The Washington times., 1935-02-23
GEORGIA GROUP
!. IS POLITICAL
MYSTERY
BY EARL GOODWIN

One of the political mysteries of
the present exciting day-by-day Sc.
Yies of surprises in Congress and
elsewhere is the delegation of
Georgia legislators here in the
Capital which is after something
from the Federal Government
but which has not yet divulged its
true purpose.
Georgia politicians and news
paper correspondents are watch
ing the White House to see wheth-
er or not the Georgia State law
makers will try to see President
Roosevelt; but up until now there
has been no indication either way.
Meantime, the dele egat ton,
headed by Speaker Rivers, has
not even called on Senators Wal.
ter F. George and Walter B. Rus
sell, jr., or on any of the members
Of the House from Georgia.
On the other hand, this aggre-
CATION of State legislators is won.
dering why the elder statesmen do
not call upon them.
Group AntiROosevelt
There is flavor of politics con-
11ected with the whole affair; the
delegation is distinctly pro-Gov-
ernor Talmadge, who is distinctly
anti-Roosevelt.
Speaker Rivers of the Georgia
house is the man who introduced
Senator Huey Long of Louisiana
to that legislature. Another mem
ber, Roy Harris, of Augusta, Ca,
is the floor leader for the Tai
1madge forces. Other members of
the delegation are State Senators
Lester and Scott and Representa-
tive Watson.
Accompanying them is Hugh
Howell chairman of the Georgia
State Democratic Committee, who
was an anti-Roosevelt power in
the Macon convention. famous in
recent Georgia annals for having
smashed the pro-Administration
forces to nominate Governor Tai
madge, who has been on the war.
path against the Roosevelt New
Deal ever since taking office.
Knowing Mr.. Howell's anti-Ad-
miniStration political views and
activities, Georgia Congressman
and officials who were at the
White House reception, Thursday
night, were surprised to see Mr..
Howell in line.
School Fund Sought
When the Georgians started
from their native State for this
city, it was understood that one
Of the objects of their errand was
to obtain a grant Of two million
dollars from Harry Hopkins, Fed
eral Relief Administrator, to pay
the school teachers of Georgia,
who have been without salary
checks for several months.
This was not to be loan but
o gift. However. despite the fact
that the delegation called on Mr..
Hopkins earlier this week, it
cannot be learned that there was
any mention of a tWo-million- dol
lar grant. Mr.. Hopkins insists
that the Georgians talked in a
friendly manner about social Sc
curity and what will be required
in their State to cooperate with
the Federal Government on old
age pensions, job insurance, etc.
The State Of Georgia, it is ex-
planned by a prominent Georgia
Journalist who is here trying to
locate the real animus of the
lawmakers trip, already has taken
the necessary action to conform
to the New Deals social security
plans.
U. S. Relief PrObed
This presumably friendly meet
ing in Mr.. Hopkins office sur
p-.sed some of the Georgians here
because they recall that the Geor.
gia legislature has adopted a
resolution to investigate the Fed.
eral relief organization in their
State. The sight of a State in.
VeStigating Federal set-up is a
novel one even to the Oldest
statesmen here, it is said.
But there have been harsh
words and strained relations be.
tween the State and Federal re.
lief people in Governor Talmadge's
hailiWick.
In the beginning Federal Relief
Administrator Hopkins told Geor-
gia that relief money would be
sent there in the regular channels
through a Federal organization;
and it is charged here that Gov
ernor Talmadge managed to fill
the Federal organization with Tai.
Inadge supporters, described as be.
ing more politically minded than
socially minded.