Evening star., 1942-01-12
Louisiana Nominee
Put Long Machine
First, Senators Told
Christenberry Opposed
U. S. Investigation,
Roeee Testifies
~ the Associated Press.

~ the Associated Press.
The man who conducted the
Governments investigation OF the
Louisiana political cases In 1899 told
q Senate committee today that he
could not indorse Herbert W..
Christenberry for United States dis
trict attorney at New Orleans.
o. John Rogge, former Assistant
Attorney General, testified that he
felt Mr.. Christenberry's loyalty to
the political organization formerly
headed by Huey p. Long outweighed
his loyalty to the Government.
A Senate judiciary subcommittee
is conducting a hearing on the nomi-
nation of Mr.. Christenberry, brother
of Earle Christenberry, former secre-
tary Of the late Senator Long.
Mr.. Rogge said that during the
investigation of the political cases
in Louisiana. Herbert Christenberry,
as assistant United States district
attorney, was cooperative and able
except where the interests OF the
Long organization were involved.
Faction Declared Put First.
However, our investigation OF
election irregularities and voting
frauds found him in thorough dis
agreement with U.s." Mr.. Rogge said,
"and he appeared to let his loyalty
to . political faction outweigh his
loyalty to the department.
Il think he placed his political
faction above the department and
I could not have recommended him
for district attorney"
Under further questioning, Mr..
Rogge said that upon his return to
Washington he had asked the JUS
tice Department to recommend the
then district attorney, Rene A.
Vioeca, for q Federal judgeship be-
cause he was impressed with him.
and that . new district attorney be
appointed who would employ new
assistants and bring about "a house.
cleaning"
Mr.. Rogge said his recommenda-
tions were not followed.
Ofice Leaks Indicated.
Both Mr.. Rogge and Harold
Rosenwald, another special Assist
ant Attorney General who went to
New Orleans to assist in the in
vestigations. testified that there
were evidences of leaks" OF in
formation from the district attor-
neys of{ice when the investigation
OF election Irregularities was under
taken and that Mr.. Christenberry
had opposed prosecution of election
fraud cases.
Senators Overton and Ellender
Of Louisiana, who recommended Mr..
Christenberry for the appointment.
told Mr.. Rogge he had not been
so secret about his investigations
and gave frequent interviews to the
press"
At one point Mr.. Rogge denied he
had tried the cases in the news
papers, as Senator Overton in
sisted.
In one matter of election irregu-
larities, Mr.. Rogge said, the investi-
gators decided to proceed under q
civil rights statute little used. The
case, he said, involved the smashing
of the camera Of photographer
who was taking pictures in an elec-
ton booth.
Defense Quick With Answer.
He said that Immediately upon
the returning Of an indictment,
lawyers for the accused appeared in
court with q typed demurrer to the
indictment which indicated they
had prior knowledge of how the
Government was proceeding.
Mr.. Rogge said he could not say
that Mr.. Christenberry gave the In
formation to the attorneys, but
some one in the district attorneys
ofnce did"
Later, Mr.. Rosenthal told the
committee he was advised by an
other Justice Department lawyer,
Albert Aren't. that Mr.. Christenberry
was standing behind the stenog-
rapher on the day the indictment
was typed.
Senator Austin, Republican, of
Vermont suggested Mr.. Aren't be
called and the committee clerk
telephoned for him.
Mr.. Rogge said that when he first
went to Louisiana to conduct his
investigations, people were afraid
to talk" for fear Of the political
machine in power" and that he went
to much pains to convince them a
courageous Government would pro-
tect them.