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♪♪

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The battle of the Georgia governors for the seat left vacant by the death of Eugene Talmadge

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brings Governor Arnold post-haste to the state capitol.

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Mr. Arnold, who was legally unable to run in the last election, storms the governor's

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office from which he has been ejected after a fiery battle with Talmadge supporters.

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Following a vigorous effort to reinstall himself, Arnold decides to change his plan of attack,

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temporarily leaving the governor's chair to his political foe Herman Talmadge, son

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of the deceased governor-elect.

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Talmadge, whose claim to the governorship is supported by the state legislature, presents

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his side.

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The legislature elected me governor of Georgia by a vote of 161 to 87.

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I have accepted my election, have taken my oath of office, and am now at my desk attending

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to the duties of my office.

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Arnold's next step is to set up headquarters in the 20-foot square reception booth in the

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rotunda of the capitol building, where he maintains a firm attitude.

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I, Ellis Arnold, am governor of this state.

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I will continue to remain governor of Georgia until my legal successor, the lieutenant governor,

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can enter upon the discharge of the executive powers of the state government.

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I fear no man.

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I stand alone without the military to defend the Constitution and laws of Georgia and to

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preserve the rights of the people to see that the man they intended to be governor is installed

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and that this office is not given to a pretender and a usurper.

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Occupation of the governor's mansion is another bone of contention.

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Here Mrs. Talmadge and her children, escorted by state troopers, take up residence in the

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gubernatorial home, while Arnold is at his country place 30 miles away.

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This leaves the Herman Talmadges well entrenched in their opening moves for complete control.

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But all is not serene for long.

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Next, Mr. Arnold arrives to demand entrance, but possession being nine points of the law

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and with a husky trooper to back it up, Arnold returns once more to the capitol.

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Here Mr. Arnold is denied occupancy of his modest rotunda office in a heated argument

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with a burly state representative, James Dykes.

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In a final move, Arnold hands over the reins to Lieutenant Governor M.E. Thompson, who

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is also a Talmadge foe.

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Herman Talmadge refuses to turn over the executive offices to Thompson, who demands a Georgia

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court decision and who states his case as acting governor.

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My contention is that the people elected me lieutenant governor of the state of Georgia

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knowing that I would succeed to the governorship in an emergency which now exists.

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I have amended from the people which I must carry out.