Evening star., 1936-02-25
GROUP
COLLAPSE seen
Monaghan Requests Prob
ers Quiz Clements First
in Inquiry.
BY WILL p. KENNEDY.

The Townsend plan organization
Is disintegrating.
Representative Joseph p. Monaghan.
Democrat, Of Montana, chairman
Of the Legislative Strategy Committee
OF the House trenamed ''the legis-
lative steering committee for the
Townsend plan"), has asked the
special investigating committee Of
which Representative c. Jasper Bell
Of Missouri Is chairman to call as
its first witness r. E. Clements, for
mer real estate agent Of Long Beach,
Calf, co-organizer and secretary Of
the Townsend movement.
He hopes to show how the Town
sendites are being deceived, how the
old people who have been led to
believe that they are to be paid 5000
a month are being buoyed up by false
hopes, and that those in charge Of
the Townsend movement are not
playing fair with those who have
been endeavoring to get this legisla-
tion through Congress.
Representative Monaghan is sin
cerely working for an adequate old
age pension system. He believes the
way to stop old-age pension "rackets"
Is to start a decent old-age pension
system"
Demands Questions Be Answered.
If the Townsend Weekly, privately
owned and admittedly no part of the
o. A. r. P. Gold age revolving
Pension), is to continue to pose as
the oficial spokesman of the Town
send plan and as its reporting organ,
then all the questions propounded by
me to Mr.. Clements in my letter
under date of February 1s as printed
in the Congressional Record, should
be answered in all fairness to the
people who are donating their moneys
to the promotion of this plan in
Congress" said Mr.. Monaghan.
When the resolution for an In
vestigation was before the House
Representative Monaghan placed in
the Congressional Record letter
which ne had written to Mr.. Gle
ments charging bad faith and un-
fairness by the Townsend organizers
and its official organ towards those
members of Congress who have
worked hardest and sacrificed most
in behalf of the Townsend plan.
Mr.. Monaghan emphasized that he
had gone into the Townsend move
ment and worked for it because he
believes the power Of public opinion
behind this plan would make it pos
sible to get satisfactory old-age
pension system.
He charges that Mr.. Clements and
those directing the Townsend move
ment have shown bad faith within
the organization toward members of
Congress and especially those spon-
soring this legislation. He censures
the Townsend plan leaders for not
playing fair with the old people who
are contributing their dimes, quarters
and dollars to the organization. He
has no sympathy with the catch
penny schemes of the Townsend
organization. He walked out on the
first meeting in his district when
they started coin collection and he
denounced the collection at Great
Falls, Mont.
Quotes Roosevelt. .
Explaining how he came to support
the Townsend plan, Mr.. Monaghan
recalled that President Roosevelt said
"the power of public opinion once
united in fixed purpose is the most
irresistible force in the world
Realizing that it takes power Of that
character and united effort Of the
forces of public opinion behind
movement. welded myself to the
Townsend plan" said Mr.. Monaghan.
"At that time realized that the de-
mand for 5000 month, If not itself
achieved, would lead eventually to
some such pension" His idea was
that If ever Congress is to pass a
good social security act it would have
to have public opinion supporting it.
Representative Monaghan said that
approximately 10000, 900 Americans
are hanging upon every word that is
being said and done in this Congress
to bring about adequate social
security" and he does mot propose
to sit idly by and see great move
ment made a political foot ball to
advance the personal fortunes of
men who have sat idly by while So
loyal members who stood up in the
hour of greatest need are being be-
trayed on the cross of political