Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1934-09-01
GUARDED BY GUNS,
LONG OPENS PROBE
Press Barred From Session.
Senator Enters City With
Military Escort.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated freSS.
NEW ORLEANS, September l.
Senator Huey P. Long opened his in
vestigation of the hostile New Orleans
City government today in a skyscraper
Office building guarded by the bay
onetS Of State soldiery.
Confusion prevailed in the heart Of
the New orleans business section as
military trucks rolled up to the giant
building and disgorged National
Guardsmen who rushed inside with a
chatter of arms and took their posts
on the eighteenth floor, where the
hearing is being held in a small room
of the Louisiana Insurance Commits
sion.
Senator Long himself roared up
through crowded traffic with an escort
of soldiers and went upstairs in a
private elevator. His secretary, Earl
Christenberry, stuck close to the
Senator's side ChriStenberry carried
a small revolver.
Press Is Barred.
Brig. Gen. Louis F. Guerre, COM
mander of the guard detachment,
ordered all newspaper men from the
committee room. The corridor was
lined with soldiers and newspaper
men were kept 100 feet away.
I'm sorry, gentlemen" he said,
''but you can't stay in here. Orders
are orders"
Radio equipment was set up in the
room to broadcast the proceedings.
ha,.
making the inquiry into asserted vice
and corruption" in the government of
Mayor T. Semmes Walms,ey. Longs
dictator rival, took their places in the
committee room.
The investigation precedes by few
days the September IL congressional
primary which is expected to decide
once and for all whether Long or
Walmsley will win the political con-
troll of New Orleans. city contain
ing one-quarter of the States popuia-
ton.
Numerous Long followers and others
thought to be witnesses were allowed
to enter the room.
Citizens, heretofore indifferent to
the month-old armed political conflict
between the city, headed by Walmsley,
and the State, under the political con-
troll of Long, anticipated a turning
point in the war, with Long in New
Orleans as the virtual military dicta-
tor of State affairs and Walmsley ask
ing for action and not talk
Under an order by Gov. o. K. Allen,
ally of the Senator, Long and his
committee were whiSked into the city
late yesterday from Baton Rouge
accompanied by a truckload of troops.
Long went Immediately into re-
tirement in his palatial residence on
Audubon Boulevard and set up a small
army of soldiers around his home A
sentinel at the door advised unin-
vited callers that the Senator was not
at home.
Long Refuses to Talk.
But about that time Huey himself
answered his telephone and shouted
to an inquiring reporter: Il have
nothing to say. Good night"
Walmsley. from his pretentious resi-
dence not far away in another fash
ionable uptown section, mapped his
campaign plans and declared that.
militia or no militia" he would
render every protection to our
citizens"
The police are in their regular
places" said WalmSley, land we are
not the least bit worried. If the
troops step out of line we will give
them all the trouble they want.
There has been too much talk and
not enough action"
Pistols, rifles and machine guns
today were ready for action on the
least provocation at focal points.
National Guard troops under orders
from Gov. Allen held the State-di-
rected voters registration. surrounded
the members Of the Investigating
Committee and protected the man
sion of Senator Long.
Walmsley's 1,5O0 regular and spe-
cial police held city hall and were
stationed about the city, as the mayor
said. lin their usual places"
At Jackson Barracks, outside of
New Orleans. other troopers in an
undetermined number we're modified
for duty at the call Of State military
leaders.