Evening star., 1936-05-19
Townsend

Townsend
Continued From First Page.)
linson testified. In doing it, he con-
tinued, they had attempted to keep
the doctor actually lin the back
ground"
"Unemployed" at Start.
DR.. Townsend was unemployed"
and in very bad" financial condition
when the movement started, Tomlin-
son told the committee, and his wife
was working to pay family expenses.
Sheridan Downey. personal counsel
of Townsend, sat close beside him.
Tomlinson also told the subcom-
mittee, according to testimony read
by Sullivan, that many old persons
had brought cash contributions to the
Townsend offices in Long Beach. One
woman was scrubbing floors to earn
money for contributions.
"These old fossils would contribute
to somebody else if not to U.S." Tom
linson quoted DR.. Townsend.
The old woman said God would
take care of her if she gave all her
funds to the movement, Tomlinson
said. He reminded her that 1t might
be some time before she was COM
mitted to His care, he added.
Representative Toian informed the
committee as hearings opened that
the signatures brought from Cali
fornia were available for examination
and tabulation by the committee.
Sullivan submitted letter written
by the doctor to Robert E. Clements,
co-founder, now resigned from the
movement As DR.. Townsend read
the letter Downey conferred with him.
Representative Lucas objected to
to this practice and Chairman Bell
requested Downey to retire to
nearby table unless constitutional
rights of the witness are endangered.
The letter was written January 16,
1885. In it DR.. Townsend said he was
convinced the weekly should be edited
from Washington, where they could
get the best Townsend whirl for the
least money"
Best supervision" of both Congress
men and Senators Is possible here, the
letter continued.
You and have the world by the
tail and downhill pull on this thing,
Earle. If We handle it right" the
letter said. "You should be here to
see the jitters some of the Senators
and Congressman are in. It is funny
Il am always spoken of as a soft
voiced, mild-mannered old chap" the
letter continued.
Il still think We have the country
by the tail with a downhill pull"
DR.. Townsend repeated as Sullivan
went back to question him on each
paragraph of the letter.
Sullivan next introduced a second
letter from Townsend to Clements.
dated September 4, 1885.
This missive concerned itself mostly
with the idea of Townsend political
party.
Il tell you, old fellow, the way for
us to lick the stufing out of the old
parties is to become militant and 20
after them hammer and tongs for be-
ing totally incompetent, as we know
they are. If either Of the old parties
adopted our program it would be for
strategic purposes only and their
promises would be forgotten the next
day after election. The cry every
where 60 is, why don't we have our
own party?' Now that is Just the
thing believe we should begin to do,
talk about the Townsend party, not
wait in the foolish hope that one of
the old groups will adopt us. If they
ever do they will treat us like poor
adopted trash. To hell with them. If
we begin to announce ourselves soon
and work like the dickens for the next
year we shall be able to lick the stuff
ing out Of both Of them.
Plans Arizona Campaign.
y am going back into Arizona as
soon as possible and help those people
to recall their two Senators. I can put
the job over there That will give the
people courage all over the Nation and
arouse their enthusiasm as nothing
else could do. Just one successful
campaign like that and we would 60
like a whirlwind. It would begin to
roll in the money, too. We need just
such a touch as that to enthuse the
people"
Representative Hoffman then leaped
to the attack on the political angle,
accusing the doctor Of "Sneaking in"
by bringing pressure on candidates Of
the regular parties rather than start
ing their own party. At this remark
the crowd clapped loudly and was
warned by Chairman Bell that there
must be no further demonstrations.
Notwithstanding these statements
Of selfish purpose. shown in these let
tiers, do you still maintain you are
sincere in efforts to help the old peo-
ple?" Lucas asked.
'I do" Townsend said.
Before the hearings opened, Chair
man Bell, Democrat of Missouri, voiced
the belief that examination OF DR..
Townsend would require the rest OF
the week at least, with several other
witnesses scheduled to follow him on
the stand. Among them are some
members of the recently named board
Of directors Of Old Age Revolving
Pensions, Ltd, and Edward j. Margett,
new national publicity chief OF the
movement.