Politics
My daddy ran a department store on the
south side of the courthouse square where I spent a lot of
my time as a young boy. I was able to see many important
state politicians who came to Fayetteville campaigning.
They always made their speeches in front of the courthouse
across from my daddy’s store. Many became state governors.
I remember seeing Gene Talmadge, Ed Rivers,Ellis Arnold,
Melvin Thompson, Herman Talmadge, and Marvin Griffin to
name a few.
Fayette County was a political strong hold for Eugene
Talmadge. “Ol’ Gene” he was called. Vic Stinchcomb was very
visible at that time. He had done well in truck farming and
was famous for sharing his good fortune with the community.
I can remember Mr. Stinchcomb holding a parade extending
through Fayetteville out highway 54 for about five miles to
Stinchcomb’s Lake where there were speeches by Mr. Talmadge
and supporters and free barbecue for the crowd. My Daddy
was not a supporter of Eugene Talmadge but he did enjoy
barbecue.
There were not many policies to consider in their
campaigns. The successful politicians were for the same
things: white supremacy, the county unit system, paving
roads, and being a friend of the people.
In 1937 Talmadge was defeated for the U.S. Senate.
Fayetteville’s Charley Redwine running on the coat tails of
Talmadge for governor was also defeated by Ed Rivers who
gave Georgia its first free school textbooks and introduced
asphalt road paving. Talmadge won his third term as
governor in 1941. In his campaign he made fun of River’s
“shiny” roads. On hot sunny days asphalt roads often give
the illusion of pools of water in low places in the road.
Talmadge won the Democratic primary in his bid for a fourth
term as governor in 1946 over Governor Ellis Arnall but
died before the general election. At this time in Georgia’s
history winning the Democratic primary was equivalent to
winning the general election since the Republican Party was
almost non- existent. Usually there was only the Democratic
nominee running in the general election. This year was also
the first time Georgia elected a lieutenant governor, won
by Melvin Thompson. The dilemma that followed was almost
unbelievable.
Governor Arnall refused to give up the governor’s office
until a successor was determined. Melvin Thompson had been
elected Georgia’s first lieutenant governor and felt he
should be the next governor. But Talmadge had not actually
died in office. The Legislature elected his son, Herman
Talmadge, to serve his unexpired term. He served 67 days
but vacated office when the State Supreme Court ruled that
the Constitutional provision under which he was elected was
not applicable in that instance and Ellis Arnall's term
continued until the next election. When Melvin E. Thompson
was sworn in as Lieutenant Governor, Arnall resigned and
Thompson served as Acting Governor until the next General
Election. Herman Talmadge defeated M. E. Thompson in the
September 1948 Primary Election and was elected in the
General Election, November 2, 1948, to complete the
unexpired term of his father.