The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1935-12-26

tually unknown
Political Whether he be a
ProbIems big shot In po-
litical life or just
a ward heeler, his life is constant
ly beset with difficulties. Those DIFF
ficulties always have and always
will force him TO wiggle and squirm
and sprout additional gray hairs.
The newest problem worrying po-
liticians is the Townsend old age
pension proposal. Promoters OF that
fantastic scheme are gaining such
a Roadway that even James A. Far
ley, postmaster general, chairman
Of the Democratic national commit
tee and chairman OF the New York
state Democratic committee, is cur
rently reported to be developing
frowns on his otherwise smiling
face. When Mr.. Farley begins to
get worried, there is cause, indeed,
for all of the other politicians, big
and little, to get worried. The Re-
publicans also are concerned about
the Townsend plan. But 1t Is not
quite as important to the Republi-
cans as IL Is to the Democrats TO
take a stand on the Townsend plan
because the Democrats are in con-
troll of the national administration
and obviously they are on the de-
fensive.
The battle being pressed by Mr..
Townsend and his satellites is no
small concern. Impossible as 1t is OF
operation; doomed to ultimate fail
ure as such a scheme must definite
ly be, 1t continues to expand In Its
scope of political influence and has
arrived at the point where IL con-
stitutes a power that must be reck-
oned with by all.
I am convinced that anyone who
will analyze the Townsend plan can
not help arriving at the conclusion
that IL is comparable to the fantasy
of the mississippi bubble" When
the Mississippi bubble broke, not
thousands but millions were disil-
lusioned, If not utterly destroyed,
and their economic future, so glow
ingly painted, was completely
wrecked.
The Townsend plan which con-
templates payment of two hundred
dollars per month
Townsend to the INDECENT is
pIon one of those
things that de-
velops invariably in periods OF
economic distress. 1t is distinctly
product Of hard times.
When people are out OF work
and without resources; when they
are suffering, they are always prey
to any and all argument Offering
them relief. The conditions exact
even a greater toll, a toll leading to
crime. Only a few days ago the
chief of the secret service, w. III.
Moran, told me that II was char
acteristic of hard times that coun-
terfeiters of currency were more
active. Idle hands will find some
thing to do and the clever crook
will take advantage Of the situation.
While every one who has talked
with Doctor Townsend recognizes
his sincerity, his earnest desire to
accomplish relief for the aged and
INDECENT population, I believe It Is
an indisputable fact that Doctor
Townsend's plan would not get to
first base except for the fact that
this country now has millions OF
citizens who are almost IL not quite
without food.
The point I am trying to make is
that Doctor Townsend's scheme, idle
dream that IL is, has been put for
ward at one of the few times In this
nations history when it is possible
to amass following Of political i'm
portance. 1t is only in times such
as these that people would pay at
tention to Ii. 1t will die down and
his organization will crumble some
time i'm the future but this will not
happen until it has caused plenty
of grief, until 1t has wrecked po-
litical fortunes of countless scores
of men and women who guess wrong
and until probably II has produced
a burden of taxation upon this ma
ton the like of which never has
been seen before.
Townsend plan supporters in all
of their preachments have consist
emily talked OF their proposition
from its beauteous side. 1t is sus-
ceptible Of that because IL is easy
to point out what blessing II would
be to have each aged person receive
a monthly check Of two hundred
dollars from the government.
But there is another side to the
picture. 1t Is basic. Where will the
government get the money? Town
send spokesman have figured out a
visionary taxation scheme to raise
the amount Of money required but
the thing they do not discuss Is the
fundamental fact that by their tax
alton scheme they will depreciate
our national currency and will load
upon those who are willing to work
such a burden Of taxation that soon
there will be clamor from three
ont of four of tho ronn1afio,, Co..