Evening star., 1935-12-18
MICHIGAN VICTOR
IS TOWNSEND|TE
Main, However, Says He Is
Republican and Moth
ing More.

n SuLVO WV OCFtGtG OttOUt
stood pro on genius, proposed
that the United States Government
pay all citizens older than So q
monthly pension OF 5000 on condt-
ton they engage In no further
labor, spend tDithin United States
entire pension Dithin 80 days of
receipt.
Last year a California poet In
Congress introduced bill embrace
ing features Of plan. 1t Jailed OF
passage.
Ecu peeks ago Michigan la,Dyer
sought G. o. P. congressional nonlt-
nation, espoused poets bill. Party
Uictory tUas follo,Oed yesterday tDith
election triumph.
The doctor gGs ToDnSend, the
promoter, Clements; the poet Con-
0ressmen, McGrodrty; the Mich.
igan lGtOper, Main.
BY the Associated Press.
BATTLE CREEK, Mich, December
18.-Verner w. Main, Battle Greek
attorney and stanch advocate Of the
Townsend old-age pension plan, be-
came Michigan's third district Repre-
sentative In Congress today, after win
ming a special election as decisively
as he carried of the nomination In
Republican primary.
Despite Mains assertion Of Repub-
lican party regularity. leaders Of DR..
F. E. Townsend's organization hailed
his election as "the peoples express
sion" in the first test of the plan
as a political issue east Of the Mis-
siSSippi.
Main, dark horse" winner in the
primary, defeated his Democratic op-
ponent, Howard w. Cavanagh, in the
election Tuesday by 2-to-l majority
E. @. Kiefer, a Farmer-Laborite
polled only 397 votes. Mains vote
was 24,6S6 and Cavanagh's 1892.
Plan Strongly Opposed.
Csvanagh. forcing the issue Of
Mains Townsend plan advocacy
sought to swing regular" Republican
votes to his cause, as he opposed the
plan strongly.
to the support Of Main to hold the
district, Republican for more than
80 years, by urging his election as
the party candidate, who would up
hold the party's national policy. Main
in q prediction statement, declared
he was "the Republican candidate"
Main estimated today that 10000
Of his $4,000 votes came from advo-
Gates Of the Townsend plan. This led
election officials to say that the vote
might have established an all-time
low had it not been for the work OF
the Townsend clubs.
Asked whether he would run as a
Townsendite or a Republican in 1886,
Main replied:
IT am not willing to say. I am q
Republican and that's all there Is to
it right now"
Prediction predictions by leaders
in both major parties that g. victory
for Main would bring into every
Michigan congressional campaign In
1885 candidate whose principal
plank is the Townsend plan we're being
repeated widely today in political
circles.
Floyd r. Moody, district manager
OF the Townsend organization, and
active in the campaign. said. IL be.
lieve it is the peoples expression
on the Townsend plan in no un-
certain terms"
| Edward J. Margett, regional CO.
ordinator, said in San Francisco thu
election Of Main "is just a fore
runner Of what's going to happer
nationally 49,
Expected by Townsend.
DR.. Townsend, at Rochester, MINI.
said the result was exactly what
I expected" The founder of the pen
sion plan assisted Main in his primary
campaign, speaking throughout tn,
distric, to urge his election IS q
Townsend plan advocate.
On the other hand, party leader,
declared Mains election bore ou
the history Of the district, strongly
Republican.
Senator Arthur H. Vandenberg
Republican, of Michigan indorset
Mains candidacy on the basis o.
opposition to the New Deal, but
attacked sharply the Townsend plan
Main, 40 years old. is a native o.
Ohio. He obtained his law degree a.
the University of Michigan, and ha'
been a practicing attorney here q
years. Recognized as a staunch pro.
hibition advocate, he has taken ar
active interest in civic affairs, but
his first campaign for q politica
Office came with announcement Of hi
candidacy for Congress.
RELIEF WINS IN OKLAHOMA.
OKLAHOMA CITY, December Ia
R).-The Oklahoma electorate-nont
too ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS q g..
100000 Christmas gift to the needy
today.
incomplete and unofhcial return.
from yesterdays special election on thu
appropriation for direct relief for tn,