Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-11-17
JOHN M. SLATON
TAKES OATH OF OFFICE
IS NOW GOVERNOR
Chief Justice Fish Administer
ed the Oath at 9 O'Clock
Thursday Morning in Pres
ence of Friends

Hon. John NJ. Slaton, president of the
Georgia senate. was sworn in as gov
ernor of this state Thursday morning at
9 o'clock. the ceremony taking place in
the reception room adjoining the execu-
tive office at the capitol Only by small
gathering of the friends and relatives of
the new governor was the ceremony wit
messed, starting jHst at the stroke of 9
and consuming barely minutes.
The oath was administered. to him by
Chief Justice w. H. Fish, of the Geor-
gia supreme court, and the first official
act of Governor Slaton was to have that
oath recorded on the executive min
utes.
81 think the proper signature that l
should make to all state papers, he SAID
I in a short speech he made, lis j. M. Sla-
ton, president of the senate and acting
governor The constitution contemplates
that the president OF the senate snail
perform the duties of the governor IN tne
I period following a resignation
/ Soon after taking the oath the new
governor announced that Mr.. D. ". rer-
! ~. of Camilla, Mitchell county, Ca
would be his private secretary during
I his session in office. Mr. Perry was sec
I retary to Hon. j. NJ Terrell during bis
service as United States senator. IL VIII
probably be a day or two before the
/ other secretaries will be announced py
the governor.
! Among those present at the ceremony
Thursday morning were Mrs. John M.
SIaton. Mr. w. f. Slaton, Mr.. and Mrs.
| A. L. Waldo, Judge Lumpkin, Judge
Samuel Atkinson, former Attorney Cen
eraI John c. Hart, Secretary Of the SEN
ate Charles S. Northen. Judges Warner
/ hin and Arthur Powell, of the appellate
court. Judge Beverly Evans, State Sena-
tor Harris, former Senator j. G. Jarni-
/ gan. former Representative Charles
! Reid. Hon. Walter McElreath, the repre-
sentative from Fulton county: B. M.
Blackburn, Steve r. Johnston and a
number of other Georgians.
Among the many messages Of congrat-
ulation which Governor Slaton received
by wire and letter was one from his
Sunday school class of the Trinity Meth
odist church, accompanied by box of
beautiful flowers. Though never posing
as an active Christian worker, Mr..
I saton has been quietly teaching class
at Trinity church for more than 20
4 years past.
! Under the law the governor is allowed
5000 per year for secretaries to be APP
pointed by him in connection with the
executive department. Governor Slaton
has not yet determined who or how
many ne viii name for the present CO.
day interim. He will probably announce
his action Friday or Saturday.
Throughout the entire morning Thurs
day Governor Slaton was kept busy re-
ceiving callers and attending to the
business naturally incident to his ac-
scession.
GOVERNOR SMITHS LETTER.
The resignation sent by Gov. Hoke
Smith to Secretary of State Phil Cook
was directed to the latter in his official
capacity. and worded as follows:
q hereby present to you this, my
resignation of the office of governor of
Georgia, to take effect at once.
"In leaving the office, let me express
to you and to the other state house
officers and officials my very sincere
thanks for their faithful and able CO.
operation with me in the discharge of
my duties during the term of my serv-
| iee."