The Washington times., 1936-03-23
BEST IN SIGHT,
FOLLOWERS
ARE TOLD
BY GEORGE r. HOLMES
International NewB Service

International News Service
At last the Townsendites have
a presidential candidate. Senator
William E. Borah Of Idaho, now
campaigning for the Republican
nomination, Is their man.
Intense political interest was
created in both major parties to-
day by the announcement Of DR..
Francis z. Townsend in California
that he favors Borah-not be-
cause Borah has "come right out
for our plan, but because he has
moved q great deal further
toward our ideals than any other
candidate in sight in either
party"
Political Dynamite
DR.. Townsend Is sponsor and
author Of the ambitious scheme
to pay everybody over go years
Of age q monthly pension Of $500
out Of the Federal Treasury. Fan
tastic as the proposition is from
an economic standpoint-lt has
been estimated it would take
twenty billions Of dollars to do 1t
neutrality-suspicious. recognize In
it considerable political dynamite.
Literally thousands Of Towns
end clubs have sprung up over the
country, especially in the West,
and upon several occasions Dr..
Townsend has claimed to have
enough followers to swing a presi-
Dental election.
If the weight Of the Town
send clubs is now swung mill
tantly behind the Borah cand1-
dacy It will provide an interest
ing test of the boasted strength
of the movement and will be
watched with keen interest by
political leaders of all ranks.
Has Shown Sympathy
AS DR.. Townsend said, Senator
Borah has never "come right
out" for the $2O0-a-month plan.
But he did introduce DR.. Town.
send to an Idaho audience some
months ago, and several times
has indicated a sympathy for
greater care for the aged, and
chose who are no longer able
to compete in the battle for 9
livelihood.
other candidates for the
Presidency have avoided the
Townsend plan as they would
poison ivy. They are all op-
posed to it, but mostly have
preserved silence because that
course seemed the wiser one po-
litically.
Townsend support for Sena-
tor Borah's candidacy comes at
a time when it is needed. After
unsuccessfully trying to entice
his rivals for the nomination,
principally Governor ALI M. Ian
don Of Kansas. and Col. Frank
Knox Of Chicago, into primary
battles. the Idaho Senator has
set out alone to win several
states. In Illinois he will meet
Colonel Knox on April IA, Knox
consenting to enter his own
State because he felt certain Of
winning, and because, deprived OF
the support Of Illinois. in the
Cleveland convention, the Knox
candidacy would not have a
great deal Of substance.
First Test in Ohio
In Ohio, on May IL, the Borah
candidacy clashes with the State
organization dominated by Walter
r. Brown, Postmaster General in
the Hoover Cabinet. The State or
ganization has put favorite son,
Robert A. Taft, son Of the former
President, into the field against
Borah to prevent the Idahoan's
carrying Ohio by default.
In addition Senator Borah Is
considering entering primaries IN
New Jersey and California. In New
York, he has already entered some
districts.
Save in California, the Town
send movement is not believed to
be particularly formidable In these
primary States. Nevertheless, I'm.
der the circumstances, politicians
are going to watch with interest
the effect, If any, Of DR.. Townsend
coming out for the Idahoan.
Previously it had been under:
stood the Townsendites were re.
serving their fire for the presi-
Dental race Of 1910.