Evening star., 1936-05-16
NEW TOWNSEND|TE
BOARD FACES QUIZ
At Least Three Slated for
GriIIing in Addition to
Chief.
BY JOHN C, HENRY.

At least three members of the re-
Gently named Board of Directors of
Old Age Revolving Pensions, Ltd, and
several other officials close to the top
of the Townsend pension movement
are slated for public grilling by the
special House Committee investigating
old age pension schemes, it was learned
today. @
The three already spotted" for par
ticular attention by the committee are
Rev. Clinton Wunder Of New York,
john B. Kiefer of Chicago and Alfred
j. Wright Of Cleveland. Each Of these
three has been active In the Townsend
organization for some time; they were
made members Of the newly established
board April /.
Others scheduled for public ques-
tioning on their activities in and
knowledge of the pension movement
are, Edward J. Margett, newly named
national director of publicity; Sheridan
Downey, personal counsel to DR.. Fran
els E. Townsend; Charles Hawks, an
Eastern organizer, and Thomas WAL
lace, no longer connected with tie
movement. but at one time active in
their radio broadcasting.
McGroarty May Be Quizzed.
1t was learned, also, that Repre-
sentative McGroarty, Democrat, of
California, and sponsor of the only
Townsend legislation thus far intro
duced in Congress, may be called upon
to tell the committee about the differ
ences which have arisen between him
and DIR. Townsend. A wide break oc-
CURED between the two several weeks
ago, with virtually no likelihood Of any
reconciliation.
Subpoenas are being prepared for
several of those named above with
their appearances to follow that of
DR.. Townsend. The doctor, who built
up a mirage Of $20o-per-month af-
fluence for all persons over 60 into a
political and social force of first mag
nitude, will take the stand Tuesday
morning for his first taste of commit
tee questioning.
Although close secrecy has surround
ed facts gained by subcommittee men,
bers and their aides during the last
several weeks, 1t is believed that prin-
cipal emphasis In the questioning of
the doctor and his co-workers will be
directed at financial practices and at
the character background of leaders in
the movement.
Politics Face Scrutiny.
Political policies also are a subject
of interest to the committee with
Townsendite campaigning threatening
to remove several of the members from
their House seats. The Townsend
organization is exerting particular po-
litical pressure at this time in Okla
homa where Conner Smith, a men,
Der of the Board of o. A. R. p, is an
active candidate for the Senate seat
of Senator Gore. Democrat.
1t was understood when the COM
mittee recessed on May that no
further delays would be permitted
when hearings resume Tuesday, the
hope being that the hearings would be
completed by the time Congress ad-
journs fo- the Summer.
Questioning of DR.. Townsend alone,
however, probably will take at least
several days Adding six or seven
more witnesses probably will carry the
sessions through the first week OF June
or longer
In addition, Robert E. Clements,
former co-leader and national secre-
ta1y and treasurer of o. A. r. p, still
is under subpoena and may be re-
called for further questioning. The
committee also has authority to in
vestigate other pension movements
besides the Townsend program.