Taps for Talmadge

To the polls last week went some 300,000 Georgians to settle the bitterest Democratic primary in a generation. Seeking renomination on a red-hot New Deal platform was 38-year-old Senator Richard Brevard Russell Jr. Seeking the Russell seat in the Senate on a platform of New Deal abuse was Governor Eugene Talmadge (TIME, Sept 7). Bawled Senator Russell night before the primary: "Election of Talmadge would be a slap in the face of the President."

Franklin Roosevelt's face was not slapped by Georgia because about two Democrats out of every three plumped for Senator Russell and the New Deal. In his campaign for Governor two years ago Talmadge carried 156 of Georgia's 159 counties. On last week's electoral vote, which actually did the nominating, he carried only 16. The first political defeat in the earthy, cigar-chewing, gallus-wearing demagog's career, it sounded what most observers regarded as taps for Talmadge. With unwonted dignity Governor Talmadge ruefully declared: "I am in good health, in the prime of life, happy and thankful to the people of Georgia for the honors they have bestowed upon me and stand ready in the future to help in any way that I can the people of my State and nation."

Swept to defeat with Gene Talmadge was his entire slate of State candidates, including the man he had picked to succeed him as Governor, President of the State Senate Charles D. Redwine. Winner for that office was the Speaker of the State House of Representatives, Eurith Dickinson Rivers, 40.

A perennial lawyer and legislator, Ed Rivers has long yearned for the Governorship. No less ardent in his praise of the President than Senator Russell, the next Governor of Georgia proudly posed with his Wife Lucile, Daughter Geraldine, Son Ed Jr., Mrs. Ed Jr. and Granddaughter Jan. Crowed he: "We're in!"

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