Evening star., 1933-09-03
Rarsdeu, Is, Quits Retirement
To Go Home and Oppose Huey
Former Senator Possibly
May Run Against Man
Who Beat Him.
Says First Objective Is
to Fight for Good
Government. :

From an enforced pOlltlCdl IetHc-
ment, former Senator Joseph E. Rams
dell, now IS years old, is forsakine
Washington for his native State "tc
fight for good government in Louisi-
ana" and align himself actively WITH
the forces opposed to Huey P. Long
the man who ended his half-century OF
public service two years ago by defeat
ing him fer reelection to the Senate.
While standing pat on a former
declaration that never again will he
become a candidate for an elective Of
yesterday, however, that he intended
offlceseeker
"Scme time ago I said would not
run for public office again." he paused
to remark in the midst of preparations
for his leave-taking, but I shall work
with the people opposed to Huey P
Long. am not saying that my return
home is primarily for the purpose OF
leading fight against Long himself
but I shall devote myself to active in
terest in public affairs and assist ir
securing proper men for public Off
cials. Above all, shall certainly work
to restore a good state of affairs in
louisiana"
Candidacy Later Seen Here.
Mr. Ransdell's decision to return to
his home in Lake Providence to re-
sumo the practice Of law he left of
SO years ago. is regarded in some Wash
ington political circles as indicating he
will again become candidate for the
Senate when Longs term expires
hot ha ic i,, !,
seventy fifth year the Louisianian is a
man of untiring energy that bales
his age.
With Senator Long cut of from
patronage under the present admins
tration. some think his star is waning
In Louisiana, and the time to build up
an opposition organization is now
After so years of public service in the
interest OF his State. Mr. Ransdell is
still a big political factor there By
aligning with the anti-Long faction in
an active fight. it is natural to assume
he would be regarded as one of tbs
leaders of the opposition.
Ransdell, despite his two years Of in
activity. makes no attempt to conceal
his own opposition TO Long.
Understanding is Denied.
Interest was stirred some months
ago, when he sought the assistance OF
former colleagues in the Senate as a
candidate for appointive Office under
the Roosevelt administration. 1t was
suggested by Postmaster General Far
ley that he ascertain if his confrma-
ton would be opposed by the two Sen
ators from Louisiana. His efforts TO
comply with that suggestion led 10 erro-
neous reports. Ransdell said yesterday
that he had reached an understanding
with Senator Long in political matters
In returning home to Louisiana Sen
ator and Mrs. Ransdell will carry with
them the best wishes of the citizens of
Washington. During his long and dis
tinguished career. 80 years Of which was
spent in the National Capital, Mr.
Ransdell was recognized as loval
local problems with a sympathetic atti-
tude Every meritorious proposal for
the betterment of the Nations Capital
found in him an influential advocate.
Continuous Service Period.
The people of Louisiana honored Mr.
Ransdell by voting him the longest con-
tinuous service in Congress in the his
tory of the State-l4 years in the
House and Is years in the Senate
II was. however. as the chief adve-
cate of rivers and harbors improve
ments. food control and a great mer-
chart marine that Senator Ransdell's s
early career made his record known ma
tionauy In later years he devoted
much Of his energies to the fight for
better health conditions and was sig
nally successful.
In many ways Mr. Ransdell has been
particularly representative Of his State
and people to whose political welfare
he intends to devote himself as a non
officeholder Born and reared in Alex
andria. in the geographical center Of a
Commonwealth that is perhaps more
sharply divided in its agricultural ano
industrial interests than any other
State. he retained the friendship OF
both sections. His residence since 1882
has been in the extreme Northern sec
ton. which subscribes to the Demo
cratic doctrine on tariff matters. Yet
he held the friendship of the Southern
section because he stood for adequate
protection ot American industries
serving thereby the sugar. rice anc
Educated at Union College.
Senator Ransdell was educated a
Union College. Schenectady. N. Y, anG
in 1883 was admitted to the bar The
year following he was elected district
attorney and continued in office l.
years. Louisiana had suffered greatly
from floods during part OF this time
and received virtually no assistance
from the Federal Government AS an
advocate of food control. Ransdell was
elected to the House of Representatives
in 1899 and there dedicated his public
career to Federal control of the floods
Of the Mississippi and its tributaries
Waterway legislation passed by Con-
gress since the beginning of the present
century is largely a monument to the
sturdy energy with which RCnsdell
fought for it. Probably no man ever
elected to Congress is more inseparably
associated with rivers and harbors and
flood control legislation than is the
Louisianian.
AS cotton planter. he was also a
leader in agricultural debates and legis-
lation.
Interested in Health.
When the cause of rivers and har-
bors was won in Congress. Senator
Ransdell devoted his remaining years
in the Senate to advancing the public
health of the Nation. Due to his
efforts. three outstanding health bills
were placed upon the statute books
The first was for the eradication of
Texas fever among cattle. resulting in
the saving of millions of dollars to
live stock raisers. His second measure
created National Leprosarium at Car
vile. La. recognized as one of the
foremost hospitals in the world for the
care and study of leprosy. His last
and crowning work along the line
of health was the creation in 1890
of the National Institute of Health
United States Public Health Service,
TO take the place of the Hygenic Labo-
ratory of that service, with greatly
enlarged powers.