Evening star., 1936-07-18
CUSTER Of SMITH
WILL Be PRESSED
BY DR.. TOWNSEND
Pension Leader Declares
Feelings Toward Okla
homan Unchanged.
ACTION WILL BE TAKEN
AFTER CONVENTION ENDS
Norman Thomas Will Address
Session Today-Demonstration
Aimed at Bell.
~ The Associated Press.

~ The Associated Press.
CLEVELAND, July 1s.-With gaps
in their official ranks apparently
at least temporarily closed, delegates
to the second National Townsend Con-
vention convened today for commit
tee and business reports and to hear
Norman Thomas. Socialist candidate
for President.
Thomas was on his way here from
Charlottesville, Va, for an after.
noon address. Representative william
Lemke. Union party presidential candi-
date, is scheduled to address the con-
vention tomorrow.
Invitations extended to President
Roosevelt, and ALI Landon, the Re-
publican nominee, were declined, and
Frank Arbuckle, convention chairman,
said no attention would be paid to a
demand by Earl Browder, Communist
party candidate. that he be allowed
to speak.
BY resolution the Townsendites al
ready had declared their official nom
partisanship, and the chairman yes
terday held that any resolution urging
third-party afiiliation would auto
matically be out Of order. Today the
convention adopted a resolution de-
claring that the old-age pension or
ganization shall not at any time dur
ing this campaign, directly or indirectly
indorse any presidential or vice
presidential candidate"
Townsend to Press Demands.
Just before the session opened DR.
Francis z. Townsend, leader Of the
movement, told newsmen that he would
press his demand for the removal OF
Conner Smith, Townsend vice presi-
dent, after the convention was over.
The doctor said his feeling toward
Conner had not changed in the slight
est. DR.. Townsend said he was still
very unhappy over the speech Conner
delivered before the convention de-
tending President Roosevelt and the
New Deal administration.
Conner. in . speech before the con-
vention Thursday, criticized Rev. Ger
aid L. K. Smith, who claims leader
ship Of the share-the-wealth move
ment and q Townsend director. He
attacked Father Charles z. Coughlin
Of Detroit for the priests speech in
which he called the President q be
trayer and liar"
My statement still stands that
never intend to sit on another meeting
Of the board Of directors attended by
Conner Smith," the doctor said.
The situation still Is that the
board had not finally acted on the
matter"
AS the convention opened the re-
striction on demonstrations was lifted
and delegates paraded. Chairman
Arbuckle said it was q demonstration
against Representative Bell. Democrat,
Of Missouri, chairman Of the congress
sional committee which Investigated
the Townsend Plan.
Board Makes Statement
A threat by Townsend, the move
ment's founder, that he would not sit
with the Board Of Directors until the
custer of Conner Smith drew the fol-
lowing statement from the board early
today:
mo action will be taken by DR..
Townsend or the national board to
censure any of the speakers that have
appeared"
The elderly pension chief then is
sued q statement which read:
In view of the stress Of other busi-
ness of the convention, no further
action will be taken regarding Mr..
Conner Smith remaining upon the
(see TOWNsENDITEs. Page 81