Evening star., 1940-03-29
Dewey Says ". A.
Has Been Used for
Political Activities
Policy Of Corruption
Of Ballot Pursued,
He Tells Chieoeoons
Sy the Associated Press,


CHICAGO, March 29.-Thomas
E. Dewey last night climaxed a one
day tour of Illinois with a speech
at the Chicago Stadium in which
he accused the New Deal of pur-
suing a policy of corruption of the
ballot" by using the w. P. A. for
political activities. He also took oc-
casion to denounce the Chicago
Democratic organization headed by
Mayor Edward J. Kelly and Ma
"tlonal Committeeman P. A. Nash.
Mr.. Dewey called the New Deals
record of w. P. A. political activity
"a calendar of unpunished crime
broken covenants, disloyalty to the
Constitution, abuse of power, in
tlmidation. coercion, extortion and
1arceny-all committed against the
underprivileged and helpless un-
employed
This policy of corruption of the
ballot" he added. lis practically
the only policy which the admin
lstration has consistently followed"
LlStS DIX states.
Mr.. Dewey listed Kentucky, Ten
neSsee, Arkansas. PENNSYLVANIA,
South Dakota and North Carolina
among States in which he charged
the w. P. A. had been prostituted
for political ends. He accused the
New Deal of adding 100000 men to
the w. P. A. pay rolls for political
purposes before the 1896 general
election.
ut is story of men and women
shaken down for contributions for
political campaigns. thrown on re-
lief and off relief to meet the cleo
tim needs of power hungry ad-
ministration," Mr. Dewey said.
Hits KelIy-Nash Machine.
Mr.. Dewey. who addressed an esti-
mated crowd of 10000, in his attack
on the Chicago Democratic organi-
cation, said:
,. your New Deal Kelly-Nash ma
chine is running a close race with
our own NANCY tiger down in Tam
many Hall to see which is the lowest
form of political life" he said. To
day the people of Illinois are aroused.
That is promise that this year your
great State will overthrow the rule
OF a corrupt political machine.'
Viewing the W. P. A. from a ma
tlonal perspective, Mr.. Dewey stated
that during the four months before
the 1896 election private employment
increased by more than 100000
men but 100000 were added to
W. P. A. rolls and the w. P. A. pay
roll was hiked from $122,0OO,0O
to $l37 100000 month. The month
after the vote, he added, 100000 were
dropped.
During the four months preceding
the 1888 elections, he said, private
industry hired more than 100000
workers, but the w. P. A. added 327,-
600 men to it's rolls and the w. P. A.
pay roll was boosted from $751;
, 100000 to $172 900 900 a month.
Cites Hopkins Elevation.
"As a reward for the things I
have discussed tonight the Presi-
dent elevated Harry Hopkins (for-
mer w. P. A. chief to the cabinet
OF the United States" Mr.. Dewey
declared, adding:
rs 1t any wonder that many a
political veteran has been heard
to say You can't beat $4,000, ,0OO,O 900.
But you can beat $4,000 1000, 900.
The American electorate is not for
sale. Once they know the shame
less corruption that is going OH
behind the smiling visage OF the
New Deal they can beat s5O,OOO,-
100000"
Mr.. Dewey said that three weeks
before the 1893 primary in Illinois
$50 men were hired for road con-
struction work" and were used by
the New Deal machine"
Charges Grand Larceny.
Every one of those $50 men had
his card signed by Charles Schwartz,
campaign manager in the primary
contest" he asserted. "a total OF
$23,268 was taken from relief of the
needy and put to what the (Senate,
committee itself branded as a mis-
use OF Federal aid road funds
The law calls that grand larceny"
he commented, but, of course, no.
body went to jail. That's not even
petit larceny under the New Deal" )"
During the Kentucky primary
campaign in the same year, Dewey
charged, w. P. A. workers were
"openly solicited for campaign con-
tributions' and men who refused
to sign pledges to vote for Senator
Alben Barkley were discharged.