On His Way

When he was helping Uncle Earl get elected governor of Louisiana last winter, 29-year-old Russell Long was not above pausing to speak enthusiastically about himself. He reminded Louisiana voters that he was Huey Long's oldest son, and strongly intimated that he was the true heir to the departed Kingfish's domain. This summer, when he set out to run for the U.S. Senate, he made the inference even plainer by continually speaking of "Me and Earl."

Russell made the most of his resemblance to Huey. When speaking he yanked off his coat, loosened his tie, windmilled wildly with his arms. Though his experience had been limited to campus politics at Louisiana State University, he proved himself a natural at swampwoods oratory. He cockily announced that he would beat his opponent, 46-year-old Judge. Robert F. Kennon, by 125,000 votes.

But last week, when the Democratic primary returns were counted, it was obvious that the voters lumped all the Longs together, and that many were disgruntled at Old Earl's tax boosts (TIME, Aug. 30). Russell won by less than 10,000 votes. It was, nevertheless, a handsome victory. It made Russell the youngest U.S. Senator (he would be 30 the day after the final election in November) to be elected since West Virginia's Rush Dew Holt in 1935.* And it strongly bulwarked the Long tribe's power in Louisiana.

* Halt served one term in the Senate, was defeated in 1940. Now 43, he devotes most of his time to speaking and lecturing, has served five terms in the West Virginia House of Delegates.

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