Newspaper Page Text
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VENIN vT
By Quimby Melton
Griffin High’s Eagles will play
their first home game of t h e
1968 football season Friday ni
ght. Gordon, of DeKalb, will be
the visiting team.
We expect the Eagles, though
still handicapped with Injuries,
to play a good game and come
out winners. We’ll not attempt to
give the score, leaving that to
Major Hoople, but we do expect
the margin of our victory to be
at least one touchdown.
The weather man is predict
ing the rains will end before
Friday night, but even if It shou
ld not, there will be plenty of
Eagle fans on hand for the
game. Griffin has always been
loyal to their team, win, lose or
draw.
This long-time fan expects to
be in the stands when the whist
le blows to start the game.
— * —
The first home game will have
all the features and fanfare of
home played games.
The Eagle Band will be there,
in their new uniforms, for the
half-time spectacular;
The cheerleaders will be on
hand to whip up enthusiasm;
And the pretty sponsors and
their escorts will be on hand to
add beauty to the game.
The game will be played on
a greatly improved playing field,
and fans will notice a change of
the goal posts.
The new goal posts will be like
those used in college games, by
the professionals, and in many
high schools. The crossbars will
be directly over the goal line.
This reduces the distance field
goal kickers have to kick the
ball by 10 yards, and should re
sult in more field goal attempts.
The goal posts are held up by
a single shaft, which will be be
hind the goal line and well pad
ded. The crossbars will be ang
led so as to be over the goal
line. The crossbar will be the
same 10 feet above the ground,
but the side bars will extend 20
feet above the crossbar making
it much easier for the spectators
to see if the kick goes through
the proper space to be counted.
Then there is another thing
worth remembering. Every time
a team makes a first down, ne
cessitating moving the chains,
the clock stops until the lines
men have established the proper
position of the chain.
Hope to see a record crowd at
Memorial Stadium Friday night.
Every morning, when Good
Evening, gets ready to come to
the office he turns on his radio.
By the time we are shaving the
program is usually that of a
preacher-philosopher whose mes
sage is most interesting.
This morning he said some
people thought it would be a good
idea to be able to move to some
distant island where they could
get away from the cares and
worries of this unsettled world.
Then he went on to say one cou
ld create an “inner island’’, ri
ght at home, by taking time to
think of things, away from the
madning world.
We agree with him. But the
more we thought about that idea
of some who would like to go to
a “far away island” the more we
thought how miserable one would
be; for on such an island, while
one might at first be happy,
before long they would become
lonesome. And we can imagine
no more miserable state than to
be all alone, without friends,
without loved ones, to brighten
one’s life.
But on an "inner island” one
will never be lonesome. One will
know that their Heavenly Fath
er is with them; and that their
loved ones and friends are quick
ly available and love them in
spite of one’s many shortcom
ings.
One of the best definitions we
know of a true friend is “One
who known all about you and yet
loves you.”
No Comment,
Bolton Says
Atty. Gen. Arthur Bolton to
day said “no comment” on the
resignations of the so called “ca
pital clique" Democrats.
The Griffin Daily News con
tacted Bolton at his Atlanta of
fice but the Georgia Attorney
General declined to say anyth
ing about the Democrats who
said they would join the Repub
lican Party.
Bolton, a native of Griffin, con
tinues to make his home here.
No Deals With GOP - Bentley
By CHARLES S. TAYLOR
ATLANTA (UPD—James L.
Bentley Jr., who resigned from
the Democratic Party to join
the Republicans, said early to
day that the GOP made him no
promises to get him to switch.
“I don’t believe in political
deals,” Bentley said. “I haven’t
sought any favors.”
In an interview at his home
early today following the dram
atic political crossover Wednes
day night, Bentley also denied
that his defection with four oth
er top Democrats was a group
decision.
“We did have conversations
but there were no clandestine
meetings,” he said.
“This is a very Individual ex
pression here by me. I have not
talked to any of these gentle-
hour SERvicF *
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(Griffin Daily News Staff Photo)
A Cordele man was pinned for 30 minutes in the wreckage of this car at U. S. 41 and East College street.
10 Injured In
Area Wrecks
Ten people were Injured In tr
affic accidents Wednesday Inves
tigated by the Griffin State Pat
rol and the Griffin Police De
partment.
Five were injured in a three
car collision at U. S. 41 and East
College street a mile south of
Griffin.
Jimmy C. Goodman, 19, of Cor-
Student Paper
Takes Poll On
President’s Race
Editor Robby Holmes of the
Griffin High "Eagle’s View,”
student newspaper, said the re
sults of a straw presidential poll
taken on campus will be an
nounced in the newspaper in a
few weeks.
The newspaper staff conduct
ed the poll to sample student op
inion on the current campaigns.
Country Parson
“Experience is what keeps
a fellow from doing the
wrong thing — after he’s al
ready done it.”
DAILY NEWS
Daily Since 1872
men you mentioned in a group
in several weeks.
Future at Stake
"This shift is very funda
mental to me. It’s almost like
religion. It involves my home,
my family, and my future.”
Bentley said that although he
expects to run for office next
time as a Republican he will
honor his “contract” as a Dem
ocrat in November and vote
for his “warm friend” Sen.
Herman Talmadge and other
top state Democrats.
He declined to say whether he
would cast his vote for Repub
lican Richard M. Nixon in the
presidential race over Demo
crat Hubert Humphrey.
It has been no secret that
Bentley, now a boyish 41, would
seek the governorship In 1970. He
gave no indication of that in
dele, who was pinned in the
wreckage for approximately 30
minutes, suffered a fractured
skull and other head injuries.
Frank Dowdy, 18, of Abbyville,
who was in the same car, suffer
ed cuts, bruises and abrasions.
Mrs. Mary Cato, 66, of Atlan
ta, suffered a broken left leg,
fractured left ankle, broken ribs
and head and facial injuries.
She was a passenger in a car
driven by Lindsey Cato, also of
Atlanta. He suffered lacerations
to his head and Injuries to h 1 s
left arm.
Mrs. Wanda Stickler of Cincin
nati, Ohio, a passenger in the
third automobile, suffered back
injuries. She was asleep on the
back seat of the automobile ai|d
was thrown into the floor when
the car hit the wreckage of the
first two automobiles.
Mrs. Cato and Goodman were
treated in the emergency room
at the Griffin-Spalding County
Hospital and transferred to At
lanta hospitals. Cato, Dowdy and
Mrs. Stickler were treated in the
emergency room and dismissed.
Cpl. A. W. Murphy of the Grif
fin State Patrol said the car
carrying Goodman and Dowdy
skidded out of control on the
rain-slick highway and was st
ruck in the side by the Cato car.
The third car carrying three
tourists from Cincinnati struck
the wreckage of the first two au
tomobiles.
Goodman was pinned in the
wreckage for approximately 30
minutes. Wreckers had to be us
ed to tear away part of the auto
mobile to free him.
Cpl. Murphy estimated damage
to the three automobiles at $3,-
000.
A five-year-old Griffin girl was
treated at the Griffin-Spalding
Hospital for injuries she suf
fered when she ran into the path
of an automobile on South Ninth
at Oak street.
GRIFFIN
Griffin, Ga., 30223, Thursday, September 19, 1968
Annie Lou Evans of 527 South
Ninth street was treated for
bruises to her right side.
A police report said she ran In
to the path of a car driven by
Bredina K. Zuberer of 306 South
18th street, Griffin. The car was
not damaged.
Two children were injured in a
two car collision on North Hill
street.
Sherwlck T. Willis, seven, of 841
Beck street, Griffin, suffered cuts
on his head and Willie Kendrick,
six, also of 841 Beck street, suf
fered cuts on his head. Both
were treated at the Griffin-Spal
ding County Hospital.
They were passengers in a car
driven by Lucy Mae Willis, of
841 Beck street. Patricia Ann
Leonard, of 1321 Spellman ave
nue, Griffin, was driver of the
other car.
A police report said the car
driven by Lucy Mae Willis ran
into the rear of the Leonard au
tomobile. Damage was estima
ted at S3OO.
A Griffin man was injured in
an accident at the Intersection
of U. S. 41 and Georgia 333 a
mile north of Barnesville.
Ronald Clark Byars, 32, of 517
West Quilley street, was treated
at the Griffin-Spalding Hospital
for a laceration to his lip. He
was the driver of one of the cars
involved.
Driver of the other car was
listed as Russell Emil Carlson,
69, of St. Petersburg, Fla. Dam
age was estimated at S9OO,
John E. Farmer, 27, of Litho
nia, was treated at a Covington
Hospital for a fractured left
arm suffered in an accident 13
miles north of McDonough in
Henry County on the Fairview
road.
Farmer was driver of one of
the cars involved. The other car
was driven by Clarence W. Gard
ner, 41, of Atlanta. Damage was
estimated at SSOO.
the interview.
But in his letter of resigna
tion to State Democratic Chair
man James Gray Bentley said,
“It is my intention to make my
next offer for public office in
the Republican primary.”
Reasons for Change
Bentley said the Democratic
organization in Georgia is “pret
ty well decimated.”
Giving some of his reasons
for his sudden, dramatic action,
—a move that touched off a
political upheaval over the
state, Bentley said "I would
foresee a pretty hard shift to
the left over a period of time”
for the Georgia Democratic or
ganization.
Red-eyed and weary looking,
Bentley indicated there will be
more party resignations handed
to Gray. He declined to say who
Griffin Man
Will Have
Kidney Switch
“I ask the people of Griffin to
pray for me,” Donald Crowder
said this morning from Emory
University Hospital.
“I am confident everything
will be all right but I need the
prayers of my friends."
Mr. Crowder, who lives on
Route Two, Griffin, is in Emory
University Hospital awaiting a
kidney transplant.
It could come in the next few
weeks.
Mr. Crowder, a former emplo
ye of Dundee Mill No. 5, said
that his brother, F. M. Crowder,
who is serving in the Navy at
Pensacola, Fla., will be the do
nor.
“He has passed several exa
minations. Several other exa
minations are planned. If he
passes those, then the transplant
will be made soon,” Mr. Crow
der said.
It was learned months ago
that Mr. Crowder had serious
kidney trouble. He has been in
and out of hospitals since the
first of the year.
He entered Emory Hospital ab
out three weeks ago for addition
al treatment and the possible
transplant.
"I’m hoping and praying that
everything will be OK. I want
my friends in Griffin to pray for
me. This is a tremendous bur
den,” Mr. Crowder said.
“It’s hard for me to explain
my feelings.
“I have never been a beggar.
“In addition to needing the
prayers of everyone, I also need
some financial help. The trans
plant operation is very expen
sive. I can’t afford it. I will
lose everything I have.”
“It’s hard for me to ask for
help. But I really need it," Mr.
Crowder said.
The Griffinite said he felt
fine today.
"I have confidence. I believe
everything will be all right,” he
said.
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Jimmy Bentley
Capital Clique
Quitting Party
Five To Switch
To Republicans
By DON PHILLIPS
ATLANTA (UPD — Five top
state officials representing the
“moderate” wing of the Demo
cratic Party, resigned from the
party today in one of the big
gest upheavals in state political
history.
All five said they would offer
for office again as Republicans.
Comptroller General James L.
Bentley. Agriculture Commis
sioner Phil Campbell, State
Treasurer Jack Ray, Public
Service Commission Chairman
Crawford Pilcher and PSC
member Alpha Fowler sent let
ters of resignation to top party
officials. The letter arrived to
day.
Four of the five confirmed
directly they had resigned
Campbell said he would have
no comment until he returned
to Georgia Friday from a con
ference in Myrtle Beach, S. C.
However, high Democratic
sources said Campbell’s letter
was received in party head
quarters along with the other
four.
State Democratic executive
secretary Joe Sports said he
would withhold comment on the
resignations until later in the
day.
The five men are part of the
“Capitol clique”, a tight group
of political friends, all close poli
tical allies of Sen. Herman
Talmadge, who said in Washing
ton he had no intention of leav
ing the Democratic Party.
Pilcher said in his letter he
would not support Hubert Hum
phrey for president. Although
the other four men were not as
blunt, it was reported that Hum
phrey’s desertion of the regular
Georgia delegation at the Dem
ocratic convention had turned
all five men against him. They
had been considered Humphrey
supporters until the Chicago
convention.
"As a participant in the re
cent Democratic primary in the
state of Georgia, I made cer
tain commitments that I will
fulfill,” Pilcher said. “This com
mitment did not include the
Democratic candidate for presi
dent who was selected by some
illegal and disqualified dele
gates.”
Ray said his letter simply
said he was resigning and would
offer for office next time as a
Republican.
Bentley’s letter of resignation,
apparently the most outspoken
of the five, blamed his decision
on the violence and other prob
lems the nation has experienced
under the Democratic adminis
tration.
“I share the feeling of the
beleaguered masses of this state
who have wearied of undiscip
lined violence, had economics,
teeming inconsistencies and
reckless fiscal attitudes,” he
said.
Bentley invited others to fol
low his example.
Republicans hailed the actions
as "great news”.
“It might mean that the Re
publican Party could be
come the majority party a whole
Vol. 95 No. 224
he thought would step out.
Bentley is serving his second
four-year term as comptroller
general. He said he had sev
eral conversations with Tal
madge concerning his switch.
“He and I are exceedingly
warm friends. We will continue
to be," Bentley said.
Senator Concerned
He said in his talks with Tal
madge, the Georgia senator ex
pressed “some concern” about
conditions in the Democratic
Party but Bentley declined to
discuss details of the conver
sations.
“I thought about this for more
than a year,” Bentley said. “I
received hundreds of invitations
for the Republican Party, some
of them rather serious over
tures.”
In this letter to Gray in which
lot quicker than it would other
wise,” said Howard (Bo) Calla
way, who almost won the gov
ernorship for the GOP in 1966.
But former Rep. Carl Vinson,
honorary chaiirman of “Geor
gians for Humphrey,” said It
as “bad news” and expressed
regret that the men were leav
ing the Democrats.
The “clique” was considered
the backbone of the Democratic
middle ground between Gov.
Lester Maddox on the right and
Negro State Rep. Julian Bond
on the left.
The defection was viewed as
a result of the bitter credentials
fight between two Georgia dele
gations at the Democratic Na
tional Convention in Chic»go last
month. A convention compro
mise divided Georgia’s seats
equally between the regular
delegation and a group of chal
lengers led by Bond. Many
were insulted by the arrange
ment.
Maddox, who left the conven
tion in a huff, said Wednesday
night that he was remaining a
Democrat.
“I can’t see going out of the
skillet into the frying pan,”
said the governor, a frequent
critic of both major parties.
Maddox supports third party
presidential candidate George
Wallace.
Bond said the Democratic
Party 'needs all the people it
can get—those people who agree
with me and those people who
disagree with me.”
Some Georgia politicians saw
the defection as boosting GOP
presidential candidate Richard
M. Nixon’s chances in the state,
which went for Barry Goldwat
er in 1964.
Fowler, in resigning from the
party, said “I just didn’t like
what I saw in Chicago.”
Bentley said when asked what
effect his action would have on
the Democratic Party, “There’s
hardly much Democratic Party
left.”
State Democratic Chairman
James Gray was not available
for comment, but state party
secretary Joe Sports said, “I
would hope these people would
take a long look at the present
situation before they desert the
Democratic Party that has
meant so much to the state.
“We’ve gone through crisis
before and we’ve survived,” he
said.
State Republican Chairman G.
Paul Jones said he figured a
change was Imminent after the
Chicago convention. “I hope
they will all be active,” he said
of the defectors.
Out Os Town
Jimmy Goolsby, chairman of
the Spalding Democratic Party,
and Troy Mays, chairman of the
Spalding Republican Party, both
were out of town today and cou
ld not be contacted for comment
on the resignations of several
top Georgia Democrats.
Bentley resigned both as a
Democrat and a member of the
Democratic Executive Commit
tee, Bentley said his family had
participated in political affairs
of the party for seven genera
tions.
“ lam profoundly grateful for
these repeated opportunities for
my family and me to render
service,” he said. “This deci
sion to conclude an historic link
is based upon much time, lit
erally upon my knees, seeking
wise direction.
“I share the feeling of the be
leaguered masses of this state
who have wearied of undis
ciplined v1 o1 enc e, bad econ
omics, teeming inconsistencies
and reckless fiscal attitudes.”
No Decision,
Flynt Says
After Switches
Rep. John J. Flynt, Jr., of Grif
fin said today that he had no de
cision to make at this time in
the wake of the resignations of
five top Georgia Democrats
from the party.
The Sixth District Congress
man told the Griffin Daily News:
"My obligation, responsibility
and loyalty are to the Sixth Dis
trict of Georgia and to its peo
ple. While it is true a great
many people are upset over the
treatment which was given Ge
orgians in Chicago, I don’t think
any major decision should be
based on either anger or emo
tion but should be based solely
on mature and reasoned judg
ment.”
"I have no decision to make at
this time and when I do, I’ll
make it in Georgia within the
Sixth District because that’s
where my responsibilities, obli
gations and loyalties are,” he
said.
The Atlanta Constitution this
morning quoted Rep. Flynt as
saying he was still undecided
whether to switch to the Re
publican Party.
Flynt is a ranking member of
the House Appropriations Com
mittee.
Escapee From
Spalding Prison
Caught In N. J.
TRENTAN, N. J. (UPD—A
convicted robber who escaped
from a Georgia prison camp in
July was arrested by the FBI
in a Trenton apartment late
Wednesday.
R. W. Bachmann, FBI chief
in New Jersey, said Robert V.
Gardner, 26, escaped July 5
from the Spalding County public
work camp at Griffin, Ga.,
where he was serving a 20-year
term for robbery.
GOP Chairman
Doesn’t Want
Lester Maddox
ATLANTA (DPI)—Gov. Les
ter Maddox turn Republican?
"Horrors!” indicates Georgia
GOP chairman G. Paul Jones.
Maddox has no such inten
tion, and said so Wednesday
when two top state officials
bolted the Democratic Party for
the GOP. But Jones wanted to
make his party’s stand known
on such a possibility.
"I want to make it crystal
clear that we are not asking,
and I personally would vigor
ously oppose, any action on the
part of Lester Maddox to affili
ate with the Republican Party,”
Jones said.
"He has been primarily re
sponsible for destroying the
Democratic Party in Georgia,
and we cannot permit him to
have that effect on the Repub
lican Party."