RIVAL GOVERNORS IN GEORGIA

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25085, 17 January 1947, Page 7

RIVAL GOVERNORS IN GEORGIA

Mr Amall Seeking Court Judgment BOTH ISSUING ORDERS (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 10 p.m.) NEW YORK, Jan. 15. Mr Ellis Arnall, who has refused to surrender office as Governor of Georgia to Mr Herman Talnjadge, who was elected by the State Legislature, has now filed a petition with the Superior Court, asking it to decide the title to the Governor’s office and to issue an injunction restraining Mr Talmadge from acting as Governor. The hearing will be held on February 7. One of the first tussles between the rival governors was for the control of the telephone lines leading to the Governor’s office. Early callers on the telephone were answered by a switch attendant saying—“Governor Amall’s office.” Mr Amall later had the telephones disconnected, but Mr Talmadge had them restored. Thereafter, calls to the office brought the answer “Governor’s office.’,’ When the caller asked "Which Governor.” the reply was "Governor Herman Talmadge.’’ Mr Talmadge, following his election as Governor, established his office this morning in Mr Amall’s main reception room. Mr Amall refused to budge, contending that the Legislature had acted unconstitutionally. Consequently Georgia’s two Governors vied for executive power in adjoining offices, issuing conflicting orders and appointing different men to the same offices. Mr Talmadge was sworn in this morning by Superior Judge Charles

Worrill. He told cheering crowds that he bore no malice or ill-will against anyone. He pledged himself to uphold Georgia’s white primary election, but he favoured a State-wide election to ratify himself as Governor. State Guard Leader Defies Order Mr Talmadge issued an executive order shortly before noon to strip Mr Amall of military power. The order called for the demobilisation of the Georgia State (Home) Guard, headed by Colonel R. W. Collins, whom Mr Amall earlier in the morning appointed Adjutant-General. Mr Talmadge had appointed the Adjutant-General, Colonel Marvin Griffin, for a new term as commander of the National Guard, which is a permanent organisation. Mr Amall immediately asked the Secretary of War (Mr Robert Patterson) to recognise Colonel Collins as Adjutant-General, but the War Department replied that the Governor of the State had authority to appoint anyone he chose to that position. The United Press reports that no clash has yet occurred between the State and National Guards. Colonel Collins defied Mr Talmadge’s order dissolving the State Guard by proclaiming his own authority over both the State and National Guards, and promised to issue an order of the day calling on both to continue in service for the unity of the State. Colonel Collins added that Mr Talmadge had no more authority to retire him than any man in the street.

NO MORE “V.I.P.’S”

PRIORITY ABOLISHED ON BRITISH AIR ROUTES

(Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) (Rec. 8 p.m.) LONDON, January 16. Those people known as “very important persons” or more briefly as v.i.p.’s, who for a long time have been receiving priority on trains and aircraft, are shortly to disappear from all nine routes operated by British European Airways. The Minister of Civil Aviation has decided that there shall be no v.Lp.’s as from February 3.

The decision is hailed by the “Manchester Guardian” as “a blow for freedom which should gladden the hearts of all true-born Englishmen,” and adds: “First come, first served, is a sound rule whether it- is for a fish queue or an airline.”