The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-12-27
'MARTyRDOM' OF
HUEY CITED IN
ELECTION FIGHT
Machine Foes Counter With
Charges Of Graft in
Dull Campaign.
BIZ United Prose-

ny tnNCd Prcss
NEW ORLEANS, Dec. 81. -
Graft and the "martyrdom' of
Huey P. Long are the main issues
in the political fight in Louisiana
which will eliminate on Jan. q
when the people vote on the fate Of
the Long dictatorship
For nearly month the opposing
factions-the machine group, hea1-
ed by Judge Richard Leche of New
Orleans, and the Home Rule group
headed by Cleveland Dear of Alex
andria - have stumped the state
with their sound trucks and speak
ers.
Both sides have attracted large
crowds but for the most part the
campaign is colorless and apathetic.
Almost every one comedies that the
machine candidates have a decided
advantage but many persons say
that the antl-Long faction is max
ing a strong appeal to the voters
and the trend is increasingly in
their favor.
Voters Unknown Quantity
The Louisiana electorate, now
more than ever, is an unknown
quantity. Because Of the new law
which abolished the poll tax as a
requirement for voting, the number
of persons qualified to vote in the
Democratic primary has increased
from approximately 100000 in 1882
to more than 60000J at present.
Politicians assume this increase
represents mostly ignorant and poor
people. many of whom Endorsed
Long and his policies.
The old regular Democratic fac
ton, which controls the New Or
leans patronage, is Solidly lined up
behind the machine group. This
alignment was effected by Long
shortly before he was assassinated.
Long Foes Are Handicapped
The Anti-Long organization is
badly handicapped because they
have limited campaign funds where
as the machine levies assessments
on state employees for its campaign
chest, uses state property-includ-
ing the sound trucks which are
owned by the state-and controls
all state patronage.
The Anti-Long group has only
the Federal patronage, and Federal
relief funds which the machine
politicians charge are being used
against them.
II the Long machine is returned
to Office, observers believe there will
be much thfoat-cutting as soon as
the election is over and it is alto
gether likely that the Long faction
will then split up into numerous
warning groups. 1t is only the ap-
preaching election which holds them
together now.
What's Few Millions?
The machine group so far has not
produced a single real issue, but
their speakers continually laud
Huey Long and refer to their op-
ponentS as "asSaSSinS." They plead
that they be permitted to carry on
the work of their ''martyred" lead
er.
The anti-machine group, on the
other hand, is making a real issue
of graft which they have uncovered
in the Long political machine. In
addition to the disclosures of graft
brought out in the Federal income
tax evasion trials in New Orleans,
the Dear group charges that the
state lost more than 100000
through the sale of Oil leases to high
state officials.
So far the only reply to these
charges was made by Mr.. Leche.
What if we did steal several mil
lions" he said. I'VE still gave you
good roads and free school books
and that is more than any other
government in Louisiana has ever
done"