Evening star., 1934-01-16
PR0BERS CONDEMN
LOUISIANA POLITICS
Use of Dummy Candidates
Invites Fraud, Senator's
Report Declares.
Continued From First Page.)

the senatorial nomination in the Demo-
cratic primary, he was mdorSed Dy
the Louisiana Democratic Association
known as the Huey P. Long 0rganl2a-
tom. Overton was also indorsed. by
the dominant Democratic organization
in New Orleans. known as the Old
Regulars lthe Wamsley organization).
The committee continued that the
dominant organization Of the State
was at that time the Louisiana Demo-
cratic Association made up and con-
trolled largely by Senator Long"
BrouSsard was the only other candidate
for the nomination. and he had the
backing of the jackson Democratic
Club in New Orleans. The primary
resulted in the nomination Of Senator
Overton by a majority OF 56,529 and
the Overton majority In New Orleans
was 25.877.
Assessments Condemned.
The committee condemned severely
another practice in Louisiana that Of
levying compulsory assessments upon
Office holders to raise campaign funds.
The expenditures of the Overton
campaign. SO far as the evidence went.
were S13.1l6. and those of the Brous-
sums disclosed were not excessive, the
committee attacked the method of
handling campaign funds as loose and
with loop holes through which fraud
might easily creep.
Under such q system" continued
the committee referring TO the en-
forced collection of funds from State
employees. there is no accurate meth
cd by which campaign funds can be
traced from donors to expenditures.
1t cannot be determined whether funds
collected from State employees are actu-
ally or legally expended for campaign
purposes or may be diverted to some
other purpose Such a practice Is not
in keeping with even low standard
of ethics in politics or government.
Private Profit Possible.
"In the hands of a corrupt organiza-
tion it may be an engine whereby
large sums OF money may be extorted
from helpless employees and diverted
to the private or personal pront OF
those who dominate the organizations
under the pretext they are to be ex-
pended for campaign purposes
The situation in Louisiana the re-
port added "as it relates to elections,
cannot be defended. The political Or
ganizations there play the political
game according to the standard tnat
the result is the important thing and
the means of obtaining 1t are secondary
considerations. There is probably no
great difference in the method OF oper-
alton SO far as the old regulars OF the
city of New Orleans. the Jackson Demo-
cratic Club in that city, and the
Louisiana Democratic Association are
concerned. The difference Is one OF
degree and the degree Is determined
by the intelligence and skill OF the op-
orators.
Our investigation disloses that the
State organization, sometimes called the
Democratic Association but more gen.
orally known as the Long organization
in Louisiana, in 1892 absolutely doml-
mated the politics Of the State. IL
further appears that Senator Huey P.
Long and his heutenants completely
controlled the affairs and policies OF
that organization and that he directed
the Overton campaign. Through the
use of dummy candidates, through the
support of all State officers and en-
plOyes. through a widespread and closely
knit organization and through an al
lance with the Walmsley-New Orleans
organization and through the enforced
collection of campaign funds from State
employees. the Long organization or ma
chine controlled not only the primary
election in which the Governor was
nominated, but the primary in Septem-
Der 1892. 1t further appears that this
organization dominates and controls
not only the Governor OF Louisiana ano
his policies, but also directs and con-
trolls all. or practically all, OF the state
,oir r1vNln
Party widely Split.
"There Is a very bitter factional con-
troyersy raging In Louisiana. There are
| a number of D, htical groups. In some
| elections one o. more Of these groups
are allied in the support OF . candidate
or ticket. Frequently in the next cleo