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The '''Works Progress Administration''' (WPA) was created by Executive Order in 1935 by President [[Franklin Roosevelt]] as part of the [[New Deal]] supposedly for relief efforts during the [[Great Depression]]. The program was wracked with croniism and favoritism and is regarded by many as a waste of effort which may have actually worked to prolong the Great Depression.<ref>[http://www.indiana.edu/~liblilly/wpa/wpa_info.html ''More about the WPA'']. ''Lilly Library at the University of Indiana''. 1 April 2007.</ref>

The '''Works Progress Administration''' (WPA) was not created by any Congressional Appropriation or law.  It was created by Executive Order in 1935 by President [[Franklin Roosevelt]] as part of the [[New Deal]] supposedly for relief efforts during the [[Great Depression]]. The program was wracked with cronyism and favoritism and is regarded by most now as a waste of effort which actually worked to prolong the Great Depression.<ref>[http://www.indiana.edu/~liblilly/wpa/wpa_info.html ''More about the WPA'']. ''Lilly Library at the University of Indiana''. 1 April 2007.</ref> Many Republicans were forced to change their party registration to continue receiving relief, or to keep their jobs.  In retrospect, this appears to be what the programs real intent was.

==Misuse of Federal funds to give jobs and buy elections==

==Misuse of Federal funds to give jobs and buy elections==

In the first WPA district of Kentucky, one WPA official went to work on Governor Chandler. He took his orders from the administration political headquarters in Kentucky. He put nine WPA supervisors and 340 WPA timekeepers on government time to work preparing elaborate forms for checking on all the reliefers in the district. Having done this they then proceeded to check up on the 17,000 recipients who were drawing relief money to see how they stood on the election.  

In the first WPA district of Kentucky, one WPA official went to work on Governor Chandler. He took his orders from the administration political headquarters in Kentucky. He put nine WPA supervisors and 340 WPA timekeepers on government time to work preparing elaborate forms for checking on all the reliefers in the district. Having done this they then proceeded to check up on the 17,000 recipients who were drawing relief money to see how they stood on the election.  

In the second WPA district, another WPA official who was the area engineer, managed a thorough canvass of the workers in Pulaski and Russell counties. The WPA foremen were given sheets upon which they had to report on the standing of the reliefers in the political campaign. It became a part of the WPA organization in Kentucky to learn how many of the down­ people on government relief had devotion to Franklin D. Roosevelt. The reliefers were asked to sign papers pledging themselves to the election of the senior senator from Kentucky. They were given campaign buttons and told to wear them and there were instances where, if they refused, they were thrown off the WPA rolls.  

In the second WPA district, another WPA official who was the area engineer managed a thorough canvass of the workers in Pulaski and Russell counties. The WPA foremen were given sheets upon which they had to report on the standing of the reliefers in the political campaign. It became a part of the WPA organization in Kentucky to learn how many of the down­ people on government relief had devotion to Franklin D. Roosevelt. The reliefers were asked to sign papers pledging themselves to the election of the senior senator from Kentucky. They were given campaign buttons and told to wear them and there were instances where, if they refused, they were thrown off the WPA rolls.  

This occurred in a [[Democratic]] primary election where only Democrats could vote. But there were a lot of poor Republicans in Kentucky who couldn't vote in the Democratic primary so long as they were Republicans. So they were told to change their registration and become Democrats, or no WPA jobs for them.  

This occurred in a [[Democratic]] primary election where only Democrats could vote. But there were a lot of poor Republicans in Kentucky who couldn't vote in the Democratic primary so long as they were Republicans. So they were told to change their registration and become Democrats, or no WPA jobs for them.  

In Cook County, Illinois, where Kelly and Nash carried the New Deal banner, 450 men were employed in one election district and dismissed the day after election. Seventy reported to do highway work and were told to go to their voting precincts and canvass for votes for the Horner­Courtney­Lucas ticket. These 450 men cost $23,268. All of them had their work­cards initialed by the campaign manager in Northern Illinois for the Horner­Courtney­Lucas ticket.  

In Cook County, Illinois, where Kelly and Nash carried the New Deal banner, 450 men were employed in one election district and dismissed the day after election. Seventy reported to do highway work and were told to go to their voting precincts and canvass for votes for the Horner­Courtney­Lucas ticket. These 450 men cost $23,268. All of them had their work­cards initialed by the campaign manager in Northern Illinois for the Horner­Courtney­Lucas ticket.  

==Senate Investiging Committee findings==

==Senate Investigating Committee findings==

This investigation covered four states. There is not the slightest doubt, however, that what happened in these four states of Kentucky, Tennessee, Pennsylvania and Illinois, happened in greater or lesser degree in most of the states of the Union. These actions were done by men in the field while [[Harry Hopkins]], who headed the program, denied all charges. But the Senate investigating committee still adhered to its findings.  It called attention to an address made by Aubrey Williams, Hopkins' chief deputy administrator, at a WPA conference on June 27, 1938, in which he said: "We've got to stick together; we've got to keep our friends in power."

This investigation covered four states. There is not the slightest doubt, however, that what happened in these four states of Kentucky, Tennessee, Pennsylvania and Illinois, happened in greater or lesser degree in most of the states of the Union. These actions were done by men in the field while [[Harry Hopkins]], who headed the program, denied all charges. But the Senate investigating committee still adhered to its findings.  It called attention to an address made by Aubrey Williams, Hopkins' chief deputy administrator, at a WPA conference on June 27, 1938, in which he said: "We've got to stick together; we've got to keep our friends in power."