Evening star., 1936-07-17
TOWNSEND GROUP
BANS BACKING Of
POLITICAL PARTIES
Delegates Cheer Chairman's
Decision to Keep Conven-
tion N0n-PartiSan.
GOV. LANDON DECLINES
TO ADDRESS SESSION
Townsend, Coughlin and Rev. Mr..
Smith Announce They Will
Stump for Lemke.
BULLETIN.

CLEVELAND, July II P).-Evi-
dence of dissension among leaders
OF the Townsend old-age pension
movement became evident today
with a statement by Dr. Francis E.
Townsend that Il do not consider
Conner Smith any longer men,
Der of our organization.
&y the Associated Press.
CLEVELAND, July 17.-Frank Ar
buckle, permanent chairman Of the
Townsend National Convention, an
nounced to delegates today Amy mo-
tion or resolution having to do with
endorsement of national political
party shall be out of order at all
times"
He said he so ruled because 1--WE have
had liberal discussions concerning the
national political situation" and to
''re.emphasize the fact that this con-
vention is non-partisan in its political
activities
His announcement was met with
cheers.
Last night DR.. Francis E. Townsend
announced he, Rev. Father Charles E.
Coughlin, Rev. Gerald L. X. Smith and
Representative William Lemke, presi-
dental candidate of the Union party,
would conduct a speaking tour on
Lemke's behalf.
DR.. Townsend also called last night
for the resignation of Conner Smith of
Oklahoma, national vice president,
after Smiths attack on Coughlin and
Rev. Mr.. Smith. Coughlin is head of
the National Union for Social Justice,
which has indorsed Lemke. Rev. Mr..
Smith claims to head the Share-the-
Wealth movement.
Land0n Answers Request.
Arbuckle's ruling was similar to q
resolution adopted yesterday declaring
the convention to be non-partisan.
The same resolution invited the presi-
dental candidates of the Democratic,
Republican and Socialist parties to
speak before the delegates.
A message from the Republican can
didate, Gov. All M. Landon of Kansas,
was read to the convention saying that
while he appreciated the invitation it
would be impossible for me to make
any address Of this kind until after my
acceptance of the nomination"
Invitations to speak before the con-
Tention also were sent to President
Roosevelt and to Norman Thomas,
Socialist presidential candidate.
A secretary to President Roosevelt
sent message to the convention
acknowledging the invitation.
Had Attacked Lemke.
Last Monday night in a press con-
ference DIR. Townsend said he could
name dozen men in the United
States who would make better third
party candidate" than Lemke. He said
he would be bound by whatever the
convention did, and added but don't
think the degelates have decided by
any means that they want a third
party"
In the opening session Wednesday,
Representative Martin F.. Smith, Dem
ocrat, Of Washington. temporary chair
man, was cheered when he said, my
friends, we are not going to lose with
aemke, we are going to triumph with
Townsend"
Attacked Roosevelt.
In his message" to the delegates
Wednesday afternoon, DR.. Townsend
attacked President Roosevelt. and the
New Deal, and said the Townsend
plan had the support of the National
Union for Social Justice, founded by
Coughlin, and the Share-the- Wealth
Group led by Rev. Mr.. Smith.
Wednesday night it was announced
Coughlin would address the conven-
tion. Southern delegates who claimed
the support of Townsendites from Is
1See TOWNSENDITES. Page a.