The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-12-18
President Roosevelt
 Has Chance To Win
(Continued from Page D

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 that they feel an. obligation to MT. Roosevelt.
 Big in the political picture is the figure of Dr. F. E. Townsend, the middle western MD. who went to California and invented CARP His old age revolving pensions LTD, has gained members until the doctor claims support of 25,O00.- 900 persons and his canny, practical aides admit membership of 2,000,- 900 or 100000 and an income of $1 ,00O a day-$365,oO0 year.
 Dare Not Refuse Drink
 Back of Townsend is the organ izing ability of R. Earl Clements former Long Beach, Cal, real estate operator. Between them they brew political broth many politicians fear to drink but dare not refuse They offer $200 a month to every person over 60. They promise to create 100000 jobs. The neces- sary $25 ,OOO,0 100000 would be raised by a transactions tax.
 Except that it will be tremen- dous, the effect of Townsend plan propaganda on the election of sen- ators and representatives next year cannot be predicted. Townsend's aides have been following the pre- prohibition Anti-Saloon League po- litical strategy of obtaining a de- | liverable bloc of votes in as many congressional districts as possible. Drop Into Townsend's Hat A few congressman seeking re. election next year have dropped into Townsend's hat like ripe ap- Sles. He has only begun to shake the tree.
 Before laughing the Townsend plan away it would be well to re- call that Americans were bidding $50 stock to $500 few years ago; that the farm belt and seaboard sucker lists are inexhaustible; that Ponzi got rich; and promise of a share in the estate of the late Sir Francis Drake (1540-1596) still can entice dollars from American pocketbooks. Those were bargain" offers. Dr. Townsend offers some- thing for nothing. The Townsend plan is blazing Pacific Coast is- sue. The fire is spreading east ward.
 Unemployment Hurts
 Travelling about the country you get the idea that the Roosevelt po- litical strength is based largely on generally better business and legis- lative favors to groups of citizens. The popular mind appears to con- slider the New Deal vulnerable on relief and public works expen- ditures, on choice of personnel for various conspicuous federal posts and on the question of employ ment. The biggest and politically most dangerous New Deal failure is reflected in the continued unem- ployment of some millions of per- Sons-just how many no one knows. The word got around in 1883 that all hands were going back to work.
 If there is ground swell of popular resentment against MT. Roosevelt's attitude toward the Constitution, I did not detect 1t. But there is no doubt that Under secretary of Agriculture Rexford G. Tugwell is beginning to represent to a good many voters something of which they are suspicious. It is an intangible thing but impossible to ignore.
 Hopkins is No Asset
 WPA Administrator Harry L. Hopkins is not a political asset. It appears that MT. Roosevelt still is more popular than his administra- tion as a whole although in recent months the attack has turned from his aides toward the man in the White House.
 Assuming that the New Deal promises more relief to the jobless than is offered by the opposition party, the persons who have been living on federal money probably will vote Roosevelt in 1886. But it will be a competitive proposition with the votes going to the best offer. Relief expenditures and the Roosevelt Hopkins method of spending have hurt the New Deal more with powerful interests in New York City, believe, than any other administration policy. Hop kins more than any othter New Dealer rallied big bankers to the anti-New Deal trenches.
 Labor Anger Disappears
 Organized labor's resentment against low WPA rates of pay ap- pears to disappear as union scales are met. There is scant hangover anger. Working men told me from coast to coast that the National Recovery Administration fiasco had not diminished MT. Roosevelt's prestige with organized labor.
 MIRA was condemned by almost everyone to whom talked either for what it did or did not do.
 Money fears are hurting the ad- ministration, but no great damage has been done so far. The only direct federal tax of which citizens are acutely aware is the income '--. T.-c ?,0no 0O0 cr eo ~---a''-