Evening star., 1950-06-29
Gov. TaImadge Trails
Thompson but Wins
By Heavy Unit Vote
by the Assoeioted Press

ey the Associated Press
ATLANTA, June 29.-Georgia
renominated yesterday a Governor
who failed to get the most popular
votes - red-gallused, tobacco
Chewing Herman Talmadge.
A unique county unit election
system headed Gov. Talmadge
toward four more years of white
supremacy" rule in an era of grow
ing unrest over racial problems.
Former Gov. M. E. Thompson,
who refused to concede defeat,
held a steady lead in popular
votes in yesterdays Democratic
primary, equivalent to election.
But that isn't what counts in
Georgia-it's county unit votes.
And returns from 1852 of 1,704
precincts, and l57 of 159 counties,
gave Talmadge lead in 118 coun-
ties with $50 unit votes; Thomp-
son led in 80 counties with 1875
unit votes.
Mr.. Thonnpson's popular vote
margin was 1888 to 180,290.
George Wins Easily.
Conservative Senator George,
chairman Of the Senate Finance
Committee and senior member of
the Foreign Relations Committee,
swept all 107 counties reported.
He was challenged for renomina-
tion by Alex McClennan, an At
lanta attorney.
Under the unit system peculiar
to Georgia. somewhat like the ma
tional electoral college, each
county is assigned from two to
six unit votes. Candidates win
ming county get all of that
county's units. A majority of
units-206-is needed to win.
No other State has the county
unit system.
In effect, it packs power in a
host of small rural counties where
Talmadge support traditionally is
strong. Populous Fulton County
(Atlanta), for example, with six
units, has one unit for about
10000 votes. Rural two-unit Chat
tahoochee County gets one unit
for about 1872 votes. Thus single
popular vote in Chattahoochee
counts as much as 122 votes in
Fulton.
Like Fathers Victory.
The late Gov. Eugene Talmadge,
who left his son Herman his potent
political organization, pulled
similar victory in 1916. He trailed
his closest opponent by $4,000
popular votes but won with 242
unit votes.
The unit system has been at
tackled repeatedly in Federal
courts as a violation of equal
rights under the Constitution. But
the Supreme Court a few months
ago. in the latest case, refused
to intervene. .-
Gov. Talmadge told rural voters,
who usually hold the balance of
power under the system, that they
would lose their influence if Mr..
Thompson were elected. He said
MIR. Thompson and that FEPC,
scalawag crowd" were plotting to
destroy the unit system.
why. If that crowd wins, one
black ward in Atlanta will outvote
four or five of our good rural
counties" he shouted
Mr.. Thompson stoutly denied
opposition to the system and
stormed traditional Talmadge ru-
raj citadels with 1866 rallies in an
effort to wean wool hat voters
from the Governor.
Stressed Race Issue.
Gov. Talmadge waved news
paper headlines on recent Supreme
Court anti-segregation decisions
and declared he was the only
candidate who would fight "at all
costs" against mixing of the races.
Mr.. Thompson insisted he was
for segregation, too, and would
build better Negro schools to pre-
serve it. He said Gov. Talmadge
just shouted about race issues but
did nothing.
Senator George. 70, winning a !
sixth term. was assailed by Mr..
McLennan as a friend of big
bankers who did hothing for Geor-
gia. The veteran Senator led in
popular votes, 157,017 to PLAT.
He made only one campaign
speech, urging reduced taxes and
an end to deficit spending.
All of Georgia's incumbent con-
gressmen appeared safely re-
nominated except Representative
Wheeler of the 9th District. Mr..
Wheeler was locked in close
contest with State Representative
Country Johnston of Valdosta, in
incOncluSiVe returns