Word: kingfish
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...Huey Long called his State Legislature into special session, had it pass 27 dictatorial bills. These gave him such control over the State's election machinery that he could conceivably perpetuate himself and his henchmen in power indefinitely (TIME, Aug. 27). Uneasy on his throne, the Kingfish last month summoned his Legislators again, put through 44 more bills in the constitutional minimum of five days. After that he could hire & fire local police and firemen throughout the State, fix utility rates, impose property taxes, run the State Bar Association, let any of his hillbilly supporters off from paying their...
...take much interest as the House passed one bill per minute on to its Ways & Means Committee. Next morning Senator Long had to send one of his plug-uglies out to round up the Committee. They came helter skelter, sat surrounded by Long bodyguards and State police while the Kingfish "explained" his bills. Next day the House sluggishly spent a full three minutes per bill in giving its final approval...
...bill Senator Long had explained to the Committee as involving financial arrangements for youngsters who crossed parish lines to attend school. Next day someone troubled to read the bill, discovered that it gave Long power to hire & fire all the State's 15,000 schoolteachers. Said the unabashed Kingfish: "Aw, that ain't nothing. That ain't no new power. But the bill provoked a New England-born, hitherto mouse-quiet Representative named Lester to supply the only fireworks of the session. While Huey Long, wearing a pink shirt and a broad grin, lolled on the Speaker...
College, who resigned his Senate seat last August. "A man who has a contract with the people can't resign," bellowed the Kingfish. President Fredericks wired a hasty acceptance of the invitation to retake his seat when Long's bodyguard, Joe Messina, threatened to put him under arrest if he refused. The Senate showed a spark of spirit by voting down one bill when Boss Long was away. But when he swaggered back to the chamber the Chair hastily reversed its ruling, declared the bill passed...
...that he expected to receive an honorary degree of Doctor of Laws. President of Tulane's Board of Administrators was and is Es mond Phelps, part owner of the anti-Long New Orleans Times-Picayune. The Board voted to bestow no degree on Governor Long. "Is zat so?" the Kingfish is reputed to have howled when the henchman brought back the news. "I'll make Tulane look like a goddamned cross-roads country school...