Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-06-18
Gov. Long Back in Louisiono,
Confined to Hospital Room

NEW ORLEANS, June IS
(APp.-A weary but determined
Gov. Earl X. Long was back In
Louisiana today. confined to q
S22.50-a-day hospital room
overlooking the Mississippi
River bridge his brother built.
The 63-year-old Governor
returned last night from 10
day stay In q psychiatric clinic
at Galveston, Tex. The return
trip began as he stated firm in
tentions Of resuming his duties
as chief executive OF his home
State.
The extent to which this win
be possible. at least immedi-
ately, remains unanswered.
Nearly a dozen doctors today
began checking the physical
condition Of the ailing Cover
nor. who vows he will seek an
unprecedented fourth term In
December.
Visitors Are Banned
Doctors at the famous Ochs-
ner Foundation Hospital re-
moved the telephone from the
Governors medium priced"
room. They insisted a mo visi-
tors" ban include politicians.
The big question now: Will
Gov. Long run again? viii his
health permit it? viii he call q
special legislative session to
resurrect some Of his pet bills
that failed in the fiscal session?
Gov. Long slipped quietly and
without comment in to the
privately owned hospital after
q plane flight from Galveston.
He Immediately requested a
bowl of peaches and cream.
From his fifth floor. corner
room he could see the huge
river bridge built by Huey P.
Long. the late Louisiana Gov
ernor and United States Sena-
tor.
Released by Judge
The plane fight home began
Just is minutes after Probate
Judge Hugh Gibson Of CAL
weston County released the
Governor from the protective
custody of the John Sealy Hos
pital.
Gov. Longs wife had signed
commitment papers June 2,
three days after six men were
needed in placing the Cover
nor on a stretcher for q fight
to Galveston. Mrs. Long
claimed her husband was ply
sically and mentally exhausted.
Yesterday she and Texas at
torneys negotiated nearly seven
hours before reaching the
agreement that led to Judge
Gibson,s dismissal order.
Mrs. Long said the Governor
had agreed to remain at Ochs-
ner's two weeks or longer, If
necessary.
Technically. Gov. Long be-
came Governor again when
the Air National Guard plane
crossed over the Texas-Louisi-
ana border. He can exercise
full powers Of his office unless
incapacitated. Louisiana law.
however, does not specify who
can declare q Governor inca
pacitated.
1t. Gov. Lether FraZar acted
as Governor during Gov. Longs
l9-day absence from the State.
Politics Not Discussed
Politics was not discussed
on yesterdays plane flight.
IF anyone knew when the
plane crossed the State line
into Louisiana. it was not
mentioned" said Mrs. Margaret
Dixon, managing editor Of the
Baton Rouge Morning Advo-
cate.
A friend of the Governor
many years. Mrs. Dixon was a
passenger on the plane.
There was no mention OF
politics." she said. MRS. Long
sat either beside her husband
or opposite him most Of the
Journey. She held his hand
q good part Of the trip. Sew
erai times she patted his knee.
She got a pillow to place back
of his head and several times
rearranged it when it slipped.
Mrs. Dixon said Gov. Long
still has bounce after the hectic
two weeks he just went
through.
Relaxed on Trip
She said Gov. Long sug-
gested the group should 60 to
Bourbon street upon arrival in
New Orleans, but laughed when
she refused.
II got up at 3 am. Gov
ernor," Mrs. Dixon said she
told him. You get UP at 4
so you had an hour longer to
sleep"
Gov. Long asked how she
knew.
Il told him I spent the night
outside the hospital watching
the window In his ROOM" she
said. He laughed heartily
when I read him the log
kept. He laughed many time
coming back to Louisiana. HI
was completely relaxed"
Also aboard the plane were