Salt Lake Telegram | 1940-10-18 | Page 2 | WPA Padding Denied; Vote Coercion Claimed

A Padding Denied Vote Coercion o WASHINGTON Oct 18 D C aThe Jr- Jr The senate campaign committee Friday heard an official denial that the W P A was padding rolls in a political maneuver and also listened to two witnesses witnesses' witnesses witnesses' witnesses witnesses' wit wit- nesses' nesses charge that W P A workers workers work work- ers were being coerced to vote for President Roosevelt Howard O. O Hunter acting W P A commissioner testified that instead of being swollen W P A rolls on election day would carry a smaller percentage percent percent- age of unemployed than at any any- comparable time since the beginning beginning beginning be be- ginning of the W P A A. program The relief relic official denied contentions contentions con con- that relief rolls were being increased to influence the national election and charges that this practice had had- been fol fol- fol- fol lowed In the election years of 1938 and 1936 Richard N N. McKibben president president president dent of the Workers' Workers alliance testified that every form of vicious intimidation possible is being employed from threats of loss of W P A jobs to the formation formation formation for for- mation of an administration- administration supported company union to force W P A workers to vote for Roosevelt William Levner of New yo president of the W P A union A F L submitted teach davits to at support hi his tion that there was Cont n a con acy of the Ne New York City projects 7 administration tow to liver t the me W VY jr P A Vote Democratic party through through f to I unparalleled campaign of 1 espionage and cution p