Evening star., 1935-09-10
Huev u. Long.

The death Of Senator Huey P. Long
removes from American political life
picturesque and dramatic figure. He
made himself king in Louisiana in all
but the name He ruled through fear
and hope of reward. His whole course
of procedure was a violent attack upon
republican form OF government. 1t was
as foreign to America as the govern
ment of Soviet Russia or the govern
nent of Hitler in Germany.
In addition to his natural ability,
which was great, Long was aided by the
fact that the machine which he opposed
in Louisiana was corrupt. Later he was
helped by the economic crash and de-
preston which swept the country. His
share -the-wealth" campaign became
popular with those who had nothing to
share.
What the future of Senator Long might
have been, had he lived, is, of course,
conjecture. How long could he have
maintained his strangle hold on the
2225 600 people who live in Louisiana?
How far beyond the limits of his State
could he have extended his influence?
If American traditions and principles of
government mean anything, he could
not have continued as the dictator of a
State. nor could he have become ma
tional dictator, no matter what fancies
he and those who followed him blindly
might have entertained.
His passing threatens chaotic condi-
tions in Louisiana. There was, appar-
entity, no crown prince groomed to sue
ceed him. A successor powerful enough
to rise and take command of the Long
political machine, to dictate to Governor
and Legislature and judiciary, is still
to show himself. Without dominant
head, the Long machine will doubtless
fall to pieces. Men appointed to Office
by Long were in a sense owned by
Long. They held Office as long as he
Uilled it-no longer. Now the voters
may be expected to take charge again.
So far as the national political pic
ture is concerned, Longs death is not
important. Despite the fact that he
appealed to the imagination and in
trigued the interest Of thousands of
persons, there has been no indication
that they were ready to follow him on
election day-except, of course, in
Louisiana, where the only election off,
cials appointed under the new Long
laws were appointed by Long or his
henchmen.
Long became a political foe of Pres
ident Roosevelt, although he supported q,
the President at Chicago for the preSi-
dental nomination and later CAM
paigned for his election. Long had
threatened to run as an independent
candidate for President next year if
Roosevelt became the Democratic NOM
inee and the Republicans did not put
forward Senator Borah of Idaho or
another Progressive. Whether he would
ever have done SO is question, but had
he done so it would have been at the
risk of revealing how really weak he was
outside of his native State. AS cam
paigner against Roosevelt and the New
Deal, however, Long was both bitter
and effective. He was capable of doing
both the President and his administra-
ton an increasing amount of harm.
The career of Senator Long in the
Senate was one of wordy battles, in
which he gave and sought no quarter.
He had an amazing aptitude for debate.
He staggered and fought his way
through five years of Senate service,
challenging the leaders of his own party,
disgusting them at his tactics while
arousing their admiration-and perhaps
their fear-for his power and ability.
Assassination, repugnant to every
American ideal, has too often crept into
public life in this country. Better far
had Senator Long lived. Soon or late
the people of his own State and of the
Nation would have taken his measure at
the polls,