The full text on this page is automatically extracted from the file linked above and may contain errors and inconsistencies.
No. WORKS THE 4 1676 — PROGRAM ***** —Works For Release of Delivery on Speech, (EST) Scheduled for 7:30 to 8 P.M. 1938 Sunday, May 8, The Administration— Progress following address,"Politics and WPA", the delivered was by Harry L. Hopkins, Administrator of the Works Progress Administration, over a nation-wide from Station WJSV, hook-up of the Columbia Broadcasting System Washington, Time) Sunday, May 8, Standard D. (Eastern C., between 7:30 and 8 p.m. 1938. POLITICS AND THE W.P.A. For may be radio the planning to I want tyme, sake of \ to the say at This the Columbia of > unnamed critic who at attack the W.P.A. xpense." courtesy" some \ time for outset is relief funds spending I that this very moment "not am on at speaking being contributed through the Broadcasting System. \ \ \ \ The radio chains and radio stations of this country have t * made available we ever to the W.P.A., I want have used. On March 13, I issued a notice to to without cost, thank them for publicly 1936, when the W.P.A. all W.P.A. every minute was only of radio their a time generosity. few months old, workers which included the following sentences: "No employee of the Works to make any contribution to any Progress Administration No person political party. / . / is required shall be 3 - employed the Works discharged "by or ground of his support or 4-1676 - Progress Administration on the non-support of any candidate of any politi- cal organization." That statement and partisan voices holders of W.P.A. were jobs issued because 1936 was being raised in an thunder of a being coerced were was to election year, charges that the vote in favor of the ad- ministration which had created the W.P.A. Now we are in another election year, and again the charge is being made. It ago, isn't being made and the opposition is usually "Hopkins say local ward-heelers I don't want or feel well funds they are not tampering heartily I all out doing are places many much nicer to it as me was two years They personally. but he doesn't know what in the This is very the precincts." think I to anybody people as right, important. that the American are being means are in regard these charges lightly, serious matter. a I know full jealous about the way relief administered, and deeply resent the idea of any political with them. Surely I don't need agree with this point The W.P.A.'s job is for work-relief projects communities get the most for in say at this late date how spending of Federal money of view. to direct such to a the way that the money. both the workers Beyond that, and the the program is 3 - localized. Local officials pick out the improvements Local welfare officials certify to draw the plans. for. W.P.A. eligible are with the money can, jobs, and put we as than you do. over participating in sent be a to letter you have every worker in the program which I administer. "I want is work as we to repeat absolutely no once more our rules misunderstanding. Progress Administration, required contribute to fund in order to hold his job. the vote of any worker or to Ho is up It to about in says part: who the job, has may that you. elections Moreover, political party supervisor see each to Every person whatever his any up and this country who is in any election for any candidate he chooses. worker who people many of them to Beyond that, it's sound and honest. I have vote the this federal money, community, and the kind of local government the Works us Congress appropriates. We have to watch this program is can and they want, don't want everything centralized and regimented anymore I there 4-1676 " - or attempt that works for right to W.P.A. np any to so campaign influence solicit contributions to campaign funds from A the who work under him. people W .P.A. in any way to Anyone who influence the votes uses his of others position with the by threat or intimi- dation will be dismissed. " election or Ho one will his failure lose his W .P.A. to job because of his vote in contribute to any campaign fund . any This always - has been 4 - absolute rule of the W.P.A., an and yours to see that there are and it is my responsibility What's more, exceptions. no 4-1676 • I want % to you let me know if anybody personal opinions and Your tries your to tell you politics anything different. nobody's business but your are own." This letter will be I now want to invite is not carried out to give million workers. that this policy placed in the hands anybody me of three and finds any who a half evidence evidence. that My subject tonight is "Politics and the W.P.A.and the whether W.P.A. question of please is just one There played the with cowardly ways is offense is that are want to to a of number have full other ways find the few people and who won't workers the W.P.A. workers are and finding are has been this year is that W.P.A. out politics One of can be the most a bunch of loafers who don't charges. working extra work they're operating nearly those on work-relief like Pederal take private jobs when to getting in which who don't answers are they private jobs. documentary we as attack millions of unfortunate people whose only they can't Now that to vote part of it. saying that W.P.A. work, permitted question of unemployment relief. Por years have been workers will be the too The much side. — offered. three years, new charge that These they stories . 5 - grew out in five of limited survey a found to be getting day a think this is important, and I do think it is workman to you small group of extra work each month. spite of the play were I don't in the papers, it got for a good American am willing trying are a skilled worker with Would you, a family, under hunt would you not, or odd jobs time? spare I a two of this perfectly natural thing were similar circumstances. probably thousand skilled workers several try to do. Suppose in your or in the of 60 per cent where about cities, 4-1676 - to grant that to get odd jobs a the on few of the ablest and best-trained great many W.P.A. workers are side, even succeeding in though only even a small degree. But where does saying that are they can take it the that put unemployed easy on to important cling to a political critics who don't want private jobs to even entertain the number of American workmen with families W.P.A. job if there's so still long as I have contended from the the W.P.A.? beginning that it is ridiculous any the a chance of thought that are something going better. 4-1676 6 - W.P.A. we NOT are have investigated every charge of this sort of the thousands of workers involved in out who actually refused to take decent so small to be as weren't few a We in immediately submitted didn't hire any electricians. in the papers, but There files. a And could find. charges, year the number conditions is are not the produce company listed found that only of one Over half of them association demanded that, we certain state because it needed a electricians in that unemployed we A contractors' stop W.P.A. construction electricians. and a clean strawberries. to women operating. even such than insignificant. said they needed workers, them needed we more under decent jobs We visited 29 canneries because them and I refusing decent private jobs. confidence, because for with complete say that can workers - the It state. The demand names of apologized was over 300 but to us, it printed prominently apology. hundreds of other stories like these We'll send summaries of them to anybody with an in our interest ) in them. I don't cite any of them in to the on3y in fairness WANT private jobs, and unemployed we want to a spirit and to help I want to make this appeal of intolerance, the W.P.A. them GET to all but Our workers private jobs. fair-minded Americans: 4-1676 7 _ - Don't mistake political fiction for fact. often regarded are on which in no they are true, sense as "big When based. matter how no news, an Sensational charges the flimsy evidence investigation proves they it's old stuff and a line or too were two is printed that lot about it back among the want-ads. It is often money has been wasted politics to the — minimum of completely the way, the all This and is states. every citizen has are still That not and 31 administration crowd has same fighting only standards These fellows a right still are to a government will and 32, how dodged every It the W.P.A. wants to the cost put off the income unwilling been has made Surely you carefully and responsibility every inch of return relief to of it on real esta.te ta.x, but it also will generally. are having a hard time with the W.P.A. First they said the workers wouldn't work, and is certain beginnings that have fought it. of Federal This, too, based upon ability to pay. through 1930 and sales taxes and take it lower relief the resent a the W.P.A. direction because the Federal the Federal for relief. implied nowadays particularly by They and Federal taxes remember, or political propaganda of people who security. made in this can — the idea that accept ■them, said now they say they 4-1676 8 - First work too much. and and leaf-raking, said W.P.A. they now - they work say we're was building big public improvements, and there ought to be us build that anything I costs say to you more that, because a boondoggling too many fine law not to let $25,000! in this crowd still wants public sentiment, instead of work, once than more all of spite for the dole a in immedia.te dollar overwhelming outlay a unemployed dole looks cheaper. I am always glad cheaper, to anybody who conviction, and one can of the Federal government should It is the degrading respect; it it tends to to results in no beyond his own never return to unemployed are I direct a a nose. strongest convictions increase dole is NOT It hold, is my that the relief program. wealth of the in the of the tends to individual to establish should do away with direct in the United States. bodied see destroy the ability We with them that argue individual; it destroys morale and self work in the future and it dependents. to We should reach entitled to a job a a community; perform useful permanent body of relief for the unemployed concept where the able- as a matter of right. The giving of useful public work to the able-bodied unemployed you get for appears, the at outlay? first glance, to cost more. But what do 4-167S - I would like to to be a of the most one well over I but ait! to recently took emergency agencies, and do operation, It we a might kept their heads only with tangible assets. The W.P.A. those deal people kept fit of all complete inventory It roads and improved 116,000 miles. bridges, 135,000 culverts, 105 new planted and had been completed 43,000 miles It has built 19,000 airports, 12,000 water and 10 million trees, the work that has public buildings,- 8,000 parks 10,000 miles of and work. 158,000 projects. small dams, is thing like the human spirit, a its and other alleged In its first two years of you. on completed have of the the value of of their W.P.A. But new appraise convinced that up because of wasteful which is million of its workers went back to private jobs. a difficult - take only the W.P.A., auditing of it for little 9 and sewer improved new new schools playgrounds, 15,000 lines. W.P.A. millions of workers acres of land in manifold ways. Those of construction. are just few of the accomplishments in the field Four-fifths of the program is construction work, the kind of because that is employed do best. can a work which four-fifths of the needy un- The other one-fifth of the W.P.A. program consists of projects for what is generally known au "white collar" 4-1676 - workers and unemployed, — professional have "been trained only heads of clerks and doctors as and artists and teachers nurses Some of the as housewives, and yet the economic are families. Jobless W.P.A. American adults to teachers have read and write country almost one-fourth. this trained technical pursuits. or women - women and architects and salespeople and many other and men 10 taught than more a million in English, reducing illiteracy Would you call that a tangible asset? Women men, women on W.P.A. have produced 85 million garments for the and children ?;ho served 128 million hot hadn't enough clothing. school lunches to hungry children, ren- of such services? These it had the These and Would you question the ovated30million library and school books. value They have courage things private only are to a few of the constitute national wealth and national improvements because it has them. improvements assets they the nation on the as to its improvements assets, assets. red side on of the Any physical plant and considers itself richer Government alone counts the cost represent got because give public work to its able-bodied unemployed. business which builds counts those things of such ledger without setting the black side. I am not up the particularly 4-1676 11 concerned about the bookkeeping, know their money is not long so as "being wasted, hut is the American people being used carefully constructively to make democracy work. and Up to this SAYS it has done. even though point I have told you only what it has been honest in bookkeeping. We are the being able to inject here of the independent nation-wide study been the W.P.A. All the bookkeeping thus far has been fortunate, however, an - our own, extremely results of Program which has just completed. Ten national of last year that an of the Federal Works agreed to cooperate which cooperated Institute of are organizations agreed impartial Program in such serve the undertaking. the American Architects, near the American The States prestige of the the American Municipal Association, the American Society Community Improvement Appraisal. which of the Planning the National Education Association, survey, and organizations the United States Bureau of Public Roads and the United States Conference of So much for the close public interest, Officials, the National Aeronautic Association, the National Recreation the and demerits Engineering Council, American Public Welfare Association, Association, us survey of the merits would an with was Mayors. called the United 4-1676 12 - The local reports These local state Appraisal by were committee a carried out was submitted reports - of civic leaders These state selected by the farm leaders, can ings of these they thing do in opponents the and many few brief excerpts from But I hope they will the really know it find- the convey to you, Federal Works Program is eyes of those who experts, others. a that spon- of heads give here only committees. to me, state social welfare college presidents, bankers, ministers, editors and publishers I 9,000 committees included appraisal engineers, architects, labor leaders, women's organizations, About community officials. the various by states. studied, judged and evaluated in each were soring organization. in 42 a as far different than its political would have you believe. Out on the coast we'll take Northern California. I quote: "The most obvious characteristic of the community reports is their virtually unanimous endorsement, of the work relief program. permanent and much needed. regardless The The public of political differences, facilities constructed workmanship is found to are compare favorably with private industry." Here's the State of Washington: "Improvement projects - have maintained a 13 4-1676 - have been well high technical standard, stimulated community planning. and in many not have been undertaken without Federal aid. meant cases increased have not only They could Work payrolls have purchasing power." In the middle west, are planned useful but here is Minnesota: permanent, the "The of quality projects workmanship satisfactory." "Public works Now Indiana: improvement in Indiana is t ten years of what in advance Federal programs. It of the this good that state that as is a workers wide manner sense a variety which found on of real commends workmanship on privately money." workmanship "The Texas: public is on the whole, as projects have created service. The in committee finds on in a public respect and approval." move over into construction constructed the deep South, projects jobs. calls attention to the fact that misuse of governmental officials permanently useful projects carried of Now let's "The of the the various construction." Here's Northeast the opinion of the quality private on would have been without it compares The committee there has been no to Georgia: favorably to emphatically suggestion of that 4-1676 14 - let's take two reports from New England, where Now close usually ments of The a - he scrutiny might highly desirable and advantages of work relief "Many improve- Maine: expected. un- permanent nature have resulted. direct over relief have been con- clusively demonstrated." Massachusetts: the Federal Works Program, "Through rates have been favorably.affected and improvements value have been secured. the program to needy unemployed the own I hope a state, see Evidence speaking am men quoted proud and of great many this reports, them a on the sort stepped record of achievement question of work is why I have use no such a versus employable Appraisal in hesitancy in of Federal the millions from the relief rolls and ? — 34- others are and reed it. to have been associated with who there work program for the careful and constructive women but of you will look up the who made it, of is not debatable." state dole, because they ALL favor people. your I have not permanent The relative worthwhileness of the That's only eight like them. of tax of I money. hard-pressed wrought such a • triumph of democracy — across the face of this country. I States says notice that'the only living ex-president of the United we headed are straight for Fascism. He wants us to 4-1676 15 return to the wants, in some yet to and still to he pursued in 1930, occult way, He stop spending. W.P.A. poses policies to go 1931 and 1932. talking about waste the present relief He and work and production return relief to the take one-third of in for still is to wanting - in the He pro- states. away from the unem- ployed. Mr. Hoover has just the Fascist nations, and he seem to have escaped What he that Fascism came him to ought hack from visits to several of to know certain have missed entirely those countries because getting their fair share of things, and anything in I the way of Administration along side that judging his crumbling about Democracy. I to his head, wonder if strengthened the were the basic fact is the masses willing to not were submit down the record of lay of Mr. Hoover for dictatorship. recognize realities, strengthened the to the any Federal popular faith this of the purpose I wonder if when the house people's faith pious phrases he gave desperate people, while denying relief, to whose policies make toward stubborn refusal which change. a entirely willing am things completely. to seems come to was in millions responsibility in this form of of for government. " 16 - I - wonder if the tear gas with which he greeted the "bonus army his idea of the full flower of Democracy. these which like Is it people and the accounts of the not just small hank Is it a existence to dictatorship the market? off strike at and protect few? Is it dictatorship the the rights of labor to give a of measure economically insecure, and jobs Is it over dictatorship working confidence problems by democratic the whole they economic reason were they stocks and protection a "bonds millions of homes of break ones? new as the to from it Is manufacturer, Is it millions who other millions who can't floor under wages and this nation's in I means. curve a are are few years not move ability think the American shall go ahead instead of back we Conditions as same guarantee the bargain collectively? to try to put to to a are find work? ceiling hours? I have determined financing give the farmer to save for all Government a dictatorship to policies form of Government. our depositors, and keep phony to dictatorship of is say it try to operate foreclosure and make possible the dictatorship I was — to solve people its are determined that uphill. serious ago. but people are measures I have just cited today, The not frightened, are frightened. This administration met the depression by fortifying the the 17 - power of purchasing its workers the in put through hy Congress set the measures from 40 billion dollars 1932 to 68 billion dollars in 1937. What caused the present decline in business? and I opinions that quite am of the decline cause the consumer that sure is pretty incomes did not were: to pace with keep the failure (4) and costs; production; of the sure as a, so treat to be wrong. cause of (2) some is to take that the of apparent goods is own single one very the decline tremendous to off duck major contributing consumers failed increase in inventories; unwarranted increases in prices. the national destitution and low incomes and participate The on It enough I have my promising building revival because of rising underprivileged one-third of and thus fixes power in the hands Our problem is how to get to who I believe explain. (l) purchasing factors anybody increase fast market, but to assign this behind words which do not (3) business on and of putting of workers, pockets turning, and raised the national income wheels in The payrolls. on It understood the effect people. activity of putting money 4-1676 - in our the American income up unemployment people can — that become how the consumers, economy. passing of the frontier left a gap which we have not • • filled. As long as we had a frontier, individuals could repair the ravages to aggressive and resourceful their families caused by - the ups and downs courage to resides in 12 that take up this new productive forces is or The cycle. the new such 13 million unemployed only government as frontier is idle resourcefulness, ingenuity and is supply can helpless organization of frontier without tremendous when "business in the doldrums. Our failure has cost have at us equal as the since To enough. 1929. new frontier of idle overhead of more must be distributed among the might the entire wealth of this nation. since 1929 almost two-thirds debt. the national attain we 200 billion dollars is That every year entire national raising this 200 "billion dollars in lost income losing nearly But is not conquer the 1932 value to We have been much least to and didn't produced about as and all 4-1676 1 - the "business of money and machines, men, 18 income than mass a of to full employment fleeting prosperity, people levels income that consumption so can parallel output. No one in his the present national not be no investment mind is suggesting It has to go up. income. believe that government the traditional can. right spending of private can do money that divide up And certainly I do the whole in we a job. Without rising economy there permanent recovery. But a subsidy of purchasing power started the ball rolling 19 - and it five years ago, vast subsidizing purchasing because just they The are and cause cure. cooperation between It be can as only thing. been in systems men and can of purchasing power, There women will ready no are differ costs fair wage; only be achieved by the fullest government, labor, agriculture and business. justify they all it. a the farmers can attain masses work for the of only be end, same encouraged; are a solved if proper On this basis income, but based upon a we social I avoiding soon as to profits if labor is paid share in the national people who for minimum share in the national income inclusive program of national It • genuine competition and if the great income; obtain if its to as few? a panaceas reductions, keeping prices in line and reducing them unit all the railroad individuals instead of many simple. solution solved if business under a to not Sincere Its further subsidies given problem is unemployment. wage new a government has the It gave power. is not This again. grants of land, and it gave the manufacturers protective tariffs. Why should anybody question for it the nation, early days of Ever since the effect start can 4-1676 - are reason any cannot protected by an security. believe that not will be able balanced distribution of to only can maintain it; purchasing we get for a rising it will be power and well-being 20 - among all destiny of the American a democracy, regimentation, and as people. to economic freedom of That provide above all every to 4-1676 - is the way economic to fulfill the security without maintain the personal as well individual in the United States. 000O000
@FedFRASER