Evening star., 1941-10-18
Removal Of Official
In Ohio Ordered for
Violating Hatch Act
Civil Service Commission
Rules Henry J. Patterson
Solicited Political Fund
BY J. A. FOX.

The Civil Service Commission to-
day ordered the dismissal of Harry
j. Patterson, manager of the Gin
cinnati Office Of the Ohio Bureau of
Unemployment Compensation, who
was accused of soliciting employees
for the Republican campaign fund
in 1910 and otherwise violating the
Hatch clean politics" law.
1t was the first case decided under
the broadened Hatch Act which ap-
plies its structures to employees of
State and local governments whose
functions are financed wholly or in
part by Federal funds.
Ohio officials were ordered to take
Mr.. Patterson out of service, and in
event of failure to do so, the Govern
ment may withhold from the State
Federal grants equal to the amount
OF his salary for two years. He is
also barred from unemployment by
the State for 18 months.
At the same time, the commission
dropped charges against Flora
Weber, an employe of the Cincin-
natl Office, accused of serving as a
precinct election clerk in violation
of the act, ruling that her I'M
familiarity with the law was re-
sponsible for the breach.
Denied BY Patterson.
Mr.. Patterson entered a blanket
denial Of wrongdoing at hearing
In Cincinnati, which was part of
wider investigation the commission
at present has under way in Ohio of
reputed Hatch Act violations by
State employees, and which has been
assailed by Gov. John w Bricker,
a Republican. as political plot.
The commission found that Mr..
Patterson's activities in connection
with political contributions by en-
ployes of the bureau amounted to
coercion within the meaning of the
statute; that he used his official
authority and influence for the pur-
pose of affecting the result of the
general election held on November
5, 1910, in advising employees under
his jurisdiction and supervision to
contribute campaign funds to
party. and that he took an active
part in political campaign on be-
half of political party" the COM
mission said in announcing the
decision which was based on a re-
port by James w. Irwin, chief hear
ing examiner.
According to the commission re-
port, Mr.. Patterson talked to 10 of
his subordinates about the
subject of contributions to the Re-
publican campaign funds and asked
each to see other employees in the
office in regard thereto" Accord
ing to the charges, employees were
urged to contribute a maximum of
2 per cent of their annual salary.
Regrets Interpretation.
"Mr. Patterson the order said,
testified unequivocally that he had
never advised, commanded or CO.
creed any one to make a political
contribution that in all references
to such contributions he had stressed
that any made would be voluntary
that he had committed no violation
of the law. and that his actions
were motivated by inquiries by en-
ployes concerning their right to
make such campaign donations, and
by his desire to avoid being bothered
by such questions in his Office The
commission however is unable to &C
cept Mr.. Patterson's Interpretation
of his acts"
Everybody in the Office was to be
contacted, the examiner said, and
all were to know that this news
(about contributions came from the
local manager, the final authority
in the Office on questions involving
their welfare as employees"
The official also was accused of
distributing during Office hours cam
paign literature and other political
material, including the campaign
buttons of Mr.. Bricker, then the
gubernatorial candidate.