The Washington times., 1935-11-22
.'T0WNSENDITES
BIGW0RRYT0
POLITICIANS
BY EARL GOODWIN

The Townsend old-age pension
for men and women of 80 years
bobs up again to worry national
politicians, because a Republican
aspirant for Congress in Michigan
wins out over a field Of aspirants
by supporting that idea. AS the
news of this was received in Wash
ington political observers began
to tell how politicians everywhere
are somewhat worried about DR..
Townsends tremendously vital
organization and what it may do
between now and the next elec-
ton, less than year away.
The TownsenditeS claim to have
enough votes in several Congress
sional districts to elect or defeat
q candidate outright. In many
others they have enough followers
to split any ticket.
Draw Big Crowds
They are holding huge meet
ings throughout the Middle West,
attracting as many as 10000 at
tendants. They are not only at
tracing the oldsters but also
many of the youngsters, and
what is more interesting to prac-
tical politicians, they are said to
be well organized.
It is related that at one time
Senator Borah was thought to be
friendly to the Townsend plan;
that he introduced a Townsend
leader at a Boise (Idaho) meeting,
which apparently tied him up
with the old-age plan; that later
he wrote q letter to q friend in
which he SHE'D away from the
scheme, but, at any rate, the
Townsendites eventually came to
the conclusion that Senator
Borah was not their man, after
all.
However, political observers here
have been wondering what the
Townsend following would do II
a bid were made for it by some
radical leader in the field Of pres1-
Dental politics.
Between the followers Of Father
Coughlin and those Of DR.. Town
send there is said to be an army
of IL million voters-or more.
Huge figures, and they may oe
incorrect, but those are the terms
in which these possibilities are
being discussed.
rather Coughlin's break with
prnsidnnt Roosevelt has not
caused any outward ripple, but he
claims nine million members IN
his National Union for Social
Justice. If they remain at nome
on election day. that would make
a great hole in the election re-
turns.
If the nine million all voted for
Roosevelt last time and tailed 10
next time, it would be enough to
efeat the President for reelec'
IN. Whether they would all turn
ward some unknown and un.
1spected radical leader in q third
arty is something to be talked
~ bout-but is not predictable.
One reason is that parties, re-
uuire organization and no present
minority party that seems likely
to be a contender is possessed OF
the right sort of organization to
make a dent in the electoral col
1ege.
Have Done Wonders
However, minority parties have
done wonders in the past. Fifty
years ago the Prohibition party,
which did not poll 100000 votes,
ate into Blaine's strength in New
York and, by so doing, carried
that State and the nation for
Cleveland.
Reverting to the Townsend
plan, there is a story current
that the Administration faces
trouble when it starts to ask Con
gress for the money for the social
security board and the Federal
old-age pension plan. The Town
sendites want to tack their plan
for 5000 a month for 60-year.
oldsters to the bill for the social
security board. No wonder the
President told the mayors the
other day that he hoped for "a
short session of Congress"