Evening star., 1939-11-05

}. Left, Dr.. Francis E. Townsend OF
u the Ohio plan.
and Star Staff Photos.
the proposal has had virtually no organ
lied backing. Mr.. Bigelow has toured
the State speaking at rallies and small,
yellow handbills have been distributed.
More important. perhaps, he has an
nounced that he will begin precinct
by-precinct organization of the entire
State. John Owens. Ohio c. I. o. direc-
tor, has indicated that possibly he may
join in this organization effort. The
C. I. o. at its recent national conven-
ton in San Francisco adopted its own
pension plan-$60 at age 60-but Owens
says that the Bigelow scheme, as a step
In the right direction, may get the full
backing of organized labor. There is
a possibility, too, that Mr.. Bigelow will
be candidate for Governor next year,
backed by the c. I. O.
Certainly in 1910, an election year,
more rather than less will be heard about
pensions. The pressure of Townsend
and other pensioners was in no small de-
gree responsible for the liberalization of
the Federal social security law at the
regular session of Congress. Under the
iberalizing amendments 1t will be pos
sible after January for States to pay
pensions. with Federal aid, up to q
maximum of $40 a month to an indi-
vidual-half from the State and half
from the Federal Government.
Under the law at present the maximum
is $50, the Federal Government contrib
uting SIS and the State SIS. Only one
State pays up to the maximum, and 1t
is significant that this is California, where
the pension movement is thoroughly or
ganized. In California the pension is
$32 a month, the State contributing SIT
and the Federal Government SIS. There
has never been aything in the Federal
law, of course, to prevent the State from
putting up as much as it pleases.
In other ways, too, the national law
has been uberalized. Benefits under the
other phase of the old-age insurance
plan-the system whereby employer and
employe each contribute to national
fund-have been greatly increased. Bene-
fits have been provided for the widow
and family of fully insured person up
to IS per cent of the benefit that the
insured individual would have received
on reaching the age Of IS. Dependent
children would receive up to so per cent
of the primary benefit unless they be-
come of age. At the same time the eligi-
bility requirements have been somewhat
tightned.
Pension Men to Stump Pennsylvania.
It was announced this week that DR..
Townsend and Senator Sheridan Downey,
the ham-and- logger from California,
would make an intensive speaking tour
over the whole State of Pennsylvania,
beginning November Is and lasting until
December Is. They will talk in every
town in the State of any size, preparing
for the national election next year. The
announcement from Townsend head
quarters in Washington pointed to the
fact that Senator Joseph Guffey, up for
reelection. had not indicated his stand
on the Townsend plan"
IT am convinced" said the good gray
GA4dG IL AAACIl NdAl
be elected to the House and Senate from
Pennsylvania, New York and Illinois, our
bill will pass without any difficulty"
| Out Of the speaking campaign, and the
membership drive that has preceded 1t,
Senator Downey and DR.. Townsend be-
lieve an organization will be put together
which will make it possible to elect only
approved Townsendites to Congress. As
has been demonstrated in California,
the Townsendites have capacity for
organizing. Whether they will he able
to make an impression in Pennsylvania
where hard-boiled machine politics has
dominated in both parties. remains to be
seen.
The birth rate In the Omitted States
is declining and consequently the pro-
portion Of the aged in the population Il
increasing. Persons past 60. or, as In
California, past so, represent sizable
number Of voters. If they can be weldet
into q bloc, through such methods q.
Townsend, Downey, Bigelow and other
are employing, it is likely to become
the largest single factor in American
politics-greater than the veterans bloc
rivaling the farm bloc, in short . blos
to end all blocs.