Louisiana's Long

Days passed and Louisianans waited --waited for their Governor Huey P. Long to deny charges leveled at him publicly in the papers of Col. Robert Ewing, Democratic National Committeeman from Louisiana. The charges which Governor Long was challenged to deny read:

"First--That Governor Long frequently appears in New Orleans in public resorts and engages in drunken debauches.

"Second--That Governor Long is a visitor to the so-called studios of New Orleans.

"Third--That Governor Long plays the role of the singing fool in cabarets and other places.

"Fourth--That Governor Long's bedfellow and inseparable companion is Mr. James Brocato, alias 'Jimmie' Moran, keeper of notorious speakeasies, pal of gamblers and convicted lawbreaker."

All last week Louisianans waited in vain.

Governor Long, a hot-headed young man, took office last May after a campaign in which he was supported by Col. Ewing's New Orleans States, and Shreveport Times. Soon after, taking office Governor Long began using the state militia to make raids on gambling resorts in the suburbs of New Orleans. Last month the raiders forcibly searched some of their prisoners. Women prisoners were stripped by women bystanders, infuriating their escorts, outraging public opinion.

The States supported the raids but strongly criticized their method. Governor Long thereupon accused Col. Ewing of being a protector of the underworld, which so infuriated the aristocratic Colonel that his newspaper attacked the Governor's own doings on the night of the "stripping" raids. A party had been given that evening by Alfred M. Danziger, President of the New Orleans Association of Commerce. Governor Long had attended and from there was supposed to have issued orders to his raiders at the very time, it was alleged, that he was being entertained by a troup of jazzy show girls. The States reported that there were drinking, dancing and "petting," that the Governor had danced around with a drink in his hand. The States challenged the Governor to sue for libel. Mr. Danziger protested that his party had been "as clean as performances on any theatre stage in the city," but Governor Long said nothing, not even when Col. Ewing's Shreveport Times repeated the charges in the Governor's home town and made them ring through the state from end to end.