RADIO PRIEST

Hokitika Guardian, 26 April 1935, Page 5

RADIO PRIEST

NEW, WIDE POLITICAL AGENCY (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) DETROIT, April 21. In the first move towards mobilising his vast following into an active political agency, the Rev. Father Coughlin, t|he “Radio Priest” addressed a local rally on his ••National Union for Social Justice” here to-night. According to the speakers at the meeting similar gatherings will be held throughout the nation until organisation lias been effected along the lines of a regular'political party, although Father Coughlin insists that his only aim is to “lobby” for his sixteen, (point legislative campaign, and he has ruo aspirations to assume any political leadership (himself.

To-night seventeen thousand of the. League members crowded the Olympic Stadium of Detroit. Thousands more ■were outside and heard tlie speeches through amplifiers. Representatives of the National Farmers Union .and of the American Federation of Labour participated in the programme, .as also did a number of Congressmen, ineluding Senator Nye find Senator Thomas;

The chairman made the startling claim that 8,500,009 votes have signed petitions supporting Father Coughlin’s 'sixteen point programme, ,’ltie abolition tof Federal reserve bank system and the substituting for it of a Govemmentally-con trolled central bank.

There were present several prominent New York cotton : brokers. This fact is regarded, .as being a significant indication that the opponents of the Administration’s crop curtailment policy may gather under Father Coughlin’s banner in a. determined attack on the A,A.A.