Revenge Gesture

In March 1929, Col. Robert Ewing's New Orleans States and Shreveport Times accused hotheaded, dimple-chinned little Governor Huey P. Long--self-styled "Kaiser" of Louisiana--of drunkenness and consorting with criminals. The following month Governor Long was impeached by the House of Representatives on one of 19 charges for having "attempted to suppress the freedom of the press" by threatening to expose the fact that Editor Charles P. Manship of the Baton Rouge State Times had a brother in an insane asylum. But Governor Long, supported by the State Senate, was never tried. Fortnight ago Col. Ewing (onetime Long supporter), incensed when the Governor had forced New Orleans banks to discontinue their municipal loans because the city would not support his $60,000,000 road bond issue,* called Governor Long "the little chincapin/--headed misfit."

Last week Governor Long made an angry gesture of revenge at his newspaper critics. Introduced into the House of Representatives by two Long cronies were two bills which would put Louisiana newspapers in a bad financial hole. Bill No. 1 provided for the collection of an annual 15% tax on the gross advertising revenue of all daily publishers. A newspaper would have to pay such a tax for each office that it operates. Failure to pay would render the publishers in contempt of court, liable to imprisonment.

Bill No. 2 was a replica of Minnesota's Gag Law, now appealed before the Supreme Court of the U. S. Any citizen who believed himself injured by a publication would be empowered to petition a magistrate to suppress the publishing company.

Louisiana publishers convened, deliberated. Publishers all over the country expressed shocked surprise, indignation. Analysis of the House membership indicated that if the legislation ever left the Ways & Means Committee's pigeon holes it would be defeated on the floor. When questioned, Governor Long denied all knowledge of the affair, suggested that the bills might have been instigated by "the billboard interests."

*Last week, trying to force through some legislation that would make this bond issue possible, Governor Long stood at the door of the legislative chamber, peeking in. The sergeant-at-arms slammed the door in his face. /-Chincapin: dwarf chestnut.

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