Grapevine information from the remoter parishes of Louisiana indicates that Senator Long's constituents are not disposed to take undue alarm at the Harvard Liberal Club's call to arms. Some of those constituents were indeed disturbed not long ago by word that one lone New Yorker had whanged the Senator in the eye and got away with it, but when he explained that he was ganged by four or five ruffians his loyal supporters said that was all right, a thing, which might happen to anybody. There is no intimation that the Harvard Liberal Club intends to do any strong-arm ganging on the Senator so the further parishes refuse to be too greatly excited.
The club has sent letters to undergraduate political organizations in numerous colleges apprising them that the Senate at Washington doesn't seem eager to do anything about the political situation in Louisiana. Now is the time for all good men to applaud the sentiment which animates this pronunciamento. At the same time it may be regretted that the letter was not phrased with that strict regard for dignity and sobriety in expression which is to be expected from young gentlemen who attend classes in English at Harvard. It says, for instance:
"In the State of Louisiana there has ruled for several years a ruthless political demon, Huey P. Long. Efforts to laugh him out of existence have failed, and when his actions became unbearably tyrannical the people of his State appealed to the Senate Committee on Elections and Privileges to investigate their charges that Senator Long was incapable of representing Louisiana. We have been convinced of the legality of the anti-Long side; we have met Long and have been disgusted with him. His very character, guarded by a bodyguard, is repulsive to our idea of a United States Senator."
Tut, tut, young gentlemen! That expression about a political demon is fusty! And what else should a demon be if not ruthless? As to the propriety of liberals feeling distrust for the Senator because they have been disgusted by personal contact with him, that is something which it would take an ingenious liberal to explain. But prudent delvers in English must refuse to believe that character can be guarded by a bodyguard. A bodyguard may keep strangers from whanging a Senator in the eye, but a Senator's character needs far different and subtler protection.
If the liberals in our colleges and universities wish to bombard Senator Long and the politics of Louisiana let them go to it. They could search further and fare worse in any search for targets worthy of their fire. But a certain restraint in the written word is always advisable, particularly for amateurs seeking to lift the political scalp of such a wily old professional as Huey Long. New York Sun.
