Evening star., 1947-01-16
Ta|madge Seizes ArnaIrs Office
After Shift in Locks During Night
Bars Rival at Executive Mansion
Ousted Governor
Sets Up Office in
Capitol Rotundo
By the A.socioted Press

Talmadge, in a predawn coup
backed by National Guard off,
GERS and State highway patrol
men, seized Georgia's executive
department. today and denied
Ellis Arnall admission to either
the Governors Office or the Off
cial residence. The locks to the
executive suite had been removed
during the night.
Mr.. Arnail arrived at the Offices
this morning to find Mr.. Talmadge
in the chambers Mr.. Arnal had
occupied all day yesterday. Later
when Mr.. Arnall went to the execu-
tive mansion for lunch, he was met
by four State patrolmen, who
blocked his entry.
This completes, 1t seems to me.
the capture of the State govern
ment as far as physical properties
are concerned" Mr.. Arnan told
newsmen who accompanied him to
the mansion.
"It has been done by gradual
military inflltration, SO that at the
moment storm troopers are in con-
troll You have seen a mill
tary coup d'etat seize the Cover
nor's mansion, private Office and
automobile"
Talmadge Family Admitted.
Shortly after Mr.. Arnall made
his statement to neWsmen and left
the mansion, the troopers admitted
Mrs. Herman Talmadge and her
two children to the residence.
Mr.. Arnall set up a personal office
in the rotunda of the Capitol Build
ing and announced that his secre-
tarial staff would be quartered III
q downtown Office building.
He has been Governor for the
past four years and contends ne
still is the executive because of
what he describes as illegality of
legislative action in naming Mr..
Talmadge to the term his father
Eugene Talmadge, was prevented
by death from accepting. Had the
elder Talmadge lived, he would
have been inducted yesterday.
Mr.. Arnall charged that Mr.. Tai
madge was attempting to rule the
State under a military dictator
ship"
Aids Take Over Offices.
Taimadge attaches took over the
executive chambers early today.
Mr.. Arnall had sat in the chambers
yesterday while Mr.. Talmadge oc-
cupied another Office in the execu-
tive suite less than 20 yards away.
National Guard officers were sta
toned outside the chambers after
Mr.. Talmadge took over.
After taking his place at a desk
in the rotunda, Mr.. Arnal told
newsmen that he thought the next
vantage point in this panzer move
ment" by Mr.. Talmadge would be
"at the executive mansion which is
under my control
Mr.. Arnall has the keys to the
mansion. Mr.. Talmadge has an
nounced he will sleep there tonight.
Asked by newsmen, who inter-
viewed him at his new desk, who
had control of the States military
forces, Mr.. Arnall pointed toward
the executive chambers and said
the military forces there are un-
der command of Herman the pre-
tender"
Has No Military Force on Duty.
"I have no military forces on duty
7 need none. I need no bruisers or
thugs or bodyguards.
Both Mr.. Arnau and Mr.. Tai
madge have appointed adjutants
general. Mr.. Arnall has R. c. Col
Inns, former commander of the State
Guard, and Mr.. Talmadge has Mar
vim Griffin, who resigned his COM
mission under MI. Arnall to ac-
cept the Talmadge appointment.
Mr.. Talmadge had not publicly
called on his forces for aid.
While the scramble over the gov
ernorship was going on down stairs
the Legislature on the floor above
in the State Capitol received q
proposal from three anti-Talmadge
members that it recess until the
courts decide who is the legal Gov
ernor.
Judgment Expected by March 81.
The three sponsors of the move
ment, Representatives Charles Cow
en-, Adie burden and Jake Joel, said
it was expected the State Supreme
Court would decide the issue by
March 81 under a declaratory judg-
ment movement started yesterday
by Attorney General Eugene Cook
acting on Mr. Arnall's orders. They
proposed that the Legislature ad-
journ until that daJe.
After a series of interviews with
newsmen, Mr.. Arnall left his desk ir
the Capitol rotunda and announced
to the crowd surrounding him, "The
Governor of Georgia is now goin.
to the barber shop. after which he
probably will go uptown and minglt
with the people and then hold 6
luncheon at the mansion for tn,
(See GEORGIA, Page A-6.J