National Affairs: Who's Huey Now?

"If I am elected I will inspect every cow, male & female, for ticks. Them that's got 'em will get rid of 'em, and them that ain't got none won't git none."

When young Huey Pierce Long wrote this campaign speech he was not a candidate for tick inspector of Winn Parish, Louisiana; he was only campaign manager for the candidate for tick inspector. But already he had learned that sweeping promises sweep up votes. Nineteen years later Huey Pierce Long ran for Governor of Louisiana, made sweeping promises, was elected. Elected with him was his good political friend, Paul N. Cyr, a dentist, who became lieutenant governor. Loud, red-headed Governor Long soon began to fulfill his campaign promises, to turn Louisiana topsy-turvy. Lieutenant Governor Cyr broke with him, became his bitter foe. When Governor Long ran for the U. S. Senate last year he made another promise, aimed to reassure Louisiana voters, to discomfort Cyr, whom he called "the retired tooth chiseler." If elected, he promised, he would not take his seat until after his term as Governor expired in May 1932. He was elected.

When Governor Long certified his election to the Senate last March, Lieutenant Governor Cyr claimed that by that action he ceased to be Governor. Louisiana's senior Senator Edwin Sidney Broussard agreed with him. To protect his right to office, wary Governor Long was careful never to leave the State unaccompanied by Dr. Cyr. Last week Governor Long was in New Orleans. Lieutenant Governor Cyr was at his home in Jeanerette. Suddenly one night Lieutenant Governor Cyr left home, drove to Shreveport, had a deputy court clerk administer the oath of office as Governor. Then he wrote Governor Long a letter:

"Sir—This is to advise you that I have taken the oath of office as Governor of the State of Louisiana and have been inducted into office, and, under the Constitution of Louisiana, you have no further right to claim possession of the Governorship or exercise any functions thereof. I therefore demand of you that you immediately surrender the office, its archives, and all that appertains to said office and divest yourself of the appearance of chief executive of Louisiana."

Hot as a wasp was little Huey Long. He dictated a succinct reply: "I have the honor to decline your demands in toto." Then he ordered out the Baton Rouge unit of the National Guard and a detachment of highway police, directed them to guard the Capitol and executive mansion "to prevent Cyr from seizing them." Next he hopped into a State automobile and roared off for the capital.