Evening star., 1938-09-10
POLITICS IN RELIEF
PROBE DEMANDED
Independent Quiz Is Asked
by Townsend as Basis
for Future Spending.
By the Associated Press.

0y tOS hbtOCletcu EIcbb.
Senate investigators reports Of po-
litical activity by Kentucky w. P. A.
ofncials brought Republican demand
today for a broad congressional in
quiry into politics in relief.
Senator Townsend, Republican. of
Delaware, said an independent investi-
cation of w. P. A. participation in
political campaigns was needed to as
sure the next Congress that funds for
w. P. A. would not be spent on poll
tics instead Of going for relief"
1t Is a terrible thing to use w. P. A.
funds for political purposes" the Della
ware Senator said. 1T is about the
lowest thing know Of
His comment was provoked by an
exchange between Chairman Sheppard
Of the Senate Campaign Expenditures
Committee and Harry L. Hopkins,
Works Progress Administrator. over the
significance Of Investigators reports
on the recent Kentucky Democratic
primary.
Mr.. Sheppard charged that W. P. A.
officials "hagrantly violated" rules
against political activity to aid the
successful denomination campaign Of
Senator Barkley, Democrat, Of Ken
lucky, administration leader, against
Gov. A. B. Chandler.
Denies Aiding Barkley.
Mr. Hopkins denied, in a letter to
the committee yesterday, that a can
vass to determine political Affiliations
Of w. P. A. workers In two Kentucky
counties was an attempt to aid Sena-
tor Barkley. He said it was done to
meet complaint that a preponderant
number Of persons being certified fol-
relief we're Republicans and that
Democrats were being Disseminated
against"
The administrator added that he saw
mo cause or reason for disciplinary
action"
Committee Investigators also re-
ported there was evidence that vel
fare and highway workers in Ken
lucky were assessed to finance Gov.
Chambers campaign.
Mr.. Sheppard called the committee
into session in an effort to try to re-
port on Democratic senatorial primary
campaigns in Maryland and Georgia
before the elections next week.
Roosevelt Intervenes.
President Roosevelt has intervened
in both States in behalf of candidates
opposing the incumbent Senator'S, Mil
lard E. Tydings of Maryland and
Walter F. George Of Georgia. Mary
land voters will choose their nominees
Monday; Georgias primary is two
days later.
There was q possibility that the
committee might defer action on those
campaigns because two members, Sen
ators White, Republican, Of Maine
and Walsh. Democrat, Of Massachu.
sets, were out Of the city. Chairman
Sheppard said. however, that he hele
proxies, and that he expected Sen.
ator O'Mahoney, Democrat, Of Wyo.
ming. another member, to arrive dur.
ing the day.
Committee investigators were ex'
pected to report on an inquiry int,
charges by Representative David J
Lewis, principal opponent Of MI
Tydings. that the Senator had received
campaign contributions in addition t,
those he reported to the committee
and complaints by Mr.. Tydings o
political activity by Federal employe
on behalf Of Mr.. Lewis.
The committee also intended to con
slider action on reports that Fedora
ofnciak lost their jobs in Georgia be
cause they supported Senator George
The President indorsed Lawrence
Camp.