The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-09-09

ing in the hospital corridor outside
I the operating room and in whispers
wondered what would happen TO
T them and the organization upon
which their jobs depend, should the
boss" die.
I'm Shot" Huey Cries
The assassination was not unan-
ticipated by either Long or his
political followers.
Events passed so quickly that
/ O'Connor didn't realize his boss had
been wounded.
I'm shot" Long said.
You're joking" said O'Connor.
/ Then O'Connor saw the blood oozing
from his mouth. The next words
Y Long spoke was when Lieut.. Gov.
7 James A. Noe entered the operating
room to give his blood for trans
fusion.
Hello. Jimmy" Long whispered.
DR.. Weiss. a graduate of Tulane
University and considered brilliant
surgeon, married Judge Paws
/ daughter more than a year ago and
/ they have a baby. He has been
/ practicing four years with his father,
DR.. c. A. Weiss, a former president
/ of the Louisiana Medical AssOcia-
ton.
Surgeons Wife Surprised
His wife was shocked by the news
L knew he was opposed to Long,
she said But I didn't dream he
would do anything like that"
Immediately after the shooting
state police threw a heavy guard
around the StatehOuse and ordered
the dispersal of Il crowd in the
corridors that had been watching the
session of the Legislature Both
houses Immediately adjourned.
Wild rumOrs circulated among the
legislators, most of them henchmen
of Long, arousing a variety of emo
lions. Some sObbed and some
laughed. One rumor said that Dr.
Weiss had participated in a plot of
an organization of Longs enemies
! to aSsaSsinate all the Long leaders.
Henchmen Flee Capitol
Political observers, both national
and state, predicted the widest
repercussionS should Long die. Ma
tionally his death would mean elimi-
nation of a probable third party in
the 1896 presidential election. Long.
persistent and bitter enemy of
President Roosevelt, is known to
cherish presidential ambitions and
to be planning to run on a Share Our
Wealth" program in 1896 if condi-
tions are right"
In Louisiana, his death probably
would result in disintegration of one
of the most powerful political ma
chimes in American history. OBJ
servers believed that no one but a
man of Longs peculiar genius could
hold together the organization that
controls practically every state
office from Governor to constable
and most of the Federal elective
offices.
Brother Hurries to Side
Even while "the boss" one of the
most colorful and crafty politicians
the country ever has produced,
fought his battle for life, the fol-
| lowers whispered among themselves
about the future. With Longs own
| Senate seat and many state offices
coming before the voters in 1886
elections, observers predicted the
widest scramble should he die.
Longs brother, DR.. George S.
Long, left Tulsa by air. foreshadow-
ing a dramatic reconciliation among
members of the Long family which
has been bitterly split, like all of
Louisiana, by Longs politics. The
estrangement between Long and Dr.
George was particularly bitter, with
each denouncing the other as a
liar"
Long had called the Legislature
into special session, the eleventh in
two years. to pass another group of
the socalled spite" bills by which
he has punished his enemies. The
newest special session was to man
ufacture laws to make his capture OF
judiciary offices certain.
Introduced AZ Bills
In his typical manner, he super
viSed introduction of ~ bills in the
ornate assembly chamber of the
capitol he built while Governor. He
sat in the chairs of various men,
bers. walked up and down the aisles,
exchanging "wiSecrackS' with his
followers, occasionally twitting the
handful of opposition representa-
tiveS who so far have been able to
withstand his machine. The Sem
ate was in session. but was mark
ing time awaiting House passage of
the bills.
Finally when the bills had been
rushed through first reading, Long
left the chamber with O'Connor and
walked into the path of his aSSaS-
sin.
Observers marveled that many
persons had not been killed or
wounded in the wild panic that fol-
lowed Dr. Weiss two shots and the
barrage of machine gun bullets that
dropped him. Many Long politicians
habitually carry pistols. fearing
reprisalS. The instant the first shot
echoed in the marble and gold cor
ridor, dozens Of pistols were drawn
from their holsters. Even O'Con-
nor. Longs companion. stood in