected from the personnel of the
Kentucky Highway Department.
Funds collected from Unemployment
Compensation employees, the commit
tee said, were turned over to L. G.
Forquer, supervisor Of personnel for
the commission, and paid by him to
Mr.. Goodpaster.
The highway collections, the letter
said, also went to Mr.. Goodpaster.
An additional $4.243.s0, the committee
found, was collected from the State
Welfare Department and turned over
to Mr.. Goodpaster
No Receipts Given.
"All of the funds so deposited were
disbursed by Sherman Goodpaster
largely without the formality Of
receipt or any record Of payment,
through Eileen Mahoney, secretary to
j. Dan Talbot, financial director Of
the State of Kentucky and campaign
manager for candidate Chandler, j.
johnson, P. Kirtley and Robert Hum
phrey, the latter being State COM
missioner Of highways" the COM
mittee said.
The committee told Mr.. Hopkins its
investigation had disclosed that p. W.
A. officials in the first and second w.
P. A. districts had directed prepara-
ton Of mimeographed sheets, using
ofncial records, for a political canvass
Of w. P. A. workers.
The committee also charged that
project workers were approached by
foremen to sign papers saying they
would support Senator Barley, that
Barkley campaign buttons were passed
out on w. P. A. projects by w. P. A.
oficials, that despite contrary pro.
testations the inyeatisatios, Aiselosas