Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1934-09-14
HERE and
THERE
By w. M. Smith

the SIdrIllnS ueclaFdClOn WIFI
reference to unemployment that
whatever recovery economically
was made, there would always be
some four or five million people
who would never again find work
/ wondered what would become
of them.
AS / was a visitor and not a
member of the convention | could
not question the speaker, nor
could l induce any of the delegates
to probe the matter for me. 1t
was a delicate subject and no one
Wished to touch it.
However, there has arisen a man
put in California, DIR. F. E. Town
Send, of Lcng Beach, who has bold
ly answered the question. Rev.
Dick, a former pastor of Wesley
ch2rch, an associate of DR.. Town
5end, before group that crowded
the structure to the doors last
week, said that DIR. TOwnsend's
idea appeared fantastic to many
people, it did to him at first sight.
But careful study and cOnsidera-
ton convinced him that it was
practical, sensible and absolutely
possible. He shares that conviction
with many other capable people
and, as the thought is explained to
masses of people throughout the
country, as it was to the gathering
in Wesley church, the number of
persons who will be convinced of
its feasibility and urgency may be
expected to grow by leaps and
bounds.
Briefly stated, the Townsend
plan calls upon the government of
|, he United States to pay to each
citizen of go years or more, the
sum of 5000 a month, with the
provso that all the money shall be
spent in the U. S. within the sc
day period.
Don't try to laugh that off; wal,
a moment.
There are eight million people
within that classification in the
country and the addition of one
billion six hundred million dollars
of new spending pOwer-remem-
Der, it must all be spent each 30
days-will increase tremendously
the economic outlook of every per-
son regardless of age. The with
drawal of million of people now
at work of the 8 million over so.
will automatically make places for
an equal number of the present I'M
employed. The government will
raise the money through a sales
AK assessed upon the commodities
the people buy from day to day, a
tax so small it will not be noticed,
but large enough in the aggregate
to keep the pension fund revOlv-
ing.
The matter now has reached the
stage of organization. Clubs are
in process of formation all over fine
country. They will spread educa-
tional information and in the COM
ing fall elections so influence pros
pective congre ssmen as to assure
favorable consideration for the bill
when it reaches the floor of the
House. It's success depends large
ly upon a nation wide spread of
its benefits, therefore all classes
of persons, including our own
group are sure of inclusion without
discrimination.
If you are sixty and could use
$4,000 a month for the balance
of your life, you have a direct in
terest in learning more about it.;
if you ever expect to reach that
age you have an equally impelling
interest. If you would like to see
all unemployed persons put to
work, remember its sponsors are
convinced it will do just that.
Among these sponsors are the wife
of the president of the United
States, and many of its most astute
business men and all the clergy
who have been reached up to this
time.
At the mass meeting at the
Wesley church last Sunday after
noon l asked the specific question
"Will the Old Age Pension, when
and if it becomes a law, be admin
istered with absolute fairness to
all people?" And the answer came
1