Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1940-07-18
Routing The Huey Long
Followers In Louisiana

hOutlng Inc Huev LOnS
Followers In Louisiana
AS reported by Percy Wood in
the Chicago Daily Tribune of
July Is, after interview with the
New Orleans editor at Chicago
convention.
Evidence of sudden prosperity
or wealth on the part of certain
Louisiana officials and politicians
caused the New Orleans editor
to become suspicious. He un-
covered the crookedneSs and
routed the encumbents in the
election The Tribune story in
part follows:
The working press at the Demo-
cratic national convention, opening
today, will include vigorous "a year
old newspaper man, who is the par
ticular abomination of the remnants
of the old Long machine in Louisiana.
James E. Crown, editor of the New
Orleans States, bears the hatred of
this ring as lightly as he takes the
credit for its exposure. The job isn't
done yet, he said yesterday, in his
room at the Palmer House, but an
impressive line of scalps already
hangs from his belt.
Many Politicians His Foes.
About 80 ex-politicians in Louisiana
have reason to curse Major Crown"
as the editor is known in New Or
leans, for their troubles. Under SEN
tence are such figures as Richard w.
Leche, who was governor of Louisi-
ana when Crown grew suspicious
of his suddenly acquired wealth, and
Seymour Weiss, power both during
and after Huey Longs time.
Serving time is DR.. James Monroe
Smith, former president of Louisiana
State university. Scores of lesser po-
litical lights are awaiting trial or
appeals from convictions. The old
order is gone, and new governor,
Sam Houston Jones, whom Crown en-
Enthusiastically supported against Earl
Long, Huey's brother, sits in the
statehouse at Baton Rouge, where
around his index finger.
Crown gives the credit to his staff
for breaking the scandals, but this is
discounting the blistering editorials
the editor wrote, and the cartoons he
inspired, to dramatic the news stories
exposing the official corruption.
Crown tells about telephone call
from Earl Long, when the latter had
succeeded Leche and was under fire
himself.
Jim Crown" said the governor,
you're the biggest liar in the world.
Man, the truth just isn't in your
Earl, you've made me mighty
happy" drawled the editor. you've
finally admitted there's bigger liar
in the world than YOURSELF"
Skeptical of Huey Long.
Almost forty years of American
journalism had given Editor Crown
healty skepticism of political fig
ures when Huey Long came to power
He watched this fabulous character
transform a free state into a dema-
goguery, and kept close note of evil
dences of carelesSness in plundering
the public till.
But Huey was cannier than his sue
cessors. Not until after Leche's cleo
ton in 1886 did loophole appear.
81 knew Leche and liked him."
Crown said yesterday. Gle went into
the governors office from the APP
pellate court, where Huey had placed
him, and he went in poor man.
knew he had been having financial
troubles.
$50, after he had been in office
three months, Mrs. Roosevelt was
down in Louisiana, and when Leche
took her to see his stable of five
blooded Kentucky riding horses and
gave other evidences of leading the
life of Riley, said, Here's crook !"
WPA Materials Used in House.
On the morning of June
Z, 1899, the city editor of the States
received a telephone call.
"Send a reporter and a photogra-
pher out to Metari Ga suburb) where
James L. Mclaughlin, contractor, is
building house," said the informant.
Fright now a state truck is at the
university Cat Baton Rouge, 80 miles
from New Orleans) loading sash doors
from a WPA project there that are
going to be placed in McLaughlin's
house. That truck will be along pres
emily"
Crown assigned one of his ace re-
porters, Meigs o. Frost, and photog-
rapher. The informant sent a guide
along to show them the house. All
three crawled through the grass close
to the partially completed dwelling.