The Indianapolis times., 1935-12-21
MILK INCREASE
PROVES BOOST
FOR TOWNSEND
Little Townsend PIan,' as
Foes Dub It, Appeals
to Farm Vote.
DEC. q, 1895
BY JAMES DOSS

sure candidate for Governor, are
clubbing the milk price increase
handed the farmers by the State
Milk Control Board, the Little
Townsend Plan"
Lieut. Gov. Townsend is chair
man of the board. Regardless
OF the sarcasm directed against him
personally for the lift given the pro-
ducers, there is little question that
it improved his status among the
farm groups from whom he can be
expected TO draw great deal Of
strength in the Governor race.
Members Of the Democratic State
Committee slipped as gracefully as
possible out Of the jam in which
they found themselves with Large
James" Farley, Democratic national
chairman, over the Jackson Day
dinners, Jan. 8.
There was plenty of resentment
expressed at Mr.. Farleys suggestion
that the dinner price in cities the
size of Indianapolis should be $40
plate. OF this only Sl.50 would go
for food. The sponsoring organiza-
ton would get $3.50 and the ma
tional committee So.
The graded down prices for cities
Of smaller population would have
been commensurate, it was thought.
Several Democratic leaders privately
, expressed themselves as astonished
4 at Mr.. Farley's lack of tact in sug-
3 gesting such a fund raising plan.
A better way, they agreed, than
y charging the rank ahd file $40 for
q Sl50 worth of food, would have been
a subscription list passed around
among those who really could afford
a $40 or larger touch"
One Statehouse employe has a
way to beat the scheme. If the
charge is $40 in Indianapolis, he has
decided he will go back to his home
town and do his duty by the ma
tional committee at the SO level.
The Indiana state committee final
~ decided to cooperate as far as
possible" with the national commit
tee on Mr.. Farleys suggestions.
That means that the price question
will be left up to the local sponsor
ing organizations.
Suggestion that certain of his
friends are bringing forward the
name of Perry McCart, Public
Service Commission chairman, as
possible compromise candidate for
Governor, is said to be finding favor
among those members of the Demo-
cratic party whom Senator Frederick
VanNuyS termed "Old-line Demo-
Gratis"
Mr.. Pleasant Emery Greenlee's re-
4, action to reports that Gov. McNutt
n eventually will go to washington as
W Postmaster General and take his
n patronage secretary with him was
a characteristic response.
I've got job to do and friends
here, and I never run out on my
friends" was Mr.. Greenlees answer.
a A bit grandiose, you say?
II Perhaps it would be coming from
Aany one else, but any political handi-
Mcapper will give you to 5 on the
1sF morning line" and at least even
simoney at post time" that MI.
EGreenlee means just exactly what
rNhe said.
ri He intimated that if he did let
81 loose of the state organization and
the reins fell to some one else, that
some of his friends would find
sthemselves on the skids. Mr.. Green
Slee, as far as this observer can learn,
does not run out on his friends
IA AS one man. who has no particu-
lar reason to feel fond of Mr..
Greenlee, put it: You always know
where he is; you can put cour finger
on him."
y Outstanding political development
q of the week, not in Indiana it's true,
n but just important to this state as
q anything that happens within its
borders. was the Townsend victory
IA achieved in Michigan.
A congressional candidate was
N elected on the Republican ticket,
u but the Townsend plan was the real
sS issue. Senator Arthur Vandenburg,
~ Michigan, a possible Republican
& presidential nominee, tried to claim
81 some measure of credit for his
party, but most observers see the
# Townsend plank as the determining
2 factor.
& The Townsend movement, with
its mushroom growth, has been COM
spared to the Ku-KluX Klan. But
the shrewd political mind which
Amade the observation added that
&there is a marked difference.
s# He pointed out that the Nan
3could be fought because of its vi
#cious character-its appeal to preiu-
&dice and other false emotions.
NWhereaas. with the Townsend plan,
Sshe said, the movement is founded on
8the fundamental principle of human
#1eed. although the word need"
could be changed to greed" in some
ceases.
M You may quarrel with its ap-
Mproach to the problem it seeks to
ssolve, you NAV question its motives
ghe said, but you can not attack the
n principle on which it is based.
81 One thing is sure-the Townsend
q plan has the leaders of both parties
81 worried more than any phenomenon
NJ that has appeared on the political
"a horizon in some years.