Evening star., 1939-01-19
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

In statement to the Senate saw
ing he did not intend to vote on
the nomination of Harry L. Hopkins
to be Secretary of Commerce, Sen
ator Bailey, Democrat, of North
Carolina today castigated Mr.. Hop
kins for failure to refrain from
political utterances while head of
the Works Progress Administration.
Senator Bailey's utterances we're
contained in statement filed with
the report of the Senate Commerce
Committee approving Mr.. Hopkins
nomination and made public as the
Senate began open consideration of
the appointment.
The Senate Commerce Commit
tee, of which Senator Bailey is
chairman, yesterday recommended
favorable action on the appoint
ment by a vote of l3 to 6, with
Senator Bailey withholding his vote.
Reed Makes Maiden Speech.
Actual debate on the nomination
was opened by Senator Reed, Re-
publican, OF Kansas, making his
maiden speech in the Senate. Pack
ed galleries listened to the discus
sion.
Seated in the front row of the
diplomatic gallery was David Las
ser, president of the Workers AL
lance, union of w. P. A. work
ers, who has suggested a march of
the unemployed on Washington if
the pending relief appropriation
is cut by Congress.
Senator Reed read at length
from the findings of the Sheppard
committee. which investigated poll
tics in the w. P. A.
Il have been in public life for
many years. he said Il have seen
and heard many unlovely things
done by political parties. But no
where in my experience, nor in my
reading of political history, have I
ever found instances where politi-
cal practices were so sordid, where
all consideration of fairness or de-
cency were SO disregarded, as in
the cases reported by this commit
tee.
w. P. A. Atmosphere Criticized.
Il do not charge that Mr.. Hopkins
ordered these things. do not even
charge that he was cogniZant of all
these things. do charge that these
things could not have been done ex-
cept with the general knowledge,
and therefore general consent, of
Mr.. Hopkins An atmosphere has
been created throughout his admin
lstration of the w. P. A. that en-
boldened Democratic party workers
to use their power for coercion of
the men and women who relied upon
w, P. A. jobs for their daily bread"
Senator Reed said he fully under
stood that Mr. Hopkins would be
confirmed by majority of the
Senate.
Il want to close with this thought
that when the majority have con-
flrmed this nomination it will have
condoned the actions of MIR. Hop
kins in the administration of
w. P. A. and will have set a new
all-time low in the political morals
of this country.
Upon that issue, we on this side
will face you of the other side and
your party before the American
people in 1910"
AS the whole issue of the nomina-
ton reached the floor, Senator
Norris, Independent, of Nebraska
also entered the battle of words
through statement recommending
that critics of Mr.. Hopkins scru-
tinize Congress own share of blame
for whatever politics have been pres
ent in relief.
Lays Blame on Congress.
Il think lot of politics in the
w. P. Aft there actually has been
any-has been caused by members
of Congress themselves" Senator
Norris said.
From the Federal administration
right down through the States to
the counties members of Congress
and the politicians have been urging
the appointment of their friends to
jobs
In disqualifying himself from
| 'ooAAi6, DoIii III SoiiillllttCc anu Ill lIle
Senate, Senator Bailey did not give
his reasons. They are understood
to be based, however, on a personal
quarrel with the former w. P. A.
head.
Called Gross Impropriety.
Senator Bailey in his statement
today characterized Mr.. Hopkins
1887 address in behalf of the Presi-
dents court bill as "a gross i'm
propriety'' which ought to be con-
demned.
Mr.. Hopkins stated" Senator