The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-03-20


for The Times goes where he piesses.
when he pleases, in search OF odd stories
about this and that.
NEW ORLEANS, March 90
~ You see I'm big-boned." said
Dick Leche. Il suppose just my
bones alone would weigh hundred
pounds"
suppose they would at that, for
altogether he tips the beam at $50.
He is over feet, and isn't the let
kind of big man.
Dick Leche, in case you don't
know, is Louisiana's next Governor.
He is the man upon whom falls that
fantastic pyramid of politics and
power known as Huey Longs "dy-
nasty"
Leche (you pronounce it Lesh) IS
81. He takes Office May Y, and on
the 18th he'll be 38. That doesn't
set any record for youthful Gov
errors, though. Huey himself was
younger when he was Governor the
first time.
r DROVE out TO Leche's beautiful
i house on the edge of New Or
leans. The Governor-to-be had
bad cold, and was just lounging
around in an old pair of pants and
a leather jacket. He has such a
big chest he's afraid of pneumonia.
He's an eaSy-to-talk-to fellow. He
is neither pompous. nor heavy with
political phrases. In fact we didn't
even talk about politics, for I told
him I never understood politics
anyway.
First we talked about his size.
He's about Is pounds overweight
now. Last summer be broke his
left arm above the elbow, and since
then he hasn't had much exercise.
He never takes artificial exercise.
hasn't for Is years. but he is
great hunter, and ordinarily walks
off lot of poundage. He has guns
of all kinds, and keeps four dogs in
his back yard, and in the season he
tramps all days around the swamps
after quail.
He is crack shot, even with a
pistol. Coming back from Baton
Rouge the other day, he saw crow
in dead tree. He stopped, took
aim with his pistol, and dropped
Mr.. Grow from a hundred yards.
DICK LECHE is a Creole, and
~ that means the top of New Or
leans bluebloods. He is a mixture of
French, Spanish and German. He
gets his name and his big frame
from the German side. He married
a Creole girl of high family in 1927,
and they have a handsome 7-year-
old son.
He has been in politics ever since
he can remember. When he was a
boy, New Orleans politics was Just
like the Mardi GraS-torchlight par
AIDES, picnicS, speeches and noise. AS
he says, just big doin's," and a boy
couldn't help enjoying it.
He was born and schooled in New
Orleans. In his second year at Tu-
lane the war came along, and he
went to Plattsburg, N. Y, and got q
commission. They sent him to the
University of Michigan, and then, 10
Harvard, to train young soldiers.
A FTER the war he was a travel
L n ing salesman out of Chicago
for year or so. selling auto &C
cessories. Then he came back and
started to night law school.
Huey had his eye on him, and
made him secretary to Gov. o. K.
Allen. His title was secretary, but
other people tell me he was really
put in as sort of assistant Gov
ernor, because Allen was a bust
ness man and didn't know law.
He was Aliens secretary for two
years. Then Huey made him a
judge of the Court of Appeals.
Then Huey was killed and Allen
died, and here was Leche at the
top of the heap.
Leche won in the January Demo-
cratic primaries. They have to have
the regular election yet, but it
doesn't mean anything. Leche
doesn't even remember the date.
Thinks it's the first part of April.
THE new Governor doesn't have
l. bodyguard, as Huey did. But
he always carries pistol in the car.
In appearance he resembles the
typical college football player about
10 years out of school, He has black
straight hair, parted in the middle.
and his head is narrower at the
temples than at the jaws. If he
isn't careful, he'll have jowls some
of these days.
His voice is deep, and he speaks
common ordinary language. Not the
colorful bad grammar that Huey
used, though. He is not bombastic.
He impresses you as being a
typical young politician with good
background, ability, and prospects.
But as for him being another Huey
:. impossible.