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[[Image:WPA1.jpg|thumb|300px|WPA sewer crew in 1935]]

[[Image:WPA1.jpg|thumb|300px|WPA sewer crew in 1935]]

The '''Works Progress Administration''' (later '''Work Projects Administration''', abbreviated '''WPA'''), was created on May 6, 1935 by Presidential order (Congress funded it annually but did not create a permanent agency.). It was the largest and most comprehensive [[New Deal]] agency, employing millions of people and affecting every locality. The WPA refused to allow any job training (which labor unions strongly opposed)<ref>There was some job training in the NYA, especially for occupations like domestic servants that were not unionized.</ref>, with the result that WPA experience did not lead to better job opportunities.  It did reduce unemplyment by finding jobs for the least employable and most needy men and women--both black and white--in the country.

The '''Works Progress Administration''' (later '''Work Projects Administration''', abbreviated '''WPA'''), was created on May 6, 1935 by Presidential order (Congress funded it annually but did not create a permanent agency.). It was the largest and most comprehensive [[New Deal]] agency, employing millions of people and affecting every locality. The WPA refused to allow any job training (which labor unions strongly opposed)<ref>There was some job training in the NYA, especially for occupations like domestic servants that were not unionized.</ref>, with the result that WPA experience did not lead to better job opportunities.  It did reduce unemployment by finding jobs for the least employable and most needy men and women--both black and white--in the country.

WPA continued and extended the [[FERA]] relief programs started by [[Herbert Hoover]] and continued under [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]].  Headed by [[Harry Hopkins]], the WPA provided jobs and income to millions of unemployed during the [[Great Depression]]. It built many public buildings and roads, and as well operated a large arts project. Until it was closed down by Congress in 1943, it was the largest employer in the country &mdash; indeed, the largest employer in most states. Only unemployed people on relief were eligible for most of its jobs. The hourly wages were the prevailing wages in the area, but workers could not work more than 30 hours a week. Before 1940, there was no training involved to teach people new skills.  

WPA continued and extended the [[FERA]] relief programs started by [[Herbert Hoover]] and continued under [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]].  Unliker FERA (which funded state and local programs),the WPA was run directly by the federal government. Headed by [[Harry Hopkins]], the WPA provided jobs and income to millions of unemployed during the [[Great Depression]]. It built many public buildings and roads, and as well operated a large arts project. Until it was closed down by Congress in 1943, it was the largest employer in the country &mdash; indeed, the largest employer in most states. Only unemployed people on relief were eligible for most of its jobs. The hourly wages were the prevailing wages in the area, but workers could not work more than 30 hours a week. Before 1940, there was no training involved to teach people new skills.  

[[Image:Wpa4.jpg|thumb|300px|poster from WPA arts project]]

[[Image:Wpa4.jpg|thumb|300px|poster from WPA arts project]]

In Pennsylvania work­cards were issued by the Party entitling the recipients to employment on the state highways and these were distributed by political groups. Some of these cards entitled the holders to employment "for two to four weeks around election time." In one county, from September, 1935 to September, 1938, the WPA spent more than $27,000,000 on highways.  

In Pennsylvania work­cards were issued by the Party entitling the recipients to employment on the state highways and these were distributed by political groups. Some of these cards entitled the holders to employment "for two to four weeks around election time." In one county, from September, 1935 to September, 1938, the WPA spent more than $27,000,000 on highways.  

A man in Plymouth, Pa., was given a white­collar relief job before election at $60.50 a month. He was told to change his registration from Republican to Democratic. He refused and very soon found himself transferred ­from a white­collar job to a pick­axe job on a rock pile in a quarry. There he discovered others on the rock pile who had refused to change their registration.

A man in Plymouth, Pa., was given a white ­collar relief job before election at $60.50 a month. He was told to change his registration from Republican to Democratic. He refused and very soon found himself transferred ­from a white ­collar job to a pick­axe job on a rock pile in a quarry. There he discovered others on the rock pile who had refused to change their registration.

Ten days before the Pennsylvania primary registrations a letter signed by Democratic leader of the 14th ward in Philadelphia was issued which read,

Ten days before the Pennsylvania primary registrations a letter signed by Democratic leader of the 14th ward in Philadelphia was issued which read,