Evening star., 1938-08-14

W. 0cQAUOI MO1IU onepp0fQ 70
head the Committee on CAM
paign Expenditures and Use Of
Government Funds, people took 1t as . sra-
cious gesture to fellow Texan. well deserv-
ing honors Of any kind from . party to
which he has been devoted for more than
certain insiders are reading . new signin-
cance in the choice Of Senator Sheppard.
They are beginning to believe the willy Vice
President has pulled . subtle and perhaps
highly political coup.
According to several observers who have
slipped into the little cubbyhole in the
Capitol where the Texas Senator. always
an indefatigable worker. is perspiring
through the Washington summer. the whole
question of use and misuse of Federal funds
and the interference of the Federal Gov-
ernment In State affairs may be In for an
airing It has never had before.
The reason is this: Senator Sheppard,
father Of prohibition. has discovered in his
committee work something Of far greater
moment than 4 mere Craftsmanship Job.
He has found a moral issue. And when
the little Sheppard Of Kingdom Come" as
he was called when he fought for the
18th amendment and won the respect Of
even the most rabid vets for his sincerity.
gets hold Of moral issue, he goes to town
with 1t.
Challenge TO Power.
More than that. Senator Sheppard sees
In the cleaning up Of the whole question
Of corruption in elections misuse Of public
and private moneys. coercion. injection Of
Federal influence in State a1air-a chal-
lenge to the power Of democracy which is
now assailed from so many fronts, at home
and abroad.
The Senator was asked If in his long ex-
perience in public life-he is dean Of Con-
gress by virtule Of length Of service in
both Houses-the Senate had ever under
taken as definite and positive action in
checking election frauds as the present
Committee on Campaign Expenditures is
planning, and he replied:
There has never been a more construc-
tive or as positive an effort made toward
laying the foundation for a new body of
law and practice regarding election
methods
1T is necessary to do this right now" he
added with emphasis. because Of the in
creasing power Of the Federal Government
and the tremendous increase in the SPEND
ing of public funds With the evidence
gathered, this committee will make a re-
port upon which bill will be based which
will safeguard the sovereignty OF the States
from the interference of the Federal Gov
ernment
Sees Law Necessary.
"Such . law is necessary in an age Of
machines and Capitalization to check
'machinism' and materialism"
In the last word in that sentence is the
clue to the Senator's attitude which his
friends say is behind the seriousness with
which he has taken up what many be-
lieved would be merely q routine Job. He
has made no specific comment on the evi-
dence already uncovered by the commit
tees agents who have been watching the
senatorial primaries But the comment of
Senator Walsh. . committee member, to the
effect that If charges already at hand were
proved the Nation would be shocked. sug-
gests the reason for Senator Sheppard's
deep concern in the question.
Senator Walsh Is known to be determined
to make the investigation more than =
whitewashing party, and the other Demo-
cratic members Of the committee, Senator
ON1ahoney and Senator Harrison, are said
to hold similar views while Senator White
Of Maine can be counted on to uphold the
Republican end Of the job.
Crusader Spirit.
But 1t Is the crusader spirit In the quiet,
unassuming chairman that can be counted
on to carry the issue through to the finish
II his past record IS any criterion. He is
proud Of his outstanding welfare" legisla-
ton. as he calls 1t. Prohibition is gone but
by no means forgotten by him. He has
never failed to preach his birthday" ser
mon on every anniversary Of the passage
of the eighteenth amendment. That was
repealed. But his famous Sheppard
Towner Maturity Act. which caused Al
most as bitter controversy Is prohibition
itself, Is now written into the framework Of
our social security legislation. OF his Fed.
sra! Credit Onion Act b. = equally proud.
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