The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-02-12
OARP is NOT BIC
BUSINESS, SAYS
R. E. CLEMENTS
Income Small in Relation
to Scope of Work,
Founder Claims.
BY MAX STERN
Times Specisl Writer

WASHINGTON, Feb. 12-Charges
that the Townsend plan has grown
into "big business" with huge
pay rolls and salaries were denied
today by R. e. Clements. secretary
treasurer. cofounder and one of the
triumvirate that runs "OARP"-Old
Age Revolving Pensions, Inc.
I'VE are doing the biggest job in
the United States" he said. And
we are doing it on less money than
any similar organization would
need. Look at what the Repub-
licans and Democrats spent in the
1882 campaign, a matter of
$7,500000."
Mr.. Clements said there now are
nearly 1000 Townsend clubs, with
from 100 TO 81 900 members each.
There are between $50 and 300 con-
gressional district organizers, work
ing under contract with 80 state
area men. There are four regional
headquarters-at Los Angeles, Chi
cago, New York and here.
How Dues Are Split
Each new Townsend club member
is supposed to pay 25 cents, of which
the organizer gets 5 cents, the state
area manager cents and national
headquarters Is cents. In addition
to the initiation fee. each member is
supposed to contribute 10 cents :
month, but Mr.. Clements said 40
per cent of the members were
behind in their dues. In addition,
the new Townsend National Legion
is being organized, with dues at S.
a month. Headquarters here hope
for 100000 legionnaires, but claim
only $4,000 now.
According to Mr.. Clements, he
and DR.. Townsend get 500 a month
each and travelling expenses. State
area managers often are glad to go
on straight $25 week salaries, he
said.
The Townsend war chest of some
$1,200,000 a year. he asserted, goes
chiefly into radio, printing, rentals,
and field work.
Radio is our most expensive
item" he said. 1--WE broadcast twice
a week over four regional hookups,
reaching possibly half of America.
We are just concluding negotiations
for broadcasts over WLW at Gin
cinnati, which will give us a ma
tional audience.
An audit at our June Convention
showed we had collected $628,OO0,
with $4,000 on hand. We keep
about this amount-two or three
weeks reserves-in cash.
I'VE will be glad to submit to any
and all Investigations, such as have
been suggested by certain Congress
men. We will stipulate only that
such Investigations include all pen
sion plan movements. The Post
office Department had two audi
tors working nine weeks in our Los
Angeles Office, and they have just
given us clean bill of health"
He laughed at the report that he
entered the Townsend movement
poor and is now wealthy, and de-
MED giving his wife and secretary
$4,000 diamond ring.
Il was property poor when 1 be-
came interested in this movement"
he said. "I still am. Yes, 1 have
property in ID states, and that is
one reason why I want prosperity
started moving. 1t has cost me
money to belong to the Townsend
movement, but it was worth it,"
Mr.. Clements said the movement
was growing by leaps and bounds"
1.-THE offensive of the economists
has not hurt us" he said. ut
has helped us, by making more
people think about it. People who
think the Townsend plan is dead
for this session have another think
coming. We're just starting"