Evening star., 1936-02-20
PROBERS WOULD
CALL TOWNSEND
Representative Bell Asked
for Information by Pen
sion Advocate.
BACKGROUND


Vision of plenty and happiness
for everybody ouer so years of age
tUas painted BY DR.. F. E. Townsend
in Long Branch, Calf. in the
Summer OF 1884
The $200-a-month pension plan
became stirring political issue in
California, Dhere it ,Oas Endorsed
BY Gop. Merriam, Republican, tDho
defeated Upton Sinclair and his
E. P. I. C. platform.
Economists. labor leaders and
the NeW Deal hate condemned the
plan uneQuivocdlly. but ToWnsend
claims increasing strength.
Representative Bell, Democrat, of
Missouri. probable chairman of the
House committee to investigate the
Townsend and other old-age pension
movements, said today he was sure
this committee will want to interro-
gate DR. Townsend.
The Missourian made the state
ment in answer to a telegram from
Conner Smith of Los Angeles, who
telegraphed Bell that he was the per-
sonal attorney for DR.. F. E. Townsend,
founder of the old-age pension move
ment which bears his name.
Smiths telegram said:
He (Dr. Townsend) is recovering
from flu. and neither he nor I can be
in Washington before two weeks. We
both desire to be present beginning in
vestigation and will appreciate your
deferring commencement for two
weeks.
Informa ton Asked.
''We desire to offer committee every
assistance and will appreciate your
telegraphing me, collect Biltmore Ho-
tel, Los Angeles, attitude your COM
mittee our request and date of in
vestigation."
The House voted 240 to 4 yesterday
to set up committee of eight men,
bers for the inquiry. Bell. author Of
the inquiry resolution, said that as a
doctor of ellis which aff1ict our social
structure" DR.. Townsend is "charla.
tan and quack." He said he cast nc
reflection on Townsend's medical
record.
At Townsend headquarters a corps
of officers and employees gathered with
smiling inquiries around reporters.
How much is Congress going to
spend on the investigation?" was the
question reiterated on all sides. 1T is
wonderful publicity"
Forces Plan to Vote"
Robert E. Clements, national secre-
tary and co-founder of the plan to pay
everyone 60 years of age 5000 a month
pension, said:
These monkeys have played right
into our hands. They are giving us
the biggest piece of publicity we ever
could have hoped to get. ." We
shall be exoaerated and our pension
plan forced to a vote"
In a formal statement Clements
charged that the investigation was
pure and unadulterated political per-
secution."
On the House floor, Representative
Celler, Democrat, of New York charged
that the Townsend organization
yielded $4,000 a week each to Dr.
Townsend and Clements. He said
Townsend was "either a fool or a
knave."
Representative Blanton, Democrat,
Of Texas told the House he wanted
the investigating committee to sift re-
ports that grocers in certain cities had
been forced to turn over to Townsend
clubs a stipulated fee on purchases
made bS club members.
Defended by Smith.
Defense of the Townsend plan was
made by Representative Smith, Dem
ocrat, of Washington, who said there
was no Justification" for the inquiry,
and Representative Main, Republican,
OF Michigan, who said he detected
symptoms Of political jitters."