Evening star., 1938-05-26
HOPKINS CENSURE
MOvE,cONS|DERED
Johnson Hits Endorsement
of Candidate in Iowa
Primary Race.
BY the Associ istsd Press.

TIuIIdi ndOCs
BY the Associated Press.
Anti administration members today
considered asking the Senate to CEN
sure an informal Endorsement by w.
P. A. Administrator Harry Hopkins of
Representative Wearin's candidacy for
the Democratic senatorial nomination
in Iowa.
Senator johnson, Republican, of
California was understood to be draft
ing a censure resolution after col
leagues of Senator Gillette. Democrat,
OF Iowa, against whom Mr.. Wearin is
campaigning, angrily accused Mr..
Hopkins of making political weapon
of the Works Progress Administration
Although Mr.. Hopkins made no
comment on the criticism voiced in
the Senate yesterday, he reiterated his
intention to see that all w. P. A. work.
ers are free to vote as they wish.
That statement was made last night
in reply to a letter from Judge Brady
NJ Stewart of Louisville, who had writ
ten President Roosevelt that Federal
relief agencies were using "reprehensi-
BILE" measures in support Of Senator
Barkley, Democrat, Of Kentucky. Mr..
Stewart is campaign manager for Gov.
A. B. Chandler, Senator Barkley's op-
ponent in the August primary.
Asks Specific Charges.
Declaring Mr.. Stewards charges were
general, Mr. Hopkins invited him to
submit specific instances Of political
coercion, and added:
II have used every channel of COM
munication available to make clear to
employees and project workers of this
administration that their political be-
liefs and activities would in no way
jeopardize their employment on this
program"
The ire Of the Senate's anti-admin-
istration Democrats was aroused by
published reports Mr.. Hopkins had said
that If he were an Iowa voter he would
support Mr.. Wearin.
Senator Wheeler. Democrat, Of Nom
tana, with whom Senator Gillette was
aligned in the fight against the Roose-
welt court bill, told the Senate Mr..
Hopkins might "just as we'll have put
slip in the pay envelope of every in
dividual relief worker in Iowa telling
him to vote against Senator Gillette.
Senator Lewis Agrees.
Senator johnson said that II Mr..
Hopkins made the statement, the
Senate ought to nave the CUTS to de-
nounce it."
Senator Lewis, Democrat, Of Illinois
said he agreed with Senator Johnson's
demand. Senator Barkley, after
telephone conversation with Mr.. Hop
kins, gave this version Of the state
ment:
He (HopkinS) was approached by
newspaper man and asked If he had
any views on the situation in Iowa.
He replied that he was not a citizen
of Iowa, though he was born and raised
there.
"As he was not citizen and not
voter in Iowa he probably had no right
to express an opinion, but if he was
a citizen and had the right to vote, he
would vote as indicated in press re-
ports"
Representative Wearin left for Iowa
last night to resume his speaking cam
paign.
Senator Wheeler broadened his at
tack to assail Endorsement of any
primary candidate by FeAeral official
He declared the administration would
have to take responsibility for the
political remarks not only of Mr. Hop
kins. but also Of Secretaries Ickes and
Wallace and Postmaster General
Farley.
He declared Mr.. Ickes' support Of
Henry L. Hess in the Democratic
gubernatorial primary in Oregon had
an effect on the view of the men
working for him out there" on Public
Works Administration projects.
Intervened in Pennsylvania.
Mr.. Farley's sole public intervention
In this years primaries to date came
just before the Pennsylvania election
last week, when he indorsed Thomas
Kennedy for the gubernatorial nomi-
nation and Gov. George H. Earle for
Senator
Mr.. Kennedy lost and Gov Earle
won. Ever since, the national Demo-
cratic leadership has been trying to
establish harmony between the fac
tions which backed them. using Mr..
Farley's Endorsement as bridge.
Latest OF the peace moves came yes
terday when Gov. Earle. Gubernatorial
Nominee Charles Alvin Jones and
State Chairman David Lawrence called
on President Roosevelt and received
assurances that he was backing whole
heartedly the Earle-Jones ticket.
The big task of the White House,
however, Is to bring John l.. Lewis
and Senator Guffey. who Joined the
c. I. o. chieftain in supporting Ken
nedy, into line behind the ticket.