The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1935-09-09
Longs Career
Is Blaze of Color

They laughed at the irrepresSible
Huey Pierce Long when he
thumped his pudgy fist on a desk
in the Senate and told his col
leagues that political enemies were
out to get him.
Senators rocked with mirth at
the charge. Senator Longs body
guard was a standing joke in the
National Capital.
Such a thing couldn't happen in
this country. This Is a country
Of free speech and politicians did
not resort to bullets to Stifle their
enemies.
But the Senator's prediction
came true. Today he battles for
his life, the victim Of two bullets
fired from an aSSaSSin'S gun.
Rose BY Will Power
Last nights shooting is another
episode in the hectic career Of the
farm boy-m di n EN- n W h o
smashed his way to the top by
sheer will power and force. 1t is
q milestone in one of the most
fantastic, incredible lives ever to
be recorded in the annals Of
American politics. Regard d
in Washington as a mixture
of madness, genius, stupidity and
brilliance, according to varying
viewpoints, Senator Long is &C
knowledged by everyone to be q
man of many contradictions.
Ten years ago he was scarcely
known. About that time he caused
a Juror in his own baihwick Of
Louisiana, but as a national fig
ure he had yet to be heard from.
AZ Years Old
Only AZ years old now, he left
his Louisiana farm home as a boy
to start life as houSe-to-houSe
vendor of patent medicines. From
an early age he considered him.
self q man of destiny. He laid
plans for his future life with this
idea ever before him.
Senator Long is one Of nine
children. His parents were des-
perately impoverished, and it was
only through superhuman efforts
that he managed to receive his
early education.
When he was l6 he faced the
tantalizing situation Of being Of,
fered a scholarship at Tulane
University, only to refuse it be-
cause he did not have sufficient
funds to carry himself through.
Four years later he managed to
collect enough money to get his
seven-month law course.
Battled Utilities
He first came into prominence
in 1921 when as public service
commissioner he began fighting
the utilities in his State. In a
short time he brought about a
reduction in the telephone rates
and he forced many of the utility
companies to make rebates to
their customers.
He became governor of Lou.
isiana in 1928. From that time
on he became a national figure.
He made a fanatical drive
against the rich in his State,
proposing severe taxes for this
class, and arousing the masses
against them. 1t was through
these proposals that he endeared
himself to the poor and the
middle classes and built for him.
self a strong political machine.
The farm boy was elected to
the United States Senate in 1880,
but for more than a year re-
manned in his State to oversee
the administration of his local
government, which in a few years
became a deSpotic regime under
his absolute control.
He was an ardent supporter of
President Roosevelt in 1888. Later
came a break between them and
for the past two years the flam-
boyant Senator has heaped ridi-
Guile and lnVectlve on the RooSe-
welt Administration.
Able Speaker
Senator Long believed the end
justifieS the means in politics.
He was considered ruthless and
was ready to tear down Lny OBJ
stacle in h; political path. lie
was not without his human quail.
ties that endear him to intimates.
In the Congressional Directory
are four and one-half lines pur-
porting to give the life history of
the "Kingfish," as he likes to be
called.
It could be hardly called a mod
est streak in the ebullient Senator
from Louisiana that prompted
such a short account of his life's
doingS. The fact is those four
and one-half lines were written
when Huey Long was just emery.
ing onto the national horizon.