The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-03-05
TALMADCE JUST
BIT TOO SMART.
STOKES THINKS
His Ambition Seems to Have
Over Reached Itself,
Writer Declares.
BY THOMAS l.. STOKES
Times Special Writer

ATLANTA, Ga, March 5.-Gov
Eugene Talmadge on study at close
range, strikes the observer today as
a medicine man who has been a bit
too smart for his own good. HIS
ambition seems to have over-reached
itself in his challenge of President
Roosevelt.
some mere believe he has clam
bered too far ont on the limb in view
OF the Presidents great popularity in
this state, and that the result will
be his removal as a political figure.
Others think he will continue in
power in Georgia because of his re-
duction of taxes, his showmanship,
his professed championship of
the fsrmer-and because this is
georgia, a strange political domain
that is hard for even native like
myself 10 explain.
But Whatever happens in Georgia,
1t appears certain that he will get
nowhere nationally. He can be no
real threat to Mr.. Roosevelt. He
has aroused no following anywhere
else in the South, nor in other parts
of the country. He has disappointed
those who had hoped to use him
either at the Philadelphia conven-
ton or in the later election cam
paign-to start revolt south of the
Mason and Dixon line.
Proved by Convention
That was proved by the &C
knowledged flop Of his grass roots
convention at Macon.
Had Huey Long lived, the
Georgian might have played second
fiddle in movement to break
away Southern states in third
party sortie. But Talmadge is no
Huey Long.
The yituperative Governor with
the Topping black name and the
bespectacled scowl will continue to
buzz about and strike at President
Roosevelt. He loves to make
speeches and to describe how he
brought 'em down" Big Southern
business nterests-banks and utili-
ties and teXtiles-who sponsored
his grass roots convention will
continue to support him in their
effort to cripple the New Deal
He will continue to be a Repuh-
lican pet. He expects definite re-
wards in the event of a Republican
victory in the presidential race. His
ambition is to be Secretary of
Agriculture, and there are rumors
that he has definite commitment
from somewhere.
Has Kept State Excited
AS was the case with Huey Long
in Louisiana, Gov. Talmadge-"Our
Gene" to his followers-has kept
Georgia in state of excited and
suspended animation guessing what
he is going to do next ever since,
when he first became Governor, he
called out the troops to throw out
a state highway board so he could
put his own crowd in.
Similarly, when he broke with
the Roosevelt Administration, his
nose-thumbing and wise cracking
at Secretary Ickes-whom he calls
"Icky"-and at Harry l.. Hopkins
kept his supporters amused.
He seems to delight in getting
himself in an apparent corner, set
ting the people to wondering how
he is going to get out-and then
drawing a coon from the hat. 1t
works in politicS-if it doesn't wear
out.
1t seems to be wearing out here
with some of the solid citizenry.
particularly his most recent act of
communicating uneXpended bal
ances OF past years-which may or
may not exist-to run the state in
stead of calling the legislature into
special session. 1t is said he fears
a movement to impeach him. His
answer in this controversy is that