The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-12-12
TOWNSEND PL AN
SWEEPING IOWA,
WILSON LEARNS
Roosevelt Still Popular,
Though, Because of
AAA Benefits.
BY / YLE C.. WILSON
United Press staff Correspondent

DES MONIES, Ia, Dec 12.-IoWa
is breaking out in rash of radical
political ideas They don't amount
to much so far, but they indicate
new thinking trends in this normal
ly Republican state.
The Townsend Plan is beginning
to make itself felt. More significant
Is the fact that disconnected ele-
ments, which hitherto have followed
radical Republican leaders, have be-
gun to organize for themselves.
There is in Iowa a formal Farm
er-Labor party. State law requires
a political party to obtain 2 per cent
of the vote cast to obtain recogni-
ton of its candidates on primary
ballots. Last election the Farmer
Laborites polled double the neces-
sary percentage and hope to chisel
more votes next year
Holiday Group Active
Milo Reno's Farm Holiday Asso-
citation still is active, although less
is heard Of it now than when Mr.
Reno was organizing farm strike
picket lines a couple of years ago
Politically minded IoWans are in
terested-many of them alarmed
by recent Townsend Plan develop
ments. Cleveland o. CroWninshield
named for Ohio's Greatest city, is
DR.. ToWnsends Iowa representa-
tive The ToWnsendites are hav-
ing trouble with some of the daily
newspapers in the state. Until Mr.
CroWninshield was convinced I was
not an employee Of the Des Moines
Register-Tribune he would tell me
nothing. l convinced him and his
story was short and sweet.
There amt any question" he told
me, but that Iowa is going over
for the Plan. 1t is the only hope
of the Republican party in Iowa"
$4,000 Members SO Far
There are 600 Townsend Plan
clubs with 250nG members so far.
Organization began Jan. l, and
there has been rapid recent growth.
AS on the West Coast and in the
mountain states, Mid-Western Town
sendites have borrowed the late
Wayne B. Wheeler's Anti Saloon
League political strategy. They will
support Congressional candidates
who support their plan.
Republicans and Democrats should
be warned by the experience of
Secretary of Agriculture Henry A.
Wallace here recently He made a
speech and submitted himself for
questions. Up popped this one:
IF the New Deal is sound,
wouldn't a step further to the the
Townsend Plan put more money in
circulation and aid recovery
Wallace Ducks That One
A statesman of national stand
ing should have had an answer,
but Mr.. Wallace had to duck it.
The incident probably will make
Townsend Club members and Town
send Plan votes I was told that
the Progressive Farmer-LabOr lead
ers of the Midwest are perfecting
their reply to such questions and
that they believe they have a con-
vincing argument.
The brighter side of the Iowa
landscape reveals better business,
and back of that improved agricul-
tural purchasing power. The dis
pute between the left wing and the
New Deal during the campaign will
be whether farm purchasing power
would have been greater if Mr.,
Roosevelt had pursued more Wig
orously the policies generally de-
nounced by the Republican opposi-
ton on grounds of RECOMMENDATION,
extravaganza and state socialism.
IoWa'S COrn-hOg take in 1884 and