Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1935-10-31
TOWNSEND WILL
GET HIS PENSION

All persons who have given some
thought to taxes, the national income
and economics in general have been
skeptic of the loudly ballyhOoed
Townsend Old Age Plan. The original
promise of 5000 per month to old
folks was too good to be true. Late
developments show that the skepti-
cism was well founded.
In the first place, the national in
come in 1928 was but little over an
average of $4,000 to family of five.
Under the Townsend plan every old
person would get. as first promised
and still believed by many, $4,000 per
year. Where would the money come
from? The plan is for national
transaction or sales tax. That would
simply mean a dividing up amongst
the masses. The only way the old
folks could get $1,000 per year would
be if the dollar were reduced to d
value of about 25 cents.
The national convention at Chicago
Saturday with 5000 delegates present,
gave absolute political dictatorial
powers to DR.. F.. f. Townsend, the
founder, r. E. Clements, and few
more insiders, by approving resolu-
ton which provides:
THAT no Townsend club, organi-
zation or officers shall give official
Endorsement or support to any politi-
cal candidate or candidates except
upon the express authorization and
direction of the national headquar-
tiers.
THAT the political policy in the
coming campaign shall be fixed by
national headquarters, later cOnSulta-
ton and advice with regional officers
and state area and congressional dis
trict boards, and that the final right
of the Endorsement and support of any
particular candidate or candidates
must rest with the national headQuar-
tiers. where approval of any candidate
shall carry with it the full Townsend
support, and should preclude any
Townsend club or organization or Of
ticer supporting anyone else or giving
their Endorsement thereto
Speeches were made at the con-
vention against the present national
administration. bitter denunciations
being hurled particularly against
President Roosevelt. The insiders of
the Townsend organization are known
as strong reactionaries and with the
resolution adopted that shows which
way the wind is blowing.
The Townsend plan was exposed in
an article by Richard l.. Neuberger
in the current issue of The Nation
which goes to show that DR.. Town
send and Mr.. Clements did not want
enactment Of the plan in the recent
session of Congress, but merely want
ed to make enough of a showing to
justify the continued solicitation of
financial support.
Frank Peterson, former national
publicity director for Townsend, tells
of how Clements who not long ago
was broke. now spends money lavish
iy, derived from the pennies. nickles,
and dimes of the poor old people. The
official publication. the Townsend
Weekly. is now netting DR.. Townsend
and Mr.. Clements about $4,000 per
week. Not bad business for the in
siders. Aside from membership dues
and the publication there is income
from the sale of banners. pins. but
tons, pictures of DR.. Townsend, post
ers. tire covers, ETC.. and collections
at meetings.
The Townsend movement has rev.
enue possibilities for the insiders and
in addition TO all the above they have
now founded the Townsend National
Legion of Honor with dues Of one dol
lar month. and high-powered pub
licistS are eXerting pressure on the
old people to join this section of the
movement.
OF great significance is the change
from the original Townsend plan en-
bodied in the McGroarty bill CIR
1850. which calls for pension mot
to exceed 5000 a month" This might
mean as little as ten cents a month
ard certainly is not the unequivoca a
$500 allotment which most of the fol-
lowers of Townsend still believe they
are seeking.
Dr. Townsend and Clements have
encountered much trouble. especially
in the western states where the move
ment started and where they are
known. The real leaders of liberal