Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1935-09-12
DICTATOR'S END

For a short time the bullet is
mightier than the ballot but it is a
poor way to settle controversies and
is not winner in the long run.
The assassination of United States
Senator Huey Long i'm the capitol
building at Baton Rouge in his home
state of Louisiana is deplorable. He
was shot through the body Sunday
night and died early Tuesday.
Liberty loving people and those of
sound democratic thinking in all
parts of the United States did not APP
prove of the dictatorial and autocratic
leadership of Senator Long. However,
his assassination by a political enemy
most certainly does not have their
approval.
Though a United States Senator and
out of his place in calling a special
session of the Louisiana State Legisla-
ture and conducting it's affairs wheth-
er in Washington, Louisiana. or else
where, Long had assumed imperial
istic power again with the result that
the Louisiana Legislature was having
its eleventh special session in two
years. No less than AZ bills had been
introduced; most of these were spite
bills" to punish the enemies of the
Kingfish. He sat beside members of
the Legislature, walked up and down
the aisles, and conversed with friends
and followers. Stepping out into the
corridor accompanied by his ever
present body guards he was met by
Dr. Carl Austin Weiss, a thirty year
old eye specialist, who fired the fatal
shot. The man had been hiding be-
hind a pillar and dashed forward
suddenly. A second bullet missed it's
mark and struck the thumb of one
of Longs body guards. The guard
Immediately shot Weiss who fell on
his face PROSTATE. Other guards and
subservient Long followers immedi-
ately riddled the body of Weiss with
Is bullets.
One of Senator Longs spite bills
introduced i'm the Louisiana Legisla-
ture had for its purpose the jerry
Wandering out of office of the father
in-law of Weiss, Judge Pavey. This
and many other moves may have
caused the young doctor in a fit of
anger or temporary arrangement to
have committed the rash deed.
Governor Allen, Subservient pro-
tege of Senator Long, Immediately
after the shooting. came dashing to
the corridors shouting, Give me
pistol, if there is any shooting around
here. | want to get in on it,
That in itself is a terrible spirit
for the governor of a state to exhibit.
1t is no way to uphold law and order
and the dignity of his office 1t is
part of the spirit of rule or ruin.
One of the last public acts of Sem
ator Long was to filibuster for six
hours at the close of the recent ses-
sion of Congress and in so doing pre-
venting the enactment of legislation
to provide revenue for old age pen
sions. unemployment insurance, and
other social security legislation. He
explained he did this in an effort to
secure federal loans for cotton grow
ers and a fair price for wheat grow
ers. He was ambitious and wanted 10
become president of the United
States and was thereby making a bold
bid for the agrarian vote. He was.
however, inconsistent by delaying the
taking effect of social security legis-
lation for which he had talked high,
wide. and handsome.
At the age Of 80 he became COVER
nor of Louisiana. Following the I'M
successful attempt to impeach him he
boosted: Il can buy legislators like
sacks Of potatoes"
He had many enemies, engaged in
innumerable fist fights with public
officials and newspapermen and was
branded by his own brothers-all of
whom were at odds with him-as a
vain. audacious demagogue without
parallel in Louisiana political his
tory
At the age of 80 he became United
States Senator and engaged in two
sensational filibusters in the recent
session of Congress. The dictator
ship of Louisiana had been made
complete through his successive
fights month after month. and year
after year. State legislation was en-
acted to gain control over his enc
mics in the city of New Orleans. The
state militia was called in at the time
in opposition to the New Orleans po-