The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-01-09
HUEYS ATTACK
ON ROOSEVELT
FIRES SENATE
Presidents BackerS Debate
Need of Answering
Abusive Speech.
BY THOMAS L. STOKES
Times SPECIAL Writer

WASHINGTON, Jan. 9.-Senator
Huey p. Long had Administration
leaders in the Senate in a quandary
today.
Their dilemma was whether to
give the Louisiana Senator the ISL
lent treatment" or to answer one Of
the most vicious attacks on an Ad-
ministration, and its Chief Execu-
tive, that ever resounded in the
Senate chamber.
No one raised a voice of protest
Monday when he delivered his de-
fiance of the Administration
ing up and down, shouting and
swinging his arms like a windmill.
The task of replying would fall
naturally upon Senator Joseph T.
Robinson, the majority leader, and
it was intimated that when the
Senate reconveneS tomorrow the
ArkanSan's booming voice might ioe
heard on behalf of the Administra-
ton.
Some Sena ors suggested that
their Louisiana colleague had
stepped beyond bounds, had forged
a boomerang for himself, when he
charged d connection existed be-
tween a red light district in New
Orleans "16 squares long and 10
squares wide" and a realty firm
comprising persons who dispense
Administration patronage in Lou
iSiana.
Build Up for 1886 Race
Some senators did not see how the
Long attack could go unanswered
Others asked, resignedly, what good
it would do, since it only would pro-
woke the Kingfish to further
abusiveness, and magnify him to an
Importance they think he does not
deserve. They advocated the silent
treatment.
One prominent senator professed
to see in Longs speech, in which
he dared the Government to indict
him on income tax charges, a pos
sible build-up for just such an
event. This, he inferred, was behind
Longs stinging attack on key fig
ures of the Administration, his
charge that the New Deal had de-
serted the common people, his
reference to withholding of PWA
funds. Long, this senator thought,
wants to pose as a martyr if he is
hailed into courts.
Others saw him launching a cru
SADIE to rally support for his Presi-
Dental aspirations. They said he
must be taken seriously because of
the attraction of his share-the-
wealth issue.
But who is to undertake the job
Of tackling this man to whom sena-
torial courtesy means nothing, his
colleagues asked each other. Few
can be found who want to match
speeches with him. No one stood
up to do this yesterday.
Scores New Deal Policy
Long cut himself completely free
from all Administration ties. Boldly
he excused his dictatorial activities
in his own state on the ground
that he was taking from the rich
to improve the poor. This, he said,
is what he thought the Roosevelt
Administration was going to do, but
instead, he declared, "the rich are
getting richer, the poor are getting
poorer and the middle class is get
ting fewer and fewer"
The Senator packed them in for
his advertised speech yesterday.
Every gallery seat was taken and
a long line waited outside. House
members stood along the back wall.
Unnoticed yesterday was a tele-
graphic plea to Vice President Gar
ner from a minister in Louisiana
asking that the New Orleans women
who sought Senator Longs custer
last session be permitted to present
their case again. The Vice President
referred it to the Privileges and
Elections Committee.
A repetition of Senator Longs
performance Of yesterday may win
support for this and similar pleas.