Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-01-13
Huey Long,
Gang Still
Pulls Wires
Political Furof BoiIs Up
at Senate Hearing
BY WESTBROOK PEGLER

Mil AiAANNi - NONhiiib III lllC
~ Senate judiciary committee.
and. Judged by the smell IT is
something that amt quite fresh.
Senators Ellender and Over
ton of Louisiana are trying 10
put Herbert ChriStenberry in
as federal district attorney in
New Orleans.
II confirmed he would be in
a position 10 ease up or bear
down on members OF the old
Huey Long gang in the prose-
cution of indictments pending
and the investigation and pun
ishment OF much other unfin-
ished crooked business.
Christenberry's n o m n ton
was sent TO a subcommittee OF
the Senate judiciary committee,
and delegation Of young Loui-
siana citizens came up 10 present
objections TO his confirmation.
In an earlier case. Ellender
and Overton put in CASTOR
Porterie. Longs old attorney
general for federal judge. and a
subcommittee quietly okayed
him and the Senate confirmed
HIM in the dark OF the moon.
over and done with before any
one knew about IT.
GAM BALLARD, a young
~ man from BLENDERS home
town Of Houma. La: James l..
Morrison, a law instructor from
Tulane University. New Orleans.
and James DomengeauX. pro-
nounced "Chumley," young
French Cajan congressman from
Lafayette, La. appeared Satur-
day before this subcommittee OF
the judiciary and got such
robust tossing around that you
might have thought they were 4
the defendants in a case on
murder by criminal assault
The subcommittee was com
posed of Senators Mahoney Of
Wyoming and Mcfarland Of
Arizona. Democrats. and Austin
Of Vermont. Republican
They hcckled young Ballard,
ragged him for short answers
which would have placed him in
a false position or discredited
his case. shook fingers al him,
raised their voices and just gen.
orally. carried on IN the tradi-
tIonal bulldozing county-attor-
ney manner which senator's
affect when they think they
have a sucker AZ their mercy
and nobody * looking
They didn't try 20 draw out
what could be termed The
peoples side OF tho case but
rather counter-attacked the pc
utIonlng citizens
a federal employc who would
be fired II Identified confidcd 30
young Ballard after the morning
session that never in his long OK
pcriCnco had he seen a petition
ing citizen 50 set upon by con-
CrcSSionaI body
d. afternoon however. word
~ seemed 20 have Got around
that the hearing WAS being
watched and YOU should have
seen the change
The august statesmen Of Tho
subcommittee were almost half
civil by The time the show closed
for tho DAY
They may soon bc on a spot
themselves. for the inquiry ls
generating heat
The protesting group is 70
specially but doegedly asking
that Justice Frank Murphy 81
tho supreme Court be invited 10
toll what be learned about
ChriStcnberry which. OF course
b. plenty when hc vas afiorne,
general succeeding Homer Cum
minc>. who hold the job AZ The
time OF tho second Louisiana
Purchase
ChriStenbcrry has 4 brother
Earl who was HueyS secretary
and ScCretarY-trcaSurcr Of 4
company authorized 10 sell oil
out Of state preserve
lIl'ii' tilFlliN INV IF.il'ltllk 81 -
from this companyS affairs and
tho department Of Justice has
ruled. in advance that even II
Herbert j. confirmed he Will not
be allowed 70 prosecute the most
important of these cases against
Jim Noe
The reason for the heckling
j. no mystery
II senators permit citizens 70
fault selections Of brother Sena-
tors. the brother senator's can
get dirty and rctaliate in turn.
Nor is there any guarantee
tbAt the Official record will show
the bulldozing for senators have
a right 10 strike out matter re-
Vealing their preiudice and no
notes could record the haraSsing
voice or the intimidating shake
~ tho senatorial fipCar