The Washington times., 1936-03-31
EACH CHARGES
OTHER PLAYS
POLITICS
Congressman Claims
Founder Is Trying
To Be Gar
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The Townsend old-sge pension
movement today was embroiled
In a bitter factional struggle for
leadership.
Already subjected to the heavy
fire of q congressional 1nveStl-
CATION, the organizations woes
were increased by a wide-open
break in its high command.
DR.. Francis E. Townsend, found
er, split with Representative John
S, McGroarty CD Of California,
leader of the Townsend congress
sional bloc, charging him with
attempting to influence the S,000,-
900 Townsend Club voters to
further private political ambi-
tions."
McGrOarty Strikes Back
Representative McGroarty re-
taliated by asserting Townsend
is attempting to "set himself up
as Q czar," and has betrayed"
the old folks, whose nickelS and
dimes have made the organiza-
ton a $1,000,O0O business, by
abandoning" his original pen
sion plan.
DR.. Townsend, in his National
Weekly, charged Representative
McGroarty had appealed to Re
publican voters in the Townsend
movement in California to reg
lister on the Democratic ticket,
declaring:
GGNI.n To,ursnnI -~O~In IA
not propose that their move
ment shaI, ever become q pOlitl-
cal football for any one or any
group.
National headquarters and
the Townsend people are not
interested In backing men who
wish to head delegations to
the major party conventions.
"On March 20, national head
quarters released y statement
which said in unequivOcal
language that national head
quarters would not indOrSe any
one to head any presidential
delegation. But in spite Of
this statement, Mr.. McGrOarty,
solely on his own initiative
and without official backing Of
any nature from the Townsend
people, has gone right ahead.
National headquarters cannot
undertake to endorse the pri-
vatO political ambitions of
Representative McGrOarty."
RETORT To TOWNSEND
Representative McGroarty, who
has sponsored a bill calling for
payment Of 5000 monthly pen
Sions to all persons over so, to be
financed by a per cent trans
actions tax, struck back with a
charge that Townsend is himself
using the pension organization as
q political weapon.
He charged Townsend printed
the scorching article in the West
ern edition only of the Townsend
National Weekly ''in an attempt
to ruin me politically" Mr.. Nc
Groarty's congressional district is
In Los Angeles, where the largest
Of the Townsend clubs, with
$4,000 members, is located.
DR.. ToWnsend'S action, Repre-
sentative McGroarty asserted,
was inspired by his defense Of
Robert E. Clements, reputed
'brains" of the pension move
ment, who suddenly resigned his
post as secretary-treasurer last
week on the eve of opening Of
the congressional probe.
Mr.. Clements said he was re-
signing because of fundamental
differences" with DR.. Townsend
over policies.
Peacemaker Role Fails
Representative McGroarty said
he aSsayed the role Of peacemaker,
trying to patch the quarrel be.
tween Clenaents and Townsend,
Sunday but was unsuccessful. He
said:
"All I succeeded in doing was
getting my ShinS barked."
He predicted the pension move
ment would disintegrate if Town
send continues "trying to set him.
self up as a cZar," adding:
"CDOc Townsend had a vision
like Elijah on the mount, but if
It hadn't been for Clements
Townsend would still be preach
ing about his vision out in the
Methodist Church at Long
Beach on Sunday nights, and
that would have been as far as =,
the pension plan would have
gotten"
He called on Townsend adher-
ents to make a decision concern.
ing the way they wish their Rep
resentatives in Congress to carry
on the fight for adequate, respect.
able old-age pension"