POLITICAL CONVENTIONS

Anyone that has a television realizes that we are in the middle of a presidential election and the official start of campaigning is supposed to begin with the presidential conventions.  It is at the convention that the candidate is officially nominated by his party to run for the highest office in the land.  It is also at the convention that the candidate for vice president is selected.  Today this nomination is more ceremonial and the convention is a launching pad full of speeches and pizzazz with the actual selection of the nominee being known for weeks before the convention is held.  The vice presidential nominee had already been determined by the presidential nominee and the selection is based not only on personal substance but also on the ability to get a segment of the voters that may not be so supportive of the presidential nominee.  We get to watch this anticlimax twice.  Once for the Republicans and once for the Democrats.

It was not all ways like this.  In the mid-sixties John Kennedy was a major contender.  The Louisiana delegation was originally in favor of Lyndon Johnson.  The working began and votes taken at the convention.  After much political work Kennedy gained the nomination and Johnson became his vice presidential candidate.

Even though many of us have witnessed the nomination of the presidential candidate without a certainty of who it will be until the convention is almost over, we have witnessed nothing like what happened in 1924.  The Democratic convention was held in New York in the middle of summer and it was hot.  Air Conditioning was lacking and it was the norm for men to be in shirt and ties and jackets with hats would be expected of professional men.  Women would be in full dress.  Delegates would arrive by train following days of travel for many.  Excitement abounded and each state delegation would have their own favorite delegate to nominate.  Voting would begin and following a few rounds of delegate voting a candidate would be selected.  1924 was far different.

A major point of contention was the KuKluxKlan.  The Roman Catholic delegation from New York’s Tammany Hall wanted the party to denounce the organization.  Fights almost broke out in the hotels.  William Jennings Bryant, the youngest candidate ever for president was now an old man and was jeered for thirty minutes and not allowed to speak as he tried to keep the Klan issue out of the convention. He knew this was dividing the party.  This failed by seven votes and following fifty failed ballots to determine the nominee the press had named the convention  the “Klanbake”.

The Klan issue was not the only item of controversy at he convention. The two leading nominees were William McAdoo and Al Smith.  Smith was Catholic and no Catholic had ever been elected president and this was seen to be an albatross around his neck.  Ironically, it was Joe Kennedy who convinced democratic leaders that a Catholic could not be elected president. It would be 40 years before Joe’s son, John, would be the first Catholic elected president.  The other leading candidate, McAdoo, was doomed by his support of the Klan. The balloting and politicking continued.  The convention had lost its’ glamour. Delegates had run out of money and were wiring home to get enough to pay for hotel bills and food.  Finally after fifteen hot contentious days and following one hundred and three ballots, the Democrats selected John Davis to be their candidate.

Conventions have certainly changed over the years.  This story was captured in the book “I Called Him Grand Dad.  The Lost Political Papers of Harvey G. Fields”.

HOLDER ISN’T THE FIRST – ONLY THE FIRST CAUGHT

The attorney general is alway closely aligned to the President and this was no more apparent than Bob Jackson and FD Roosevelt.  In 1938 Harvey Fields delivered to Jackson a case that led to the Louisiana Scandals.  Fields was the Federal Prosecutor for the Western Region of Lousiana.  The final indictment was for 200 state officials to include the Governor and President of LSU.  Two men committed suicide.  Field was concerned that the case wouold be swept under the rug.  La Governor Leche was extrememly close to FDR and even adjourned the La Legislature, took it to Dallas and reconvened it in Dallas when FDR visited the city.  Fields build the case on mis-use of WPA funds and developed the use of using the mail as a means to defraud, thus pulling in the Feds.  To insure that justice would be served, Fields close friend James Noe leaked the story to Drew Pearson who broadcast it in his column, Wahsnigton Merry Go Round.  FDR had to prosecute.  In 1940 Fields was not re-appointed to his position despite every congressman requesting it, members of the La Bar and prominent lawers requesting it.  As for Attorney General Jackson, he was waiting for his appointment to the Supreme Court to be approved so he definately would not rock the Roosevelt boat.  So, Holder is not the first to be in close with a president but he is the first to be brought up on charges. Had this happened in 1940, nothing woudl have been said.

A book has been published that chronicles the life of Harvey G. Fields.  It is called, “I Called Him Grand Dad.  the Lost Political Papers fo Harvey G. Fields”

A movie overview has been prepared for the book.

MOVIE OVERVIEW FOR “I CALLED HIM GRAND DAD”

Title: I Called Him Grand Dad Author:  Thomas T. Fields, Jr. Genre: Biography

Locale:  American South

Pages: 227

Period:  1883 – 1961

Logline:

I CALLED HIM GRAN D DAD is the biography of Harvey F ields, an early and

important legal voice in the movement for civil rights in the South – not only for African

Americans, but for the poor – whose life was spent in service to his country, and in the company of illustrious politicians, orators, and leaders of industry.

 Conncept: Story: Characters:

Excellent        

 Recommendation for Adaptation:                     Best Medium for Adaptation:

Strongly Consider	Motion P icture
Consider	Television Series
Needs Improvement	Live Theater

Brief Summar y:

 I CALLED HIM GRAN D DAD is the biography of a highly honorable legal genius named Harvey F ields, whose career spanned some of the most politically charged and rapidly changing times in American history.  F ields’ contribution to politics in Louisiana and the United S tates as a whole has gone largely unnoticed until now, because of his humble role in the background behind larger-than- life characters like Huey Long, F DR, and Dick Leche, but his spectacular and admirable life’s work was irreplaceable – and absolutely imperative in order to move progress forward in the realm of civil rights for the poor and disenfranchised.

 Synopsis:

 I CALLED HIM GRAN D DAD opens in 1961, when a young Thomas T. F ields, Jr., loses his granddad.  At the time, young Thomas has no idea of the life his grandfather had lived – he only knew him as his kind, loving, unassuming granddad, who had never boasted or bragged of his accomplishments or accolades.

Harvey F ields is born in 1883 in Louisiana, a state he would remain loyal to througho ut his entire life.  After graduating from Louisiana Polytechnic Institute, he goes on to

Tulane to receive a law degree and establish a practice in the rural north Louisiana town of Farmerville.  This is 1905, the same year he begins his budding political career – a career that coincides with his legal career throughout his life.  A steadfast independent, Fields sees firsthand the devastation that Reconstruction has on the poor South and on the African American population, and vows to devote his life to righting what he believes is an inconceivable wrong.  Though he is loyal to the Democratic Party his entire life, he always calls himself (rightfully so, as an independent thinker) an Independent.

In 1916, F ields is elected to the Louisiana state senate, and in 1921 he wins the seat of state district attorney.  During his tenure as state district attorney, his conviction rate is a remarkable 97 percent.  During the early 1920s, F ields is thrust into the national political arena, and he is invigorated by the excitement, the competition, and the potential for real, legitimate progress that can be made when good men work hard together for a cause.

Fields is never afraid of a challenge, and always takes on a case that he believes in – whether or not the defendant has the means to pay for his legal representation.  This is exhibited perfectly when he joins the defense of John Scopes in the infamous 1925 “Scopes Monkey Trial” – Tennessee v. Scopes – in which the state of Tennessee tries John Scopes for violating the Butler Act, which states that the teaching of evolution is forbidden in schools.  During this trial, F ields and his co-counsel, C larence Darrow, go up against one of America’s most well- known orators and lawyers of all time, William Jennings Bryan, the prosecuting attorney.  Though they initially lose the case, the decision is overturned – and Bryan dies five days later.

Fields spends a long and important part of his career as an ardent supporter of Huey Long, first a governor of Louisiana and later a U.S. senator for the state of Louisiana. Long and F ields share the same idealistic, progressive concepts about what changes should be made in the name of democracy and equality.  When Long is elected governor of Louisiana in 1928, he names his former law partner, F ields, to fill his unexpired term as head of the Louisiana Public Service Commission.  This is the perfect fit for F ields, and he is able to do some of his most important and best work from this seat of importance and power within Louisiana’s state government – especially since he is strongly supported by Governor Long. 

While Long is in office, he and F ields are able to achieve many victories in the name of civil rights and equality for the people of Louisiana.  They are able to unseat the “O ld Regulars” who have been in power and had kept most of poor Louisiana disenfranchised for decades, and they achieve the unthinkable by deftly changing the way delegates are sent to national conventions – through the brilliant legal maneuvering and research of Fields.  F ields and Long do disagree on certain issues, however, such as black voting rights – and F ields refuses to bend to Long’s beliefs, despite his respect and admiration for his friend, political a lly, and legal partner. 

From his early days, F ields is brushing elbows with men like Franklin Roosevelt, who m he meets on his way to the 1924 Democratic National Convention in Houston, Texas, when he and Long are trying to find a more fair way to name delegates to the conventions.  This starts a long – but ultimately, tumultuous – relationship between FDR and F ields.

 When the Great Depression hits in 1929, it hits the South hard, and Long and F ields become dedicated to the cause of redistribution of wealth in the United States, which Long organizes in a committee under the name “S hare O ur Wealth,” which Long is determined to spread as a concept across the United States.  With so many people suffering during the Depression – especially in the South, a nd especially in Louisiana – and with all of the incredible strides Long has achieved as governor (free textbooks for children, free education, fighting S tandard O il’s predatory hold on landowners, to name just a few), Long and F ields believe that the nat ion can greatly benefit from these policies, as well – and now, desperately need them. 

In 1932, Long and F ields throw their support behind FDR – like much of the nation, the last four years under President Hoover has left much to be desired, and Roosevelt wins more than 90 percent of the votes in the state of Louisiana.  Long, believing he could do more far-reaching work as a senator in Washington, is elected to the U.S. Senate in 1932, the same year FDR is elected.  However, their alliance quickly sours, as F DR finds Long to be an annoyance and disagrees with his policy ideas.  Long, for one, despises FDR’s New Deal, and fights against it vehemently.  He also sets up what is essentially a puppet government in Louisiana to carry out his concepts while he works in Washington, and frequently returns to the state to ensure that his legislation passes – something that irritates Louisiana (and Washington) greatly. 

Fields is named by F DR to several of his New Deal assignments, which F ields quickly uses to attack the government for its inefficiencies and what he considers to be the government’s abuses against the working classes.  Not only is the country still in the shackles of the Great Depression, but the South is suffering through a horr ific drought – the worst in recorded history – and Washington doesn’t seem to care.  This tension begins to create a rift between FDR and F ields, even though F ields is working for the people – and working for what he believes is right – and is the Federal District Attorney for the state of Louisiana.  

Long returns to Louisiana in September 1935 in an attempt to oust a long-time opponent, a Judge Benjamin Pavy, in a gerrymandering plan that is a top priority of Long’s.  While he is in the courthouse, an embittered husband of a woman who has been fired as a teacher shoots Long once – and is immediately hit with 62 bullets from Long’s bodyguards, and dies instantly.  Long is rushed to the hospital, but dies two days later, only 42 years old. 

With FDR’s thorn in his side out of the way, F ields hopes that his relationship with FDR will still remain positive and be mended.  However, the next governor of Louisiana proves to be nothing but trouble.  Dick Leche starts skimming from the government coffers to line his pockets and live a lavish lifestyle – and is happy to agree with the president on any policy he enacts.  Long and F ields are furious – but Leche supports FDR, and supports all of his measures, which suddenly puts Long, F ields, and FDR at odds with one another.  However, F ields, now the Federal District Attorney for Louisiana (a placement made by FDR himself), refuses to be bullied, and goes forward with prosecuting the Leche administration in Louisiana.  F ields is successful in his prosecution, Leche resigns and is convicted – and F ields is not reappointed as Federal District Attorney for Louisiana, despite many people in FDR’s cabinet supporting his reappointment.   

After 1945, F ields’ political life begins to decline.  He continues his private law practice and continues forever his fight for the oppressed and against unfair abuses of power, and in 1958, the Louisiana Bar Association presents him with an award for fifty years of continual service.  Countless figureheads and notable politicians from around the country recognize him for his service and work for Louisiana and the United States, and all note his dedication, integrity, and hard work.   

Harvey F ields passes away from a stroke on May 2, 1961 – to go be with the astronauts, as young Thomas Jr.’s father told him, who had just launched the first manned space flight in history.  His passing is noted by dozens who sent telegrams, letters of condolence, and words of remembrance for the brilliant, progressive, and quietly powerful man who had humbly and proudly dedicated his life to serve those less fortunate. 

Comments/Suggestions:  

I CALLED HIM GRAN D DAD was truly an enlightening tale of American history that has never been portrayed on screen before.  The intensity and idealism of early twentiet h century American politics – with a spotlight on Louisiana – truly shine through in this biography of Harvey F ields, a man of integrity, character, and ethical fortitude. 

The main weakness in the book (which can actually be turned into a strength) is that Harvey’s role in politics was generally one in the background – though this isn’t necessarily a bad thing.  P laying background to characters like Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Huey Long, and William Jennings Bryan, and helping to guide and shape the course of Depression-era Louisiana politics, Harvey was an important political and legal figure, and his story is one that is worthy of being told.  

An early, outspoken progressive alongside Huey Long, Harvey stands out even among figures like F DR, because he held strong to his personal ethical beliefs even when they opposed those of his friends and allies – and always opposed corruption, even when it could potentially hurt his career down the road. 

Opening strongly with the Scopes Monkey Trial, I CALLED HIM GRAN D DAD was an exciting read from start to finish.  The strongest section was definitely from 1925 – 1941, culminating in Huey Long’s assassination, and ending with The Louisiana Scandals and Harvey not being reappointed to Federal District Attorney by F DR in retaliation for successfully prosecuting Governor Leche for corruption.  F ields’ entire life would make for an incredible biopic – from his beginnings as a star law student at Tulane, to butting heads with FDR, to being a loud outspoken critic of General Patton during World War II– but the meatiest years are 1925 – 1941.  

Harvey F ields was a man of outstanding character who appears to have been relegated to footnotes and endnotes in history books, and he deserves to be thrust into the spotlight for the quiet but devoted and ethical life he lived during a time when few men stood up to abuses of power and injustices in the world.

“GOD BLESS THE USA” – A LASTING TRIBUTE

Every once in a while someone sings a song that becomes enduring in our country.  It transends culture and lasts from generation to generation and seems to capture the spirit of America.  Frank Sinatra recorded New York New York and it still epitomizes the vibrant spirit of a great city. This morning I heard Lee Greenwood perform on Fox and Friends  “God Bless the USA”.  Although it has been 30 years since he recorded it the song is still a treat to hear.   General Norman Swartzkof stated after Desert Storm that this was his favorite parriotic song.  What a wonderful way to begin Memorial Day.  Seems like just yesterday that I was standing in the middle of the Saudi Desert watching fighters flyng overrhead going to Iraq and not so much earlier that I saw islands off the coast of South Viet Nam when we cruised by from our home port in Mayport.  So proud of our country. 

 

GROWING A COUNTRY – THE EMPIRE STATE BUILDING

In a time of increased government oversight and regulations it’s time to step back and view proud moments in our past that have made us so great. I have been fortunate enough to have spent many years in a profession that I totally love. This is project management and includes design, procurement and construction projects. Some of these projects were extremely large and I have a deep respect for all the effort required to get a facility from the drafting board to a finished building or plant. I sit in amazement at some of the accomplishments our forefathers performed as they build our great country. One of these is the Empire State Building. For many years the Empire State Building was the tallest building in the world. Then the Sears tower claimed that title but the Empire State Building remained the tallest in New York City until the World Trade Center claimed that prize. The events of 9/11 reinstated the Empire State Building as the tallest building on the New York skyline. Only last week the building lost its dominance when the reconstructed tower at the Trade Center was capped at an elevation greater than the Empire State Building. The supremacy of this building and the romantic nostalgia that has been captured in movies and books is not the true accomplishment of the Empire State Building. The part of the story that I stand in awe of is the fact that from the time that the first draftsman sat down to begin the design until the final piece was put into place took only eighteen months. Construction was accomplished in thirteen months. This is an example of American enterprise and ingenuity at its best. Recently it took eighteen months to perform an impact study of the Keystone Pipeline only to hear that the project needed to be restudied and rerouted. The Empire State Building was completed in 1931 at a time that regulations were few in quantities. Ironically, key individuals that helped to build the New York monument to our ingenuity had ties to our local area. Al Smith was president of the Empire State Building Corporation. In 1928 he was the Democratic nominee for president. His campaign manager was Franklin Roosevelt. A secret agreement with the Louisiana Delegation helped to insure that Smith received the nomination. The individual that provided a large amount of the construction material for the building was Jim Farley. Farley was an organizational genius. He merged a number of small material suppliers and formed a large supply company. Al Smith then used Farley to provide the material for the construction of the Empire State Building. Farley was also instrumental in the growth of the United States. He was Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s campaign manager for President. Farley then became the Post Master General and was instrumental in building the air mail service. This action helped to build Delta Air Lines. Farley would later become the Chairman of the Board for the Coca Cola Exporting Company after falling out of favor with Roosevelt. These men and others like them displayed the leadership it took to build our country. While I was researching one of my books I came across correspondence where Farley had asked about the political climate in Louisiana and specifically asked about individuals from the north Louisiana area. At one time the North Louisiana area held prominence in the politics and direction of the country.

GOOD BYE AILENE

In 1961 I was ten years old.  I ran next door to tell my grand father that Easter lunch was ready.  When I walked into his living room I found a little ole man trying to get out of his chair and slurring his speech.  Thirty minutes later he was being helped into a bed at Norris Booth Clinic.  That evening I was sitting with my father and the loudest friendliest laugh came booming down the hospital corridor from the kitchen.  I sat there in surprise as I heard this young lady bouncing around the hospital with endless energy.  When she saw me she came up and spoke to my father and then turned to me and talked and laughed and visited.  Several minutes later she left and went back to work.  I was certain I knew her; she must have been a friend of the family but I just didn’t know how I knew her.  

In fact this was the first time we had met but this lady never met a stranger and made you feel like it too.  I had just been introduced to Ailene Williams.  For thirty days I would walk to the clinic and visit my grandfather.  For thirty days I would be treated to the loud laugh and friendly visits with Ailene.  On the thirty-first day my grandfather lost his fight and I no longer returned to the clinic. 

Nine years later and it was my time to be in the Norris Booth Clinic.  I was admitted with hepatitis and as I slipped in and out of sleep with 104 degree temperature I suddenly realized that I was hearing a familiar laugh that had been burned into my psyche years earlier.  For two weeks Ailene would visit and stand at the door of my quarantined room.  Nothing had changed. 

Twenty years passed and it was mothers turn to receive Ailene’s help.  “Do you remember me”? she asked. 

“Good Grief, how could I forget”.  After I lost my mother it was my father’s turn for Ailene’s good nature and help.  By the time we lost dad,  we had become Ailene’s adopted family.

 Her entire life she would ask no one for anything or any help but when anyone needed support she was there.  She raised a wonderful family, worked hard, loved her church and found time to help anyone that needed it.  All this and she never stopped laughing.   When it came time to clean out the closet we would call Ailene.  She all ways knew someone that was in need and made sure they were taken care of.  Ailene crossed boundaries that had never been crossed before and built bridges with her enduring love of man kind.  If only everyone could take a deep breath and call a timeout, look around themselves in this pressure cooler world we live in and let a little bit of Ailene fill our lives and then give a little more back to our fellow man.  Wouldn’t the world be a little better to live in. 

A week ago last Sunday Ailene was in the one place she loved more than anywhere else, Church.  She suffered a massive hear attack and passed away fifteen minutes later.  There would be no more of a fitting time and place for Ailene to leave our world. 

Next week, it’s time to visit Iran if the world is in the same situation that it is today.

SPEAKING AT THE DAR

I will be speaking at the Daughters of the American Revolution Meeting a t the the First Method Church in Farmerville, Louisiana Saturday teh 214th at 10:00.  Subject of my talk is the impact of Farmerville, Louisiana on state and National Politics.  I will also review my book, “I Called Him Grand Dad.  The Lost Political Papers of Harvey G. Fields”

BEAT THE RUSH AND ORDER BOOKS FOR THE HISTORY BUFF

Monroe, Louisiana, United States of America (Free-Press-Release.com) November 24, 2011 — Thomas T, Fields has two books that will appeal to the History Buff for Christmas. “I Called Him Grand Dad, The Lost Political Papers of Harvey G Fields” and “Desert Burning” are available at Amazon.

“I Called Him Grand Dad” covers the tumultous political history of Louisiana and the Nation from the turn of the century thorugh the early 1960s. Individuals identified in the book include Huey and Earl Long, Franklin Roosevelt, Jim Farley, Richard Leche, Semour Weiss, William Jennings Bryant, Robert Jackson and many more. Over 100 private political letters are included.

“Desert Burning” is a historical novel that covers a period that starts 1 month before Iraq invaded Kuwait and ends a month after Desert Storm ended. The author was living in Saudi Arabia during this time and he captures the period and looks at the war from the lives of the civilians that kept the oil flowing during the war.

Both books are available from Amazon.com, BarnesAndNoble.com, and XLIBRIS.com.

INTEGRITY

 

When I was a child my father told me, “It doesn’t matter what you become in life.  The important thing is that you are a good man.”  It was as if he had branded this on my brain. He didn’t tell me this once but twice.  This was so impacting to me that I vividly remember both instances. 

 

Forty five years later I discovered that he was not the originator of these words.  While researching my first book I found a letter from my grand father addressed to a man that was asking for help for a friend.  My grandfather had been the chairman of the Louisiana Democratic Central Committee and had held various elected offices.  To paraphrase what his response to his friend was, he stated that ,”The man you requested  assistance for could have campaigned against me and he could be a staunch Republican and this doesn’t matter.  What is important is that he is a good man and if you tell me he is, I will help him”. This letter was dated the early 1930s.

 

When I left the Navy and re-entered NLU, my first summer class was taught by the founder of theSchoolofConstructions.  The first day of class he handed a very small slip of paper to the students in the class.  Mimeographed on the slips were the words, “Integrity.  Outspoken Honesty.  His actions were above reproach”.  Mr. Potts, our professor, told us, “Memorize this verbatim.  It will be on your first exam and if you take anything away from this class let it be this.”

 

Sadly, integrity is losing its’ meaning as a norm for our society and instead of understanding this as a way of life we have it taught to us in college courses or be a part of various professional certification requirements.  This has perpetuated into politics and unfortunately all politicians are looked at as possessing little or no integrity. The confidence in our congress is at the lowest level since the beginning of our country.  There are many politicians that have the utmost integrity in their actions and truly want to do the best for the populace that they represent.  Then there are the elected officials that are more interested in their own good and feel empowered to use the position for their own benefit and these are the individuals that give such a negative view of our elected.  This is the conditionLouisianawas in during the early 1900s when the Ole Regulars inNew Orleanswere in power.  Their own interest was the power they sought and possessed.   This came to an abrupt ending in the 1928 elections and theLouisianalaboring class came to the fore front of politics.

 

Integrity in society begins at home and must be perpetuated through out the educational and sporting life of a child.  The integrity of our elected officials is truly in the hands of our electoral process.  The one thing that makes every man equal in a Democratic Society  is the concept of one man, one vote.  When a person closes that curtain of the voting booth, that person is free to vote his conscience and thus casts a vote for the person he feels will provide the leadership required to adequately represent his constituents..  The quality of the person we elect to our political positions should, in addition to other attributes, be viewed as “Is he a good man”.

WHO WAS LEON WEISS

Louisiana is home to many unique and beautiful examples of architecture. Many of these buildings were designed and constructed around the state during the late 1920s and 30s. While I was researching information for my book, “I Called Him Grand Dad. The Lost Political Papers of Harvey G. Fields”, I came across the name of a New Orleans Architect that was associated with the Huey Long administration. His name was Leon Weiss. Weiss was later associated with Long’s close ally and governor, Richard Leche. Weiss graduated from Tulane University in 1903 and later founded the architectural firm of Weiss, Dreyfous and Seinferth. This was a successful company and in 1928 he moved into big time politics when he financially backed Huey Long for governor. This gained Longs undying loyalty. When the Long administration decided that Louisiana would have the tallest state capital in the United States, Weiss provided the design. He also supplied the designs for the LSU Law Building, Medical Center, Cafeterias, Dorms and Academic Buildings. In 1936 he handed over the plans for a major LSU facility expansion to include dorms and thus Tiger Stadium doubled in size. He also designed the New Orleans Airport and the Governor’s Mansion. He was one of the most successful architects in America. When Long’s protégé, Richard Leche, became governor, Leon Weiss continued to support the administration and was thus awarded more state contracts. He designed the gigantic Charity Hospital in New Orleans plus over seven other buildings on the LSU campus. He also designed college structures around the state to include Louisiana Tech. All this came to an abrupt end in 1939 when Richard Leche and two hundred others, to include Weiss, were indicted on the use of mail to defraud the government and the misuse of WPA funds. Weiss went to federal prison for seven years. When researching my book I went to Wikipedia and found Leon Weiss listed. To my pleasant surprise I discovered that Leon Weiss was “born in Farmerville, the seat of Union Parish, north of Ruston”. Ironically, the man that developed the original case that led to Weiss going to prison was also a native of Farmerville.