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UOCUMENT8 ROOM 4—1696 No. THE WORKS PROGRAM ***** JUN 20 1338 —Works Progress Administration— libra! For Immediate Release 1938 Thursday, May 9, REPORT DENIES CHARGES OF POLITICAL ACTIVITY BY WPA IN KENTUCKY Aubrey Williams, Deputy Administrator Administration, tonight WPA Kentucky in that Administrator, public on an a been made and in had the case on charges Williams instructed Mr. Mr. the no and to of seven that WPA workers charges alleged violations Goodman to unable to or specific instance of His report on of some cases alleged report further findings promptly. other remote areas, check had continue his inquiry Many of the charges involved individuals living "back mountains" Mr. been substantiated. facts had been determined in every political coercion Progress against political activity. immediate check an the Works report from George H. Goodman, investigation State have violated the rules Goodman advised that until made of them Mr. Goodman said, by tonight but covered to date was in the and he had been pressing the investigation. follows: "1. An affidavit by Frank Starr of Campbell County charges that Starr took Lawrence Connit to Jack Maynard, get Connit qualified reasons, did not as a $1.50 to WPA month but an hour. was as army in the hands showing and that for Connit, that Maynard offered Connit are that Connit Starr supervisors, regarded by carpenter foreman supervisor, to political get the job. The facts $150 a assistant WPA was who said he a unwilling released because his work were to work for was also advised that his work officials where he of was foreman's job at a was employed. Campbell County Grand Jury, any violation of the less than unsatisfactory was similarly His letter of but corrupt practices act. was not complaint considered 2 - "2. Lee Garden, identified as of facts "The voter Carden finance were in that workers that are registered, supervisors that they tude. the WPA division in chief WPA supervisor in Edmonson county, ing the political attitude of eligible 4—1696 - area county. hut special emphasis not to placed was workers question office and accused of poll- »as statewide effort has heen made a merely urging registration, was an not get every orders to WPA on their on to atti- political workers questioning to as their preference among candidates. "3. he was Lawless of Russell County Forrest H. dismissed an as assistant WPA job, and not assistant an Lawless, supervisor, a .jackhammer warned against this, but the effect he that laid was on to have said reasons. man on shirking a WPA road his the project. .job, He was dismissed. of Russell County, "4. Alvin Flanagan, affidavit to until persisted for discharged was inefficiency and for making political speeches for of supervisor for political shows that "Investigation alleged was off for quoted was refusing to as making sign a an pledge support for Senator 'Barkley. "S.C. says he counties, area Taylor, of WPA engineer area does not know but has Flanagan, where any WPA worker has been asked for Russell and Pulaski to found sign such a instance no pledge by in that any WPA employe. WPA workmen in Pulaski "5. Art Hargis and Olanthus K. Burgess, County, reported are they would have to "Keeney to have said that WPA foreman, Cleve Keeney, told them support Senator Barkley. denies making any such statement these to or any other WPA workers. "6. of Eubank, John Johnson, dismissed for refusal to sign "The fact is that "7. foremen, are accused of engineer, no paper in County, such paper was upon he had established an affidavit ascribed investigation, that no was that he unable County, to be to identified fired if as WPA they did not G.W. Maynard. The WPA identify Maynard but said such statement had been made by the foremen." II IIM-M: 'I II II IIII 7T was put out by anyone in WPA. telling workers they would in charged support of Senator Barkley. Jim Yancy and Joe Lewis of Pulaski support Senator Barkley, area a Pulaski
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