Evening star., 1939-05-28
SUNDAY
Townsend Bill Vote
Proving Problem 10
Many in House
Political Stature Of
Pension Question Has
Grown in Two Years
Nv q. GOULD LINCOLN.

To vote-or not to vote-for the
Townsend old-age pension bill when
1t comes before the House, probably
Wednesday, is the weekend problem
Of large number Of members Of
Congress.
A year or two ago, when 1t seemed
that the Townsend plan was pretty
dead and that supporters of the pro-
posal would have to be satisfied with
the old-age assistance given In the
Social Security Act, such a vote
would not have caused much stir.
But the Towsendites came to life in
a big way in the congressional elec-
tions of 1888. Generally speaking,
the oldsters favored Republican can
didates-they had not received much
consideration at the hands of the
Democrats.
This was true in q number of
States-particularly in New England
and some of the States of the Mid
die West. A number of candidates
for the House, including Democrats
as well as Republicans, frankly de-
clared their support of the Town
send idea. Others encouraged the
Townsendites by saying they did not
believe the assistance promised the
aged under the Social Security Act
was sufficient and that they would
do all they could to have the Town
send plan bill receive consideration
in the House.
Confusion Is General.
A canvass of leaders and mem
bers OF the House yesterday indi-
Gated a good deal of uncertainty
and confusion as to the coming
vote. Many said they were not
ready themselves to say how they
would vote-and that no actual poll
Of the bills strength or weakness
had been made.
On the Republican side, it was
said that no effort had been made
to make party issue of the mat
ter. Each member was to be left to
vote as he desired. That, too, is
true for the Democrats. But the
administration forces are frankly
against the bill. declaring the So.
cial Security Act, plus the amend
ments which are soon to be made
If plans 60 through, is the rea
answer to care for the aged.
When the Democratic forces de.
cided to let the Townsend bill, a.
modified, go to a vote in the House
1t was commonly reported they
were seeking to put the Republican.
in a hole politically. The idea wa.
that Republicans who had accepted
Townsend support In their elec-
tions last November would be put
on the spot: forced to vote for the
bill and so lose support of many
conservatives, or to vote against
the bill and incur the anger OF the
Townsendites.
Maneuver Two. Sided.
The maneuver, however. NAV moi
prove entirely one sided in its po-
litical effect. In the first place
there are Republican members o1
the House like Representative Clas.
son of Massachusetts, and Repre-.
sentative Oliver of Maine who are
perfectly willing to go down the
line for the Townsend bill, holding
that because of the Townsend sup.
port. their districts have gone
strongly Republican in the last elec.
tion or two. If they have theil
way. other Republicans will &C
along with them.
The Democrats who vote against
the Townsend plan-and it is nov
expected a large majority of them
will do so-will certainly make nc
hit with the Townsendites.
While there Is uncertainty about
the size of the vote for the bill. there
seems to be general opinion that
the measure will be defeated. One
Townsend supporter, speaking of
the record. said he doubted that
there would be more than 60 votes
cast for the bill when the showdown
comes. But he admitted he might
be far wrong: that the debate In
the House itself might have an
effect. and that undoubtedly the
Townsendites would work like bea-
vers during the next three days to
line up votes.
In this connection. it has been an
nounced by Townsend headquarters
that the Townsend movement would
hold its fourth annual convention in
indianapolis, June ~ to IS, inclusive
An estimate Of 10000 delegates and
visitors for the convention has been
made. Certainly large number are
expected to turn up. At the conven-
ton some definite steps in the way
of political alignments may be