MARTIAL LAW

Southland Times, Issue 22491, 28 January 1935, Page 7

MARTIAL LAW

SENATOR’S ACTION

“DICTATORSHIP” OF STATE

TENSE SITUATION

(United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) (Rec. 6.45 p.m.) Batton Rouge, Jan. 26. Senator Long declared martial law to-day to defend his “Dictatorship” of the State, against the first militant opposition organized since he started a series of political coup d’etats. that brought practically every function of the Government under his personal control. Five hundred troops were mobilized when the semi-military group, self-styled the “Square Deal Association,” took possession of the courthouse, municipal airport and placed armed guards around the pro* petty. Before the superior strength of the National Guard, they dispersed. However, they are reported to be heavily armed and a tense situation continues. Meanwhile, Senator Long left his legislative duties at Washington and hurried here to take personal charge. Before the open court, he declared to several Square Deal leaders that it was a plot to assassinate him. Guardsmen conducted a raid on the Square Deal headquarters to search for arms and ammunition but found none.

A message from Washington on November 14 stated: A message from Baton Rouge (Louisiana) states that one of the most sensational pieces of economic legislation ever enacted by a State received the approval of the lower body of the State Legislature to-dav and is confidently expected to be passed by the upper body and approved by the Governor. It provides that citizens may apply to the State Banking Commissioner for a moratorium on all debts except to Government taxing bodies. The State will, moreover, pay the cost of a defending debtor if a creditor takes the matter to the Courts. The measure, which will remain in effect until 1936, was sponsored by Senator Long, whose control of Louisiana politics is said to make him virtual dictator of the State’s governmental affairs. He explained that if the nations could decline to pay inter-governmental debts, hard-pressed private citizens certainly had the right to demand a respite.