PENSIONS FOR ALL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 19 December 1935, Page 13

PENSIONS FOR ALL

AT AGE OF SIXTY MOVEMENT SPREADING IN AMERICA (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) WASHINGTON, 17th December. Partisan politicians, both republican and democrat, received a shock to-night when returns from the special congressional election in Michigan revealed that the advocate of the Townsend old age pension plan had defeated his Democrat opponent by almost a two to one majority. The successful candidate, Vernier Main, a Republican, drew tremendous support from the rural sections, where not only in Michigan, but throughout the nation, the Townsend advocates appear to he effecting strong organisations. The pensions plan, which has been agitated for during the past few yearn without receiving any substantial support in Congress, would grant 209 dollars a month to all individuals over the age of sixty regardless of need, at an estimated cost to the Government in excess of 8,000,000,000 dollars annually. Recently Mr Townsend, the founder of the movement, declared he had 30,000,000 followers and would demand support from every Congressional candidate in the 1936 elections on the threat to exert their political power against any refusing. Many political observers, while believing that Mr Townsend’s strength is over estimated, says the movement is spreading like wildfire throughout the west, and may elect a sizeable block in the next Congress.