The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-03-26

OO W OAAAOAANA " VAAS OOAA0 Townsend old age pension I THE PATHOS of the story is the trust which thousands of elderly people throughout the country placed in the leaders of Townsendisrn.
 THE COMEDY is the manner in which these leaders cast their lot with men completely out of sympathy with the aged, solely for the purpose of promoting them selves.
 MOST AMAZING story is that of the secret Townsend deal with Huey Long, also the Townsendite strategy of stepping into the King fish's shoes as leader of Q third party movement against RooSe- welt.
 Scene !
 THE STORY OPENS LAST JULY IN A HOTEL ROOM IN WASHINGTON.
 Present were HUEY himself; his secretary, EARL 0. CHRISTEN- BERRY, now secretary to his widow; DIR. FRANCIS E. TOWN SEND, brain father of the plan; and R. E. CLEMENTS, suave little ex-realtor who is the real boss of the Townsend organiza- ton.
 Huey and Clements did the talking, which was straight and to the point.
 We like your ideas, senator" said Clements, land the way you do business"
 T think you people are going places," said Huey, land I'm ready to trade with you. I want to tell you frankly can't see our scheme of paying $2OO 2 month pensions. I don't consider 1t practical.
 "T am out 10 bust this guy Roosevelt and I'm willing to play ball with you folks If you will help me"
 No agreement was reached at the meeting, but Q friendly basis of negotiatong was established and 1t was agreed to talk further.
 There were no further talks. Six weeks later, HUEY WAS DEAD.
 Chicago Convention
 THE SCENE SHIFTS TO CHICAGO.
 To quiet 6 mounting chorus of criticism within his organiza toin, and also to stage . public show of strength, Clements decided to hold a national convention.
 Inexperienced in this field, he contacted Earl Christenberry in New Dreams. With Huey dead, Christenbcrry was looking for a job. He agreed to manage the Townsend convention for $l,000 @ week.
 After Chrlstenberry's arrival, ClemenutS br0ached the idea of using the Townsend movement as . basis for . third party with Clements as the successor to Huey. Christenberry fell in with the proposal.
 No word of this scheme reached the ears of the 1000 old men and women who paid their own ex- penses to attend the convention. Before their eyes was dangled only a mirage of the $200 month pension.
 But after the convention, . secret conference took place among Chrlstcnberry. Clements and Townsend. Townsend was let in on the secret--that is, part of it. The part which was tO make Clements successor to Huey Long was not told the kindly ex-Iowa physician. Huey's Sugar Daddies
 At this point, Christenberry dis closed that before the Kingfish died he had been pledged the financial support of half-dozcn of the wealthiest men in the country.
 They were to put up 6 cam- paign fund of $4,000, ,000, and Huey was to put up his "Share-thc- Wealth" battle cry. And this in- congruous combination was to split the democratic paryt wide open and defeat Roosevelt.
 One of the men. an occasional visitor at the White House, had personally pledged q total of $50O,0OO. Another, a bitterly anti New Deal midwest Inanu- facturer, had assured Huey of . contribution almost as large.
 At least three of the group had Liberty League connections. All were ready to go to great lengths TO DEFEAT ROOSEVELT.
 Clements proposed to capitalize this fierce resentment to his own advantage.
 Cold Shoulder
 First reaction of the big money men was promising. Despite their opposition to the Townsend plan, they indicated willingness to use tho movement TO DEFEAT ROOSEVELT. But when 1t came to backing Clements as the stand ard bearer--they backed off.
 Instead, they proposed that the Midwestern industrialist be put up as the champion. He, however. refused the "calp.
 The names of two republican senators then were suggested