Evening star., 1938-04-24
W.P.A. COERCION
PROBE ENLARGED
Barton Plans Bill as New
Charges Fly in Florida
and Pennsylvania.

ton extended its investigation of
charges that relief workers are being
coerced to work for reelection of New
Deal candidates to include Florida,
Representative Barton, Republican, of
New York today announced he would
introduce tomorrow an amendment to
the Corrupt Practices Act making it
a penitentiary offense for any official
In charge of the distribution of Gov
eminent funds to influence in any
manner the political beliefs or actions
of a recipient
The investigation of the Florida
W. P. A. was ordered today in response
to a complaint by Representative j.
Mark Wilcox that 10000 political
parasites" have been given relief jobs
to work for the reelection of Senator
Claude Pepper. Representative Wilcox
is opposing Senator Pepper in a pri-
mary contest for the Democratic sena-
torial nomination.
Pennsylvania Row Probed.
A similar order was issued last
night to Francis F. Dryden field rep
resentative in Pennsylvania, to look
into charges brought directly to the
attention of President Roosevelt by
John B. Kelly. chairman of the Phila-
. delphia Democratic City Committee,
that Senator Joseph F. Guffy, New
Deal boss of Pennsylvania democ-
racy, was "coercing" relief workers
In the primary contest
The Florida primary election will
be held next Tuesday and the Penn
sylvania election May II.
Representative Barton likened his
proposal to the provision in the Wag-
ner Act making it illegal for an en-
ployer to try in any way to influence
the opinions of an employe.
The New York Republican asserted
there was ample evidence that both
relief and agricultural funds are being
used for political purposes. especially
to suppress criticism of any phase of
the New Deal.
Cites Loan Agreement.
He cited an agreement which citi-
oens who received rehabilitation loans
were required to sign, containing the
following clause:
Il agree that at any time prior to
the final liquidation of my loan from
the Rural Rehabilitation Corp, to do
nothing that is in opposition to the
A. A. A. program"
He also declared persons seeking
relief in Kalamazoo, Mich, were ques-
toned how they voted in the 1884
primary and how much they contrib
uted to the Democratic organization
in Kalamazoo County.
Such questionnaire, Mr. Barton
contended, was specific evidence of
violation of the constitutional bill of
rights guaranteeing the right of free
speech and of political as we'll as re-
ligious opinions and affiliations.
Mr.. Barton also alluded to instruc-
tions by Democratic leaders in Phila-
delphia, Contact all houses in your
division and get the names of all men
on relief. also of those holding w. P.
a. jobs. Urge them to register Demo-
cratic on March 26 or else lose their
Jobs"
Charges w. P. A. in Patronage.
Representative Wilcox, in telegram
to Aubrey Williams, assistant w. P. A.
administrator, charged not only that
relief workers were being forced to
work for his opponent, but that choice
administrative jobs in the Florida w.
P. A. organization were being doled out
on a patronage basis. He mentioned
the appointment of the wife of r. L.
Bowling, Florida conservation commits
sloner. as district supervisor of a w.
P. A. tourist survey, as a fragrant in
stance of patronage appointment and
called for purge of patronage ap-
polntees" The tourist survey project,
he added, was organized solely for the
purpose of putting Pepper political
workers on the pay roll.
Senator Pepper, staunch supporter
Of the President. is running with the
Endorsement of the White House, indi-
rectly conveyed by James Roosevelt,
the Presidents eldest son and political
liaison man.
Summary action was promised by
Mr.. Williams in Both Florida and
Pennsylvania, if the charges OF i'm
proper influencing of relief workers
were substantiated.
(Copyrisht, 1898, by New York Herald
Trbune)