Evening star., 1939-06-25
townsend RevoIters
Set Up. Independent
Organization
Founders Son Named
Heir to Leadership
By Old Line Group
~ the Associated Press,

~ the Associated Press.
INDIANAPOLIS, June 24.-With-
IN a few hours after 26-year -old
Robert c. Townsend, son of the
. elderly founder of the national pen
sion plan, had been designated
Grown prince of the movement,
insurgent leaders announced to-
night formation of an "Independ-
ent" Committee, promising more
democratic control of the national
organization and earlier enactment
OF the program"
While cheering "old line" Town
sendites adopted unanimously a
resolution recommending that DR..
Francis E. Townsend continue as
movement head, but indorsing his
son, who Is national secretary
treasurer. to succeed him, if the
founder is unable to serve, the re-
VOTERS met in a downtown hotel
and established working organiza-
ton.
The Rev. j. Vint Laughland Of
Rochester, N. Y, who was designated
independent executive committee
secretary. said representatives from
New York, North Dakota, Pennsyl-
vania. Indiana. Kentucky, Ohio,
Michigan and Illinois formed the
y new-line group.
New Charters Provided.
Arrangements would be made, he
said, "for approximately 500 clubs
to secure temporary charters from
the National Townsend Recovery
Program, Inc, of Kentucky" He
said delegates from at least nine
States had been prevented from
taking convention seats and many
club charters had been arbitrarily
revoked" =
Harry " Dill, Cincinnati, Ohio
labor leader. was chosen chairman
of the Executive Committee. Com
mittee members are Harvey Smith
OF Covington, KY; Frank F. Ruff,
1r, Jeannette, Pa, attorney; Paul
Campbell. Minot, N. OAK, attor-
ney; C. Josef of Mendon. Mich;
William H. Weir, jr., of Pittsburgh;
Joseph c. Webb. Chicago, attorney.
and M. j. Decker of Butte, Mont.
"A national independent conven-
ton will be held soon in some Mid
western CITY," Mr. Laughland said.
Townsend Cheered.
After decrying, with boos and
Kisses, the "insurgent" movement,
the convention approved by vote and
cheering plans for the future. One
OF the plans is 81 100000 radio
fund. With this. DR.. Townsend told
the delegates, I'VE can absolutely
compel both major parties to put our
principles into their platforms, or
reduce them to absolute extinction"
The day brought another thun-
derous ovation for the California
physician-whose dream of a 5000
monthly pension for everybody over
IS, to be financed from a transac-
tlons and gross revenue tax. gave the
organization its birth. Every man
and woman in the jammed 10000
seat auditorium stood and cheered
when Chairman John Weir asked,
Are you with Townsend?'
Senator Downey Speaker.
Senator Sheridan Downey, Demo-
crat, of California told the conven-
tion today he felt "pessimistic over
the Nations future without the
Townsend plan" adding, But we
are going to put it into law"
The convention urged the United
States Senate to vote "at the ear
liest practicable moment" for the
adoption of a constitutional amend
ment that Congress shall have
power to levy taxes for old-age as
sistance'
In other adopted resolutions. the
convention urged the purchase
of American-made merchandise
whenever possible" and stood
= firmly for peace.