The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-01-14
Information on Operations
Is Being Collected by
Committee.
STRATEGY WORKED OUT
Current Moves Directed by
Hugo Black, Head
of Group.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 14.-Inves-
tigators for the Senate lobby COM
mittee are collecting information
on the financial operations of spon-
sors of the Townsend Plan for old
age revolving pensions, it was
learned today.
The file OF data is being reserved
for use whenever the Townsend
lobby becomes active at the capital.
The mere fact of its collection does
not indicate that any of it is neces-
sarily of unsavory character.
1t was learned that considerable
information has been gathered,
covering financing, promotion meth
DDS and dossiers of persons promi-
nently connected with the move
ment.
The Senate lobby investigation
was authorized last year. Senator
Hugo l.. Black 3D., Ala), who con-
ductad the inquiries into activities
of public utility holding companies,
as chairman.
Since adjournment last August
Senator Black has had his agents
working quietly on variety of lob
bies whose projects were expected
to figure in the present session.
With the sudden revival of Town
send Plan enthusiasm during the
summer and fall investigators were
instructed to collect data on its
inner workings. This has been done
and the committee is now prepared
to conduct hearings on the $500
a-month pension proposal whenever
such a course might be decided
upon.
Other Hobbies Probed
Senators have recalled the deluge
of Townsend Plan mail which de-
veloped last year. The movement
is stronger now and a weli-organ-
ICED campaign of pressure upon
Congress would be extremely embar-
RAISING to those who want to be
reelected and who do do not want
to antagonize any stable bloc Of
constituents.
Under the willy strategy being
worked out as part of the lobby in
vestigation, the Black committee
could begin firing away at the
Townsend Plan whenever such a
contingency developed.
The Black committee has OBJ
tanned files on other powerful Wash
ington Hobbies, including oil, the
veterans organization and the Amer
lean Liberty League. Much of this
information never will be used.
Delegation Visits Capitol
Should a lobby become trouble
some at the Capitol in regard to any
particular piece of legislation, how
ever, the committee would be in a
position to begin an immediate in
vestigation.
A forerunner of what may be ex-
pected in the Townsend Plan cam
paign was seen at the Capitol yes
terday.
A group of about 40 Townsend
ties under the leadership Of Father
James r. Cox of Pittsburgh visited
the Capitol on tour which was
utilized as much in sightseeing as
in propaganda efforts.
The friendliness of Townsend adj
vocates toward their Senator'S and
congressman might easily change if
the temper and zeal of these CAM
paigners for greater security IN old
age were famed to fierce intensity.
Would Avoid Demonstrations
This Is realized at the Capitol and
legislators who have seen bonus
marches, hunger marches and other
mass demonstrations want TO avoid
any similar outbursts from the
Townsendites. The lobby investiga-
ton might do it.
AS one Senator remarked pri-
vately after being visited by the
CHEEKY minded Townsend group:
I'm glad they didn't ask me it
I would support their bill"
The Black committee has not an
nounced a date for resuming it's
hearings. 1t was believed that it
would not be continued until con-
clusion of the munitions committees
inquiry into wartime financial oper-
atoms by American bankers.