Evening star., 1939-07-22

OUT OF ufle 16lle1 Da'iu LdWrence
system of the United States.
The measure, which now has been
sent to the White House for sigma
ture, does not by any means go as
far as might be wished in the inter-
est of clean politics, but it is such
a far-reaching step forward that it
represents a milestone in the con-
duct of Federal elections.
The bill, upon close reading, re-
veals that persons throughout the
Government, whether engaged in
relief work or any other agency or
department. cannot take any active
part in political management or in
political campaigns" and cannot use
their official authority or influence
for the purpose of interfering with
an election or affecting the result
thereof"
The only exceptions to the rule
are the personnel of the White
House, the heads and assistant
heads of Government departments
and those officials who hold Federal
Office by virtue of a nomination by
the President and confirmation py
the Senate.
Bottles Up Federal Money.
This excludes a large number of
influential persons such as Post
master General Farley who could
continue to be a political manager
and a Cabinet officer. but it prevents
every one of the officials of the Gov
eminent from using any Govern
ment property or money for cam
palgn purposes or any part of their
official authority or influence"
growing out of any act of Congress
approprlatlng money to be used for
work relief. or otherwise to increase
employment by providing loans and
grants for public works projects"
Nothing in the new legislation pre-
vents high officials from making
campaign speeches or any Federal
employe from expressing his
opinions privately as to his prefer
ence." Any opinions expressed, how
ever, which seek to coerce or intimi-
date other voters would be viola
ton of the new law.
There are no exceptions at all, in
cldentally, to that provision of the
new measure which says that it is
unlawful for ANY person to intimi-
date, threaten or coerce any other
person for the purpose of influencing
his vote. 1t is unlawful also for
ANY person" without exception "di-
rectly or indirectly to promise any
employment, position, work, COM
pensatlon or other benefit provided
for or made possible by any act of
Congress, to any person as consider
alton, favor. or reward for any DO
htlcal activity or for the support or
opposition to any candidate or any
political party in any election"
Curtails Fear" Preachment.
This would seem to include party
primary contests as we'll as final
elections, and would preclude poll
ticians in high or low positions from
saying that persons on relief would
lose their jobs or benefits. that home
owners would have their mortgages
foreclosed or that anybody receiving
any benefit under any existing law
would lose the same if he or she
didn't vote as prescribed by the
Federal employe or high official in
question
These provisions apply to persons
IN politics either outside or inside the
Government, whether State officials
or State political managers, or. in
TACT. to any political precinct worker
anywhere in the United States.
Nor is it going to be lawful here
after for "any person." whether en-
ployed by the Government or any,
where else, to solicit contributions
'or to be in any manner concerned
IN soliciting. any assessment. SUBJ
scrlptlon, or contribution for any DO
Ntlcal purpose whatever from any
person known by him to be entitled
10 or receiving compensation. en-
ployment. or other benefit provided
Tor or made possible by any act of
congress appropriating funds for
relief purposes.
Ihls means that no State official
or local leader can solicit these con-
trlbutlons even for State or CITY cam
palgns. nor can they approach con-
tractors or Subcontractors working
on any projects for which grants or
loans have been made by the Federal
Government.
Handicaps Third Termers.
furthermore. the clause which
pars political activity would operate
against all United States district at
torneys, collectors of customs. and
the many hundreds of kew officials in
local or regional Offices of the Fed
eral Government, irrespective of
whether they derive their compen-
sation from relief laws or anv other
laws. This means that the vast armv
OF subordinate officials cannot mar
tlclpate as delegates to national con-
ventions, for that certainly would he
participation in a political campaign
The third-term Democrats will be
handicapped by this.
The important question is how to
GET enforcement. The Corrupt Prac-
tices Act was flagrantly violated in
the 1896 campaign when Democratic
campaign books were sold to corpo-
,rations, but no prosecutions resulted
Maybe If some future amendment
could empower grand juries to take
the initiative in rendering indict-
ments and could provide some means
Of compelling cognizance to be taken
OF complaints made by citizens, some
indictments might result. Neverthe-
less, the moral effect of the new pro-
hibitions is bound to be felt in the
next election because there is always
the risk that prosecutions will come