Letters: Oct. 5, 1983

(2 of 12)
published to the world my picture, as though I had undertaken to hire some scoundrel to kill a member of the State Legislature; and when, after hearing no testimony except that of the witnesses against me—even the anti-Long leaders themselves did not allow a vote to be taken on such a charge—you said nothing about it.

You pictured everything under the sun from these libelous and scandalous persecutors, but you did not take any note whatever that it was my administration which had aroused the old time element, because:

1) We began to give school books to all school children of the state, so as to get them in the schools and cure illiteracy.

2) We began to open up night schools so that we might teach the people from 20 to 70 years how to read and write and spell. We have already turned over thousands of people from illiteracy to literates by this process.

3) This administration turned the State Penitentiary from an institution losing a million dollars a year, to an institution making money.

4) That we voted a good roads program in this State to pave the highways and build a thousand miles graveled farmers' roads every year, and we are building them of the highest type.

5) That we took the Charity Hospitals of the State and reformed them so as to reduce the death rate from 30 to 40%, and increased the capacity.

6) That we went into the Insane Asylum and extracted as many as 1,500 abscessed teeth in one week's time, that had been left in the heads of those poor people as long as 20 years.

7) That we stopped the pardon craze in this State, forced a few people to be hanged, and used the militia where it was necessary.

I begin to wonder what kind of respectability or conscience can be attached to your magazine, with the kind of filthy falsehoods that you circulated.

HUEY P. LONG

Governor

Baton Rouge, La.

Governor Long was impeached by the Louisiana House of Representatives. Proceedings were dropped when it became apparent he had sufficient friends in the Louisiana Senate to make his trial by that body a farce. TIME reported the Long campaign promises, the whirlwind Long reforms including making cobblers out of convicts.—ED.

1930 You mention an alley cat being fed with milk by President Hoover from the White House. Is this at the expense of the American people or does the President furnish his own milk? W. W. J. JONES Batesville, Ark.

The U. S. people furnish their President with the sum of $25,000 per annum for "official entertainment."—ED.

1931 I have read your article on "Ponzi Payment." Found it interesting, but none too accurate. My hair is neither chestnut nor grey. It's gone. Have never worn lavender pajamas nor pink ribbons on my night shirt. Fur coat and overshoes on cold nights have been my limit.

Your statement that the destruction of my wrecked "web" brought down several Boston trust companies is perfidious. Under any other form of government, it would call for a challenge to a duel. For this time, I shall refrain from perforating your hide on condition that you make public amend by printing this letter verbatim. .. .

You know, I like you in spite of your jabs, because you have given me an opportunity of spending an hour writing this letter. If you come over to Boston