Evening star., 1947-01-18
ArnoII BowsO sOutof Governorship
Fight in Georgia as Thompson
Becomes Lieutenant Governor
Says New Officer
Now Has Power
To Run Stute
ey the Associated Press

ATLANTA, Jan. 18.-Ellis Arm
all quit as Governor of Georgia
today and passed the fight with
Herman Talmadge for the execu-
tive office over to 1t. Gov. M. E
Thompson.
There was no indication whether
1t. Gov. Thompson would continue
the fight.
Mr.. Arnall's announcement that
he had ended his battle with Mr..
Talmadge over the governorship
was made to newsmen at confer
ence shortly after the Lieutenant
Governor took the oath of office.
Last Saturday Mr.. ArnaI handed
his resignation to Secretary of State
Ben Fortson, effective Immediately
after qualification of the Lieutenant
Governor"
In his statement to newsmen, Mr..
Arnall said "the procedures clearly
enable the Lieutenant Governor to
become acting Governor, vested with
the full, absolute powers of govern
ment until the people of Georgia
can elect Governor to fill the un-
expired term"
Few See Thompson Take Oath.
Mr.. Arnalls statement said he
considered his resignation effective
as of 1880 am. today, the hour that
1t. Gov. Thompson took the oath of
Office in an almost empty Georgia
Senate chamber.
His prepared statement also said
he was confident that this action
will meet with the approval of a
vast majority of the people of the
State. Likewise I am certain that
the court will uphold the constitu-
ton Of Georgia and that elections
by the people, democracy, law and
order will be sustained"
j MIR. Talmadge at first would not
comment on the developments, but
later said eff" Mr.. Thompson will
support the Democratic Party plat
form adopted in Macon last Oc-
tober, he and I should be able to
cooperate in complete harmony"
Associates said his statement was
predicated on assumption that Mr..
Thompson would recognize Mr..
Talmadge's election as Governor
and not attempt to push rival
claim.
1t. Gov. Thompson originally had
planned to take the oath at II am.
Monday, but in a prepared state
ment issued after being sworn in to-
Gay, he said he had been advised by
the Attorney General that under
the law it might be necessary that I
take my oath before the expiration
of this week."
Doesn't Mention Governorship
Mr.. Thompson's statement made
no reference to whether he consid-
cred himself the legal Governor un-
der Mr.. ArnaH's resignation. Yester-
day when asked whether he would
so consider himself after taking the
oath, he said that the only state
ment he had was that he planned
to take the oath as Lieutenant
Governor.
An authoritative source opposed to
MI. Talmadge asserted that Tai
madge forces would impeach Attor-
ney General Eugene Cook Monday
for his actions in upholding Mr..
Arnall as legal Governor of Georgia.
Mr.. Talmadge told his press con-
ference later today he had heard
of no impeachment plan.
Mr.. Ta1madge declared that
everything is quiet" and said "the
reluctance of the former Governor
to quit the scene of his triumphs has
not disturbed me in the least"
The fight over the chief executives
chair evolved more and more into a
war of words, with each side issu-
ing frequent statements supporting
their claims or appearing in radio
broadcasts to expound the case.
Mr.. Arnall appealed to Georgians
to discuss the issue with their legis-
lators and declared that free elec-
tions by the people will be done
Sec GEORGTA page ALL