Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1939-09-14

propriately, the deal came to be
known as "The Second Louisiana
Purchase"
This bought peace gave the ma
chine chance to consolidate a power
which it had never known in the
days when Huey ruled the state.
Maestri became mayor of New Or
leans under one of Huey's ingenious
laws enabling the governor to certify
the election of a mayor without the
formality of balloting in cases where
an election was obviously 'unnec-
essary" and useless expense. By
another law he had his term extended
to 1912, and he rules without effec-
tive opposition. When the CT o.
started to organize the longshoremen,
truckers and taXi-drivers in 1888, the
state and city police brutality broke
up strikes and aided the strike
breakers. Maestri, because of his
family background, has never been
accepted by New Orleans society, but
his tactics against the c. I. 0. have
endeared him to the business inter-
ests of the city. Gradually, all Louis
lana has come to accept him as the
undisputed boss.
AS governor, Leche let it be known
almost from the start that his new
job was not all he thought it would
be. An affable, glad-handing chap,
he much preferred roaming the cane
brakes with his dog and gun to run
ming the government in Baton Rouge
the way the machine in New Orleans
wanted it run. Several times he
sounded out Washington on the pros
pect of safe federal judgeship for
himself. A social conscience never
rested heavily on him, but apparent
ly the high-handed tactics which
have given New Orleans the reputa-
ton of a city whose civil liberties
rating is one of the lowest in the
nation did not suit him either. Once
he came to Washington to ask for
additional PWA grants, and an Of
fetal told him that the Administra-
ton would like to see him display
a more liberal attitude on labor prob
lens. Leche agreed. Back in his
home town of Hammond he decided
to show Washington his changed at
titude. The workers of small straw
berry-box plant in the town were
suddenly informed that they were on
strike. Confused and beWildered,
they stood around the plant gates for
hours. Then with great ado, trucks
rolled up and unloaded state troop
ers and fancy soup-kitchen. Then
came the Governor himself. AS
forewarned photographers snapped
away, the troopers picked up con-
venient strike placards and began
walking picket line, and the Gov
ernor proceeded to dole out free soup.
A few days later, word was sent to
Washington that the plant wished
the National Labor Relations Board
to hold an election so its workers
could choose between a c. l. 0. and
an A. F. of L. union. Much to the
Governors surprise, when the vote
was taken it was found that the
workers didn't want any union!
1t did not take Maestri long to
realize that, even if Leche were con-
stitutionally able and personally will
ing to succeed himself in 1910, the
mass of voters, who were still de-
voted to the Kingfsh, would never
accept him after his record of bro
ken pledges. Maestri began to look
loft
he could sell to the voters in January,
1910. He did not have to look far.
Ready and willing for the office was
Huey's younger brother, Earl, who
had served inconspicuouSly under
Leche as acknowledgement. Earl,
who had pestered Brother Huey to
the quarreling point for an important
place in the state administration, had
been placed on the ticket with 1910
in mind With Earl Long wearing
Huey's mantle in 1910, the machine
would have an unbeatable appeal.
Early in 1889, Maestri took the pub
lie pulse and announced that his Or
ganization would back Earl for gov
ernor. The reaction was favorable
The understanding was that Leche,
chatting more and more in his role
of front man, would remain in office
until the end of his term. But either
he realized in time that the machine
scandals were about to burst, or else
his arthritis really did become trou-
blesome. At any rate, on June 26
Leche resigned and Earl Long was
moved up into his job, six months
ahead of schedule.
The series of scandals precipitated
by the arrest of DR.. James Monroe
Smith, president of Louisiana State
University, are clearly linked to the
machine. Indictments have already
been returned charging machine poll
ticians with responsibility for irregu-
larities in the use of WPA funds and
materials. Such practices have ex-
listed for some time, however, and
the federal government, had it wished,
could have investigated them at least
year ago. Investigators would not
have had to look far for New Or
leans workers to testify that when
ever the machine needed electricians
or plumbers, for example, to work on
private homes or public buildings