Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1935-04-25
.HuEY LONG METHOD TO
WIN POWER IS EXPOSED
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in contradictory sort OF way are
an asset. Upton Sinclair knows how
it arouses instant sympathy to say
you are the victim of a conspiracy
of misrepresentation. And most news
paper publishers, despite their pre-
tense of representing American opin-
ion. do not guess how little the ma
jority of their readers rely on them
for diSinterested service.
Like Sinclair, Huey publishes his
own newspaper, but in Louisiana he
depends still more on a remarkable
system of circulars. His card cata-
logue of local addresses is the most
complete of any political machine in
the world. 1t holds the name of
every Long man in every community
in the state, and tells just how many
circulars this man will undertake
personally to distribute to neighbOrs.
Hueyis secretary maintains preten-
tious multigraph office, and it can
run off the circulars and address en-
velopes to each worker in single
evening. Huey then mobilizes all the
motor vehicles of the state highway
department and the highway police.
The circulars can leave New Orleans
at night and be in virtually every
household in the state by morning.
Recruits Millions.
One may say that remarkable as
that may be, it will work only in
| Louisiana and cannot be done
throughout the United States. But
in a way it can. By November the
Share Our Wealth" campaign had
recruited 3,6S7,641 members through
out the country in eight months. (The
population of Louisiana is only 2,000,-
0OO.) Every member belongs to a
society, and Huey has the addresses
of those who organized it. To them
can go circulars enough for all men,
bers. The "Share Our Wealth" or
ganization is first of all glorified
mailing list, already one of the larg-
est in the land, but certain to grow
much larger once the Long campaign
gets under way. 1t is the nucleus of
nationwide political machine. And
though the movement is naively sim
pie, it's very simplicity is one secret
of it's success. Anyone can form a
society," its members pay no dues.
They send an address to Huey and
he supplies them with his literature,
including a copy of his autobiography.
He urges societies to meet and dis
cuss the redistribution of wealth and
the rest of his platform. He promises
to furnish answers and arguments
needed to silence critics.
The movement, however, is more
than a mailing list, and since its doc
trine is the basis of Huey's national
appeal, it warrants close examina-
ton. This is set forth in a pamphlet
entitled "Share Our wealth. COM
piled by 'Huey P. Long, United States
Senator, Washington. D. c." On the
cover is the quotation from St. John
Chapter s, verse 80: "And We shall
know the truth and the truth shall
make you free" Under the title is
the subtitle: Every Man a King
part of a phrase of William Jennings
Bryan's. Every man a king but nc
one wears crown"
Longs Proposals.
This is followed by a six-line quo
tation from Goldsmith, and under
this: Containing authorities, laws
statistics, and published comments OF
Leaders of all times" On page 1 is
the following statement of principles
and platform:
1. To limit poverty by providing
that every deserving family shall
share in the wealth of America for
not less than one-third of the average
wealth, thereby to possess not less
than $4,000 free of debt.
g To limit fortunes to such few
million dollars as will allow the bal
ance of the American people to share
in the wealth and profits of the land.
g. Old-age pensions of $50 per
month to persons over sixty years of
age who do not earn as much as
$1,000 per year or who possess less
than $4,000 in cash or property,
thereby to remove from the field OF
labor in times of unemployment those
who have contributed their share to
the public service.
4. To limit the hours Of work to
such an extent as to prevent over
production and to give the workers
of America some share in the recrea-
tiOnS, cOnvenienceS, and Injuries OF
life.
5. To balance agricultural produc-
ton with what can be sold and con-
sumed according to the laws OF God
which have never failed
6. To care for the veterans OF our
wars.
Z. Taxation to run the government
to be supported, first, by reducing big