The Washington times., 1936-09-09
COUNTRY VOTE
T0RULE POLL
IN GEORGIA
BY EARL GOODWIN

Today in Georgia the voters are
deciding the Democratic nominee
for the United States Senate in a
primary, which is as good as cleo
ton; and Senator Richard B. Rus
sells political life is at stake after
the campaign waged to unSeat him
by the irrepressible Gov. Eugene
Talmadge, leader of formidable
army of rural voters.
The campaign is said to have
been the hottest waged in that
State in 80 years, since Hoke
Smith tangled up in a similar bat
tie with Joseph Brown, now long
forgotten.
News reaching here indicates
Senator Russell believes himself to
be the victor; but success in a
Georgia primary does not depend
on majority of the popular vote.
Choice BY Counties
Under the Neill law primary
choice is made by counties, each
county having from two to six
votes and the sparsely populated
rural counties can pile up their
votes to defeat the heavily popu-
lated cities. For instance, there is
one county in Georgia with fewer
than 400 votes; but it has two
votes in the electoral college" of
the State.
Three counties Of this kind, with
q very few voters, can offset the
many thousands of voters in At
lnata which is in county with six
votes. It is admitted that Cover
nor Talmadge has a tremendous
strength in these rural counties.
The Georgia primary interests
Administration officials who rec
ognize in Governor Talmadge one
Of their bitterest and most eff
fective foes. They show as much
interest as in the cases of Sena-
tor Pat Harrison, of Mississippi;
Senator James Francis ByrneS,
Of South Carolina, and Senator
Joseph Robinson, of Arkansas.
Others Nominated
Similar rabble-rouSing cam
paigns have been waged this
summer against these three Ad-
miniStration warehouses; who have
been nominated.
On this account many political
observers have felt that Tai
madgeiSm" in Georgia would suf-
fer an eclipse; but there has
been no evidence that the red
SuSpendered "Gene" shows any
signs Of defeat.
There is a vast army Of Geor-
gia farmers who turn out by the
hundred, wearing red suSpenders
in honor of their political leader
and attend his barbecues with a
worshipful air. To these farmers
Governor Talmadge is the great
est American: his word is law to
them. He speaks their language,
literally, giving the impression
that he is an untutored back
woodsman.
Actually, Governor Talmadge
Is learned in the law and in the
English language. He is aStute
enough, however, not to display
any book learning when he is
talking to his admirers. With
them he uses the native wit which
has made him their leader.
Original mo" Man
Governor Talmadge comes from
the same strain of political lead
ers which produced Senator
Vardaman, in Mississippi: Senator
Tom watson, in Georgia; Cover
nor and Senator Cole Blease, of
South Carolina; Senator Jeff"
Davis, of Arkansas. Probably
Senator Huey Long should be
added to that list, and it is I'M
derstood that Governor Talmadge
had an arrangement to stop
Roosevelt" with the former King
fish before he died.
Governor Talmadge, who said
In Washington once that he was
the original mo" man of Ameri-
can politics, has carried on a cru
SADIE against the Administration
ever since the relief administra-
ton here took Georgia relief out
Of the governors hands and
placed a woman Federal admins
traitor in charge. He has, at
times, tied up the Federal expen-
ditureS for roads in his State.
MATE AuEPIcAN-