Evening star., 1939-04-23

as he could 60. While he was still in
high school he obtained. thanks to
Champ Clark. an appointment to An
napolis. After four years in the Naval
Academy he went to sea for four years,
cruising over = good bit Of the world.
In 1909 Gov. Stark resigned from the
Navy because Of his fathers Ill health
and, returning to Louisiana, began 1T
once to take an active part in the family
business.
When the United States entered the
World War in 1917 the former ensign
Immediately offered his services to the
Navy. But for some reason there was
prolonged delay. At the Navy Depart
ment he got no satisfaction at all. But
the Army accepted him readily and he
became captain of field artillery.
When the war was over he went back
into the family firm.
1t was not strange that Mr.. Stark
should want to 60 into politics. He had
made two careers for himself, one mil
itary, one business. Stark Bros. had four
times the volume of sales it had had at
the time that Lloyd stepped in. Politics
offered new opportunities. And the Gov
ernor was not unaware Of the way in
which his business reputation would
serve his political ambition. Moreover,
there are 900 Stark salesmen In the
=. State, factor not to be overlooked.
Gov. Stark's first reactions to the job
of Governor were typical. His predeces-
sor, Guy B. Park, had been an amiaole
politician fisherman who took his posi-
ton with great casualness. The atmos-
phere around the Capitol was that Of
country courthouse in the deep South
slow, lackadaisical, If 1t didn't get done
one day it got done the next. or next
week or next year.
Stickler for Efficiency.
The new Governor found this intensely
irritating and he began to make imme-
diate changes. Under Gov. Park the
executive oflces in the Capitol had stood
wide open. Often the casual visitor
could wander into the Governors private
ONCE without any interference from Sec
retaries or receptionists, because there
weren't any secretaries or receptionists.
Gov. Stark put an efncient ONCE staff
in charge. Even more devastating to the
sensibilities Of Capitol hangers-on, he in
stituted system Of questionnaires for
prospective jobholders.
These, of course, were the surface
changes. It took the Governor somewhat
longer to start on a cleanup of the cor
ruption and favoritism that lay beneath
this ill-kempt surface. When he first
came into ONCE he heard the rumors
about a fire insurance compromise deal
and the alleged division Of a 100000
melon between Pendergast and one or
two of his allies. In the summer OF 1897
the Governor was asked by Pendergast
to reappoint r. Emmet O'Malley as in
surance superintendent. He refused. And
when the State liquor supervisor whom
he had appointed on Pendergast's rec
ommendation refused to clean up KAN
sas city, he fired him.
That was the beginning Of the break
with bossism. The issue came over the
State Supreme Court and the reelection
of Mr.. Douglas, whom the Governor had
appointed. He soon realized how vital
1t was for the boss to control the court.
Approval of the insurance deal would
make 1t difdcult to get at those who had
put it over. Gov. Stark realized as he
stumped the State that this was q criti-
cal battle. And when Mr.. Douglas was
elected, he felt for the nrst time really
confident that the power Of Pendereast
could be broken.
Meanwhile. he had struck up some
thing like friendship With President
Roosevelt. The Navy 10 Q close bond.