The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-09-13

approving of what he does. The only purpose in this commenta- tors mind is to combat the im- precision that Senator Long was a political freak the like of which we have never seen be- and that he was an unique species of the American polit- ical genus. He was crude where his forbears were polished. He was loud where they were silent. He wooed the press while they summed 1t. He made enemies among the financially powerful while they made friends of the mammon of special interest. If he grabbed he spread the grab pings broadcast. If he footed he divided the loot. The same can- not be said of the political dic- tators he initiated.
 Limelight His God
 Long was not always con- cerned with his own pockets or the pockets of favored few. He said the people of Louisiana profited by his deeds. He may have lied but the voters who swept him into office and kept him there cer- tainly believed him. He may have been an interruptions knave, conscienceless dem agogue, a blind man leading the blind into the pit. He may have been everything his enemies ac- cused him of being. He must also have been less than his champions swear he was. Two things at least arc certain. He did what he did in the blazing light of public knowledge and in spite of it. Also he lived, among other things, for the front page. Perhaps he had the satisfaction of knowing that the news of E:s death chased the Italian EthiC. plan situatoin, with all it's fear full world possibilities, out of the headlines for a day.
 No Accurate Estimate
 It is impossible to make any accurate estimate of the mur- dered mans real character be- cause of the conflict of opinion about him. A gentlewoman from one of New Orleans oldest and most artistocratic families, who is not given to detraction, once described him to me as "the lowest form of animal life." An- other, member of religious community, while refusing to paint him with a saints halo, declared with considerable heat that he was greatly maligned. That he was hated with hatred altogether apart from his polit- ical life is unquestioned. It was hatred based upon his person. ality, his social uncouthness, the strata of society from which he sprung, his total contempt for the dignity of the offices he held, and his economic fantasies. Underlying Hatred
 I have talked with others who knew him intimately. Their esti- mates are as divergent as the two I have repeated. That he was hated with a hatred alto gether apart from his political activities is unquestioned. It was a hatred based upon his social uncouthness, upon his personal ity, upon contempt for the social stratum from which he sprung, upon his total, and perhaps, de- liberate, ignoring of the dignity of the offices he held, and upon his economic fantasies. It was unquenchahIe, uneradicable, and, as the event proved, murderous. But to imagine that Senator Long was only combination of the shyster lawyer, political buf- foon, and ignorant clown is stupid. In judging any man 1t is necessary not only to consider the heights which he reached but also the depths from which what he may turn out to be, subsequently,. to overcome the obstacles of" birth, environment, education, and opposition as Huey Long did indicates the possession of powers of charac- ter by no means insignificant. He had scant appeal to the hard heads of the American people but he touched the hearts of the poor of Louisiana. Whether that touch was sincere or not, only the man himself and He whose Judgment is final, knows. It is just as we'll to leave the last and true analysis of Huey Long where 1t belongs.
 Possible Reaction
 What effect the killing of Huey Long will have on the situation in Louisiana Is unim- portant. What is important is whether the example set by the killer is to have followers where other men in public life are con- cerned. Tho constant preach- ment of the gospel of hate can only result in crimes like the one in Baton Rouge. The hatred for Long in his own state Is not commensurate with that which is being nursed in high places towards President Roosevelt. Assassination of character Is a preliminary to actual assassina- tion. That is already being ate tempted against MT. Roosevelt if the least of the stories told by credible witnesses about the ferocity of the hatred for the president among men who are the opposite to Long in pub lie esteem, are true 1t will be wise to throw every possible protection around MT. Roosevelt. There is no fury so blind, so un- scrupulous, and so deadly as