"Vicious, Deplorable, Damnable"

Shifting his quid of tobacco from one cheek to the other. Senator Tom Connally of Texas last week laid before the Senate a 14,000-word report on the conduct of the 1932 Louisiana Democratic primary which John H. Overton won, which Edwin S. Broussard lost. Those who expected the Democrat-controlled Senate investigating committee to soft-pedal party scandals in the Pelican State were disappointed. Chairman Connally described the Huey Long machine, which elected Mr. Overton, as "vicious, deplorable and damnable." "I advise anyone who thinks he knows something about politics," said the Texan, "to go down in Louisiana and take a post-graduate course."

Since the report offered only the committee's observations on the operation of the Long machine, made no recommendations for Senatorial action against either Senator Long or Senator Overton, big bumbling "Johnny" Overton jumped up to congratulate himself on what he mistook for a validation of his election.

"I hope," promptly reproved Senator Connally, "the Senator won't conclude we're giving him a clean bill of health, because we didn't pass on these questions. ... No charge was made against you but that you were running with the wrong crowd, with Huey Long and his crowd." Senator Connally turned to the Senate: "If anybody wants to file a resolution to oust anybody, he can have use of the facts found by the committee."

Promptly the militant Women's Committee of Louisiana filed an ouster petition against Senator Overton with Vice President Garner.

"Kingfish" Long was not in Washington last week to yip defiance at his Senatorial foes or mess in a House investigation of one of his henchwomen. A House elections committee was considering the validity of Lallie Kemp's steamrollered election as a Representative from the 6th Louisiana District and finding it hard to believe Mrs. Kemp's statement that she did not know the Long machine was back of her until she "read it in the papers." By the time the week ended, Mrs. Kemp could read in the papers that neither she nor Jared Y. Sanders Jr., "citizens' election" aspirant for the seat, would be certified. A new election was recommended.

More important political business kept Senator Long out of Washington. New Orleans was about to hold a Democratic primary for mayor, equivalent to election. At stake were Huey Long's power and prestige as State boss. In the field were three candidates: an independent, a Longster named John Klorer and Mayor Thomas Semmes Walmsley seeking re-election for the first time. Buzzard-bald Mayor Walmsley heads the Choctaw Club, New Orleans' Tammany. In 1930 the Choctaws joined up with the Long State machine but cut loose last summer when it became apparent that the blatant demagog's personal prestige was definitely waning as a result of his outrageous carryings-on.

The mayoralty campaign closed last week in, a political rough-&-tumble, Long pitting every available arm of the State Government against the city agencies Walmsley had marshaled. The Choctaws heard that the State-controlled Voters Registry was busily scratching Walmsley voters' names off the election lists. A midnight police raid was made on the registry, during which eleven officials were arrested, the records seized and impounded in the parish jail's death house. Long cracked back by ordering the adjutant general of the State to take over the records, prepared to mobilize militia for election day. Walmsley then announced that he would deputize 10,000 citizens, arm them with shotguns if Long tried to steal the election under the guns of State troops. "Huey," roared this strapping onetime Tulane footballer, "is not fooling with amateurs this time. . . . This slacker has gotten away with his last raw deal as far as I'm concerned. I hereby call on him to meet me any place, any time. He'll get his jaw smashed and the Sands Point black eye will seem only a pimple."

Senator Long's bodyguard of six gunmen redoubled their vigilance over their wily chief for whom defeat in New Orleans would come close to ringing down the asbestos curtain on his fiery career.

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