Evening star., 1946-12-21
TaInladgeDi
Gov. ArnaII MAY
Stay in Office
Bitter Fight Forecast
In Unprecedented
Situation in Georgia
By the Associated Press

By the Associated Press
ATLANTA, Dec. 21.-Eugene
Talmadge, who four times was
elected Governor of Georgia,
died today less than a month
before his scheduled fourth in
auguration.
The 62-year-old champion of white
supremacy died quietly at Piedmont
Hospital where he had lain in q
coma since last night.
Funeral services tentatively were
arranged for Monday at Mr.. Tall
madge's home town of McRae.
Death of the Governor-elect be-
fore taking office-unprecedented in
Georgia-presaged a bitter political
fight for the governorship. Aus
thoritatiye sources said the constis
tuition appeared to require continue
ance in Office of Mr.. Talmadge's
political foe, Gov. Ellis Arnall, pos
sibly until another Governor is
elected four years hence.
Forecasts Sons Election.
Sources high in Talmadge coun-
cils, however, said the Legislature
also by constitutional proyision-had
the right to name an alternate Gov
ernor, and forecast election OF Mr..
Talmadge's son Herman.
If Gov. Arnall should refuse to
surrender Office, these sources said,
impeachment proceedings would
follow.
There is no precedent in the
State, but the constitution provides
the Governor shall remain in office
until his successor is qualified and
elected. The Legislature which
meets in January formally elects the
Governor.
Mr.. Talmadge's death was an
nounced simply by physician who
stepped from the Governor elects
room and announced:
HE died at 7 o'clock"
Gov. Arnall issued the following
statement on Mr.. Talmadge's death:
"As Governor, I wish to express
sympathy to Mrs. Talmadge and the
family. The State Capitol is ordered
closed and the flag flown at half
mast for the entire day Of Seatur-
day, December 81"
Asked who would be the next Gov
ernor, Gov. Arnall said sit is highly
inappropriate to talk about that at
this time
Mr.. Talmadge first was stricken
with a stomach hemorrhage in
Jacksonville, Fla, October 4, and
twice he was pronounced better and
dismissed from the hospital. He
entered the hospital for the last
time November %, and had been
improving until last Sunday when
he suffered a relapse.
Two days ago his physicians said
he was suffering with an acute in
famation of the liver cells possibly
caused by the administration OF
plasma and pronounced his condi-
ton critical. He had received much
blood by TRANSMISSION since the first
hemorrhages.
Family Near Beside.
Members of the Talmadge family,
including his wife, SON and CAM
paign manager, Herman, and two
daughters, Mrs. Bill Kimbrough and
Mrs. Charles Sn1yly, were near his
bedside when the Governor -elect
died.
Mr.. Talmadge's death ended an
up-and-down political career In
Georgia. His first success was In
1927 when he was named State
Commissioner of Agriculture. In
1888, he was elected Governor, serv-
ing two 2-year terms until 1887. He
lost bitter battle for the Senate to
Richard B. Russell in 1886, and
again in 1888, he was in the race
against Senator George. That was
the race when the late President
Roosevelt backed Lawrence Camp
in his purge campaign. Senator
George won.
Mr.. Talmadge emerged from poli-
tical retirement in 1910 again to be-
come Governor, but two years later,
after a heated campaign, he lost TO
Gov. Arnall.
Plays White Supremacy
When Gov. Arnall was prevented
under new state constitution from
seeking reelection, Mr.. Talmadge
emerged again under his old banner
of white supremacy, and was elected
under the States County unit sys-
tenn despite the fact that James ".
Carmichael, who had Gov. Arnalfs
backing, took the popular vote.
The county unit system is similar
to the United States electoral sys-
tenn, with counties having from Q to
unit votes depending on popula-
ton. The candidate winning the
unit vote gets the Democratic nomi-
nation which in one-party Georgia
is tantamount to election,
Mr.. Talmadge was the first ever
to be nominated for Governor by
winning the county unit vote and
yet losing the popular vote. Mr..
Carmichael's lead in the popular
vote was more than 10000. over Mr..
(See TALMADGE, Page A-40
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