Tuesday, May 12, 1964
University Daily Kansan
Page 7
Earl Long Protege Leads Louisiana
BATON ROUGE, La. —(UPI)—John J. McKeithen, the country lawyer who learned his politics from the late Gov. Earl K. Long, took over as governor of Louisiana today.
McKeithen and Lt. Gov. C. C. (Taddy) Aycock were sworn into office at noon on the state capitol steps, within sight of the tomb of Huey P. Long, the famous "Kingfish" of Louisiana politics.
State Judge James E. Bolin of the Second Court of Appeals administered the oaths.
THE 45-YEAR-OLD McKeithen, whose simple campaign plea of "Won't you help me?" was answered by one of the biggest political upsets in recent state history, is the third man to win election as governor while serving on the Public Service Commission.
Both outgoing Gov. Jimmie H. Davis, who is forbidden by law from succeeding himself, and Huey Long were elected to the state's top post while serving in the same post on the commission.
The ceremonies on the capitol steps climaxed a long hard fight by McKeithen to win the governorship. He survived a gruelling first primary campaign to win a runoff spot against former New Orleans Mayor Delesseps S. Morrison, the top vote getter in the Dec. 7 primary election.
Morrison's hopes for a victory in
the Jan. 11 runoff quickly vanished when McKeithen interjected the racial issue into the campaign.
McKEITHEN THEN was forced to take to the stump when he encountered stiff oposition from Republican challenger Charlton Lvons.
McKeithen has made it plain he intends to initiate an aggressive program to capture new industrial plants for the state. A special lunch honoring visiting industrial executives was scheduled later today.
McKEITHEN HAS pledged himself to clean up state government and bring a new image to Louisiana. To carry out this mission, McKeithen threw his full support to reform legislation advocated by business and governmental research organizations.
His victory marked the return of the Earl Long machine to power. His major backers included Mrs. Blanche Long, widow of the fiery late governor.
The legislature, which opened a 30-day session yesterday, is expected to be one of the most reform-minded in history.
Although he is not a racist, McKeithen has promised to resist desegregation with all legal means at his disposal.
He also has said he wants to talk with the state's Negro leaders in an attempt to avoid any open clashes over civil rights.
No Upsets Expected in Today's Primaries
Rv United Press International
By United Press International Nebraska and West Virginia hold presidential primaries today but the results in each state are a foregone conclusion.
New York Gov. Nelson A. Rockefeller, who was in Oregon campaigning hard for that state's Friday primary, was the only GOP presidential contender on the West Virginia ballot.
In Nebraska, Sen. Barry M. Goldwater (R-Ariz.) was unopposed but made an 11th hour sortie into the state Monday to fend off write-in support for former Vice-President Richard M. Nixon and Ambassador Henry Cabot Lodge.
Wallace was campaigning for Maryland's May 19 primary against favorite son candidate Sen. Daniel B. Brewster (D-Md.), a stand-in for President Johnson.
THE ONLY OTHER presidential primary activity was in Maryland where an appearance by segregationist Gov. George C. Wallace of Alabama in racially tense Cambridge triggered a wild street demonstration. National Guard troops used tear gas to quell about 200 brick-throwing Negroes.
Nebraska Republicans were to choose six of their 16 GOP national convention delegates today with the other 10 to be selected later at the state party convention. West Virginiaans were to vote for 14 delegates. In neither state were the delegates bound by the outcome of
the presidential preference ballot ing.
GOLDWATER BACKERS in Nebraska predicted their man would get five of the six delegates to be elected and all ten of those to be chosen later at the state party convention.
The last-minute write-in campaign for Nixon was sparked by Hastings, Neb., publisher Fred Seaton, who served as Secretary of the Interior during the Eisenhower administration.
Seaton said a letter campaign, launched by Nixon backers after the 1960 Republican presidential nominee "non-political" appearance at Omaha Thursday night, had brought an "absolutely fantastic" response.
THE RHODE ISLAND Republican
state convention also was to be held today. Goldwater backers predicted that the Arizona senator would get four national convention delegates; four would go to Rockefeller, four to Lodge and two to Nixon.
Going into the primaries in West Virginia and Nebraska and the state convention in Rhode Island, the latest standings in the UPI count of delegates already selected showed Goldwater far ahead with 285; Lodge with 44; Nixon with 8; Rockefeller with 5 and Gov. William W. Scranton with 61, all from his state of Pennsylvania.
The only active campaigner left for Friday's Oregon primary was Rockefeller but he faced a serious write-in effort by supporters of Lodge for the state's 18 delegate votes.
The P. B. O. A. E. Lectures Present:
"Constructive Criticism From Our College Experience"
Panel Discussion By -
Sandra Bornholdt, Joy Bullis, Don Igslrud, Kenneth Leone, Cordell Meeks, Breon Mitchell, Jay Roberts, Frank Thompson, and Mrs. Susan Whitley Peters.
7.30 p.m.
Today
Forum Room
Kansas Union
ATTENTION NIGHT OWLS
ALLEN'S INVITES
YOU to enjoy quality service and food till Midnight, Monday through Thursday. The perfect retreat for that late evening study break.
VI 3-5000 ALLEN'S 1404 W.23rd St.