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The Butler Herald
"KEEPING EVERLASTINGLY AT IT IS THE SECRET OP SUCCESS”
VOLLpept. of Archives I
General Library I
MllS University of Ga (
Byrd Tells Senate
In Opening Address
BUTLER, TAYLOR COUNTY, GEORGIA, THURSDAY, JANUARY 12, 1961.
NUMBER 15.
Lt. Gov. Urges Use of All
Remedies To Continue Public
Education In Georgia Schools
Lt. Gov. Garland Byrd told the
Georgia Senate at the opening of
the 1961 session Monday that it
must “seek ways and means of
continuing public education” in
the state.
Important Points
In Gov. Vandiver’s
‘State’ Speech
Here are important excerpts from
Gov. Vandiver’s “State of the
State” address as delivered to
members of the 1961 Georgia Gen
eral Assembly Monday morning:
SCHOOL INTEGRATION: “You
and I must now look to the edu
cation of Georgia youth. We must
intelligently preserve and protect
House Leader Says State Funds Cut Off
From 2 Segments of University; Bootle’s
Injunction Forbids Gov. Vandivers Action
Classes Remain Open With' General Assembly
Elects Officers for
Present Session
Surplus Funds Pending Act
ion By State Legislature.
with the will of the mothers and
fathers of Georgia and the best
interest of their children. We can-
Byrd, who previously has stayed no t abandon public education. No
away from such pronouncements, one wants this. No one has ever
also warned that Georgia, in its 1
present “unusual situation,” may
have to “take some radical treat-
ATLANTA—A Georgia lawmaker
said Tuesday night state funds to
the educational process consistent | two segments of the University of
Georgia have been cut off despite
federal court orders forbidding such
action by the state over the integra-
ment in order to live.”
“I think we should try the use
of every known remedy until we
find a cure for our present ail
ment,” the lieutenant governor
added.
Byrd, president of the Senate,
made his declaration in behalf of
continuing public education a
short while before Gov. Vandiver,
in his state of the state message,
said the state cannot abandon pub
lic education.”
Before Byrd’s speech the Senate
organized. It elected Carl Sanders
of Augusta as president pro-tem.
Sanders, still acting as admin
istration floor leader, introduced
the Senate’s first bill—a compan
ion measure to the administra.
tion’s road maintenance bond is
sue. The Senate measure, endorsed
by 37 other senators, permits thr
State Highway Board to make ren
tal lease agreements on the roadf
which come under the mainten
ance program.
Simultaneously, the main bil'
calling for the $100 million bon:
issue was introduced in the House
Sanders also authored a riumbe
of other resolutions, one of whicl
said the Senate would keep the
same rules it had in the 1959-61
session “until further action by the
body.”
The Senate had 15 to 20 Atlantr
Negroes, led by Rev. L. H. Pitts, in
its gallery as spectators as it opn
ed. The Negroes first were denied
admittance, but were given passes
by Bryd’s office when Rev. Pitts as
sured Byrd they were “not a press
ure group,” but were there to ob
serve the Legislature in action.
Five judges of the State Court of
Appeals administered oaths to the
senators. They are Justces Jule
Felton, J. M. C. Townsend, H. E
Nichols, John S. Bell and Robert
Jordan.
The senate renamed G. D. Stew
art as its secretary, picked Kelly
Quillian as messenger and Henry
Castleman as doorkeeper.
The lieutenant governor began
his message by saying that not
in his lifetime or in 100 years
“have the problems and the chal
lenges been as serious, and as com
pelling as they are at this very
moment.”
Byrd dealt with three problems
facing the state in his speech. He
listed them as the "plight of our
highways,” adavneement of the
state’s general economy and edu
cation — including maintaining
segregation.
He commended to the Senate the
administration’s road maintenance
bond program.
Byrd pointed to the loss of popu
lation by some counties, the drop
in farms and farm jobs, and the
need for more industry to furnish
work for Georgians.
Byrd said he has not changed
his stand for complete segregation
of the races. But he also said both
the majority and the minority re
port of the Sibley committee on
schools “offer suggestions for your
consideration”
“We cannot settle this matter by
demagaguery or by disorder or by
violence,” Byrd concluded.
proposed that be done.
“As governor . . . and in league
with the overwhelming majority
tion question.
George L. Smith, speaker of the
Georgia House of Representatives,
said the funds were being cut off
of the people of Georgia, I propose j because of the admission of two
that this hstoric General Assembly j^ e g ro students to the state school
take the necessary action to afford .... r
to the parents and children of this at At ens> tja '
state a new protection. | Federal Judge W. A. Bootle of
“The administration at this ses- the Middle Georgia District Court
sion will present for your con- in Macon, earlier Tuesday issued
sideration a child protection , an injunction forbidding Gov.
amendment designed to guarantee | Ernegt Va(ndiver and state Auditor
wery Georgia child his God-given j , T . .
right to freedom of association and l B- E- Thrasher Jr. from keeping
under no circumstances could a
jhild be forced to attend a school
Mrs. Livingston
Dies Sunday
Of Heart Attack
City of Butler
Mayor-Council
Election Saturday
vhere intolerable conditions exist”
NEW TAXES: “I am gratified to
eport to you today that . . • the
/andiver administration will not
isk the General Assembly session
or a single tax increase.”
FINANCIAL CONDITION: “ . . .
Jtate income equals outgo . . . cur-
;ent commitments are being met
. . . There is a modest surplus of
4 million.”
SCHOOL BUILDING: “Sixty mil-
ion dollars in state funds and $45
million in local funds” are buying
B. E. Thrasher Jr. from
state money from the school.
Under the 1956 Appropriations
Act, the state cannot supply funds
to integrated schools. Another sec
tion of the law requires that any
school admitting Negro students
must automatically close. Bootle’s
injunction stopped such action by
state officials.
But Smith, an authoritative voice
for the .administration and for gen
eral state policies, said the funds
had been cut off despite the in
junction.
“It is my understanding and in
terpretation that under the laws
Atlknta, Ga. — The General As
sembly cleared the decks for fast
action on the school integration
crisis.
Sen. Carl Sanders of Augusta was
re-elected president pro-tem of the
Senate and George Smith of
Emanuel county was re-elected as
speaker of the House. Both were
namtd without opposition.
Also elected in the Senate with
out opposition were:
Ggorge Stewart, Atlanta, secre
tary.
Kelly Quillian of Winder, mes
senger.
Henry Castleman of College Park
doorkeeper.
Stewart was named for his 7th
consecutive two year term.
Other House officers were:
R. L. Scoggins, Floyd County,
speaker pro-tem.
Glenn Ellard of Cornelia, clerk.
Elmo Thrash, Valdosta, messen
ger.
Ed Moses of Montgomery county
doorkeeper-
Frank Twitty, of Mitchell coun
ty, administration floor leader.
J. C. Underwood, Montgomery
county, assistant administration
floor leader.
All were elected without opposi
tion.
Mrs. Peggy Sue Bulloch Livings- Alfonzo McCrary and Tom E.
ton, wife of Mr. Garrett Van Liv- „ .... ,,
ingston, died suddenly Sunday Gl,es Candidates For Mayor.
afternoon at 2:30 O’clock in Rey- 9 geek 5 Council Posts
nolds with a heart attack.
Mrs. Livingston was the daughter
of the late Silas Bulloch Livingston
and Deborah Ray Bulloch, born
July 16, 1908 at McRae, Ga. Mrs.
Livingston had made her home in I
Reynolds for a number of years
and was a member of the Methodist
Church.
Funeral services were held at the
Reynolds Methodist Church Tues
day at 3:00 p. m- with Rev. Virgil
Culpepper, pastor of the Church,
officiating. He was assisted by Rev.
Bob. Whiddon. Interment was in
Hill Crest cemetery.
Pallbearers included Joe Goodroe,
Ed Swearingen, Bob Swearingen,
Henry Hobbs, Jimmy Childree, Dix
ie Harrell.
Survivors include husband, G. V.
Livingston; two daughters, Mrs. Ju
lian Whatley, Reynolds; Mrs. Ha
rold Posey, Limestone, Maine;
three sisters, Mrs. Dan Avery, Ame- I will be declared the winners,
ricus, Ga.; Mrs. Mae Avery and 1 Two candidates are seeking the
Mrs. Johnny Pate, both of Tampa, | office of Mayor. They are incum-
Fla.; one brother, Silas Roy Bui- j bent, Mr. Alfonso McCrary and
Citizens of Butler will go to the
polls Saturday to elect a Mayor
and five Councilmen to serve the
City during the next two years.
The election booth will be in
the Superior Court Clerk’s Office
in the local court house. Polls
will open Saturday morning at 7
o’clock and will close at 7 p. m.
of the same day.
Those persons eligible to vote
in Saturday’s election must have
been a qualified voter in the past
general election and a resident of
Butler for at least 30 days prior to
the election.
The candidate receiving the
highest number of votes in the
Mayor’s race will be declared the
winner. The five candidates re
ceiving the highest number of
votes in the councilmans’ contest
iew grade schools and high of the state of Georgia as of today,
•Chools throughout the state. when the two Negro students were
TmTWRQTTY SYSTFM EXPAN- admitted to the university the funds
UNIVERSITY SYSTEM^ exp ^ for the cone g e of arts and sciences
and of journalism were cut off”,
loch and five grandchildren.
Goddard Funeral Home was
charge of arrangements.
Four Year Term
For State Senators
Being Advocated
in
19 Killed in Fire
In Frisco Hotel
San Francisco, Calif. — Nineteen
persons, mostly aged pensioners,
died Friday when a predawn fire
in a tenant’s mattress turned a
down town hotel into a torch.
Nearly 40 persons were injured
two critically.
The tenant, Raymond Gorman,
escaped almost unharmed. He was
booked by police on a charge of
manslaughter.
Lt George Kelly of the arson
squad said Gorman admitted he
had been drinking heavily.
Fire started in his room on the
ground floor of the Thomas Hotel.
TON: Currently
iparate building projects costing
'33-5 million” underway. These in-
lude a university coliseum, a new
narmacy building, and a fine arts
nter. At Ga. Tech nlens are
underway for a. new chemical-ce-
■amic engineering building and a
new electrical engineering build-
ng.
MENTAL HEALTH: “ . . . We
lave underway an $18 million
tuilding program,” and Ga. is
noving “nearer to our goal — a
nental health program in Georgia
:econd to none in the nation.
HOSPITAL: “During the first
wo years of this administration
here have been 55 projects in
volving hospitals and other medi
cal facilities totaling $24 million.”
TRAINING SCHOOLS: “We have
Instituted ... a planned systemat
ic schedule of improvements at the
uvenile training schools to
taling $2 million. ”
CORRECTIONS: "... .Prelimi
nary plans are completed and a
dte has been selected ... for a new
ndustrial prison ... to cost ap
proximately $4 million. Add to that
two new security wing additions
at Reidsville, costing $632,000”
EDUCATION: “State expenditure
for common school education . ^ .
has been increased” since 1958 “by
a total of $29 million dollars.”
HEALTH .... There has been
an increase of $4.5 million during
the past two years,” including $2
million spent ta Milledgeville,
$500,000 for 100 new beds at the
Talmadge Memorial hospital, $850-
000 for Gracewood operations and
$1 million for other health serv
ices.
WELFARE: “. . . Total assistance
benefit payments have climbed $5
million. Nearly 2,000 dependent
children and 6,000 disabled per
sons have been addeu to the
rolls.”
HIGHWAY REFORM: “We have
a highway budget $10 million high
er than ever before. Georgia 'has
advanced from . . . .25th to 13th in
the nation in total miles of inter
state work completed.
NATIONAL GUARD ARMORIES:
“New armories costing $2 million
have been authorized for 10 areas
of the state.’
Byrd Will Push
County Unit
Revision Bill
Smith said.
The Negro students are Char-
layne Hunter - , 18, and Hamilton
Holmes, 19, both of Atlanta. Miss
Hunter was admitted to the school
of journalism and Holmes to the
college of arts and sciences.
There were indications that
Smith made his statement as a de
claration of existing fact and not
as speculation on any move the
state government might make in
an effort to by-pass Bootle’s in
junction.
Vandiver himself wired Bootle
he would net defy the injunction,
although he considered the court
order a usurpation of legislative
prerogatives but his telegram was
silent on the question of whether
the injunction would achieve its
intended effort.
Bootle named only two defend
ants in the injunction—Vandiver
and the state auditor- Complexities
of government operation bring nu
merous other officials into the ope
ration of disbursing state funds.
This new development apparent-!p j f-.-L
ly means that while the two seg- Vaeorgia UOatn
ments of the university have been
cut off from receiving further state
funds, they may continue to ope
rate with what money they have
on hand not be forced to close im
mediately.
Atlanta, Ga — Lt. Gov. Byrd is
planning to try to push a signifi-
•anl revision in the county unit
system thru the General Assembly
if Gov. Vandiver doesn’t do so, it
has been learned.
A reliable source close to Byrd
said the lieutenant governor and
others have made some attempts
o get Vandiver behind a program
“to save the unit system from
destruction at the hands of the
courts’... by making broad changes
in it. So far, the Governor has re
fused, the source disclosed.
Byrd reportedly already has a
revision plan mapped out to pre
sent to the new legislature which
would not take away any of the
county unit strength curentlqy as-
ingned to small counties but which
would “add significantly" to the
relative strentth of Bibb, Fulton [
and other large counties.
Griffith Picked
Mr. Tom Giles.
Nine candidates seek the five
places on the Board of Council-
men. These are: Incumbents, W- W.
Horlman, Alfred Kenncn, Marvin
Peed, James T. Smith and H. D.
Taunton. Also Luke Adams, Billy
Amos, J. E. (Gene) Bone and Oatis
Rowe.
I Byrd Backs $100
Million Highway
Construction Issue
Atlanta, Ga. — Lt. Gov. Garland
Byrd endorsed a $100 million bond
issue for highway reconstruction as
“the only feasible and practical
way to provide these needed im
provements without a tax in
crease.”
Fyrd said, “No major improve
ments have been made on (pri
mary and secondary) highways
since they were built more than
20 years ago. During this iterim,
our traffic volume has more than
tripled.”
His endorsement of the program
was added to that of the Vandiver
administration, which has worked
out details of the piogram after
the State Highway Department said
a survey showed 6,000 miles of
state roads need repair.
Former Taylor
Countian Promoted
By Red Cross
Georgia Legislature
Began Its Session
Monday Morning
Athens, Ga. — Johnny L. Grif
fith became the 18th head foot
ball coach of the University of Ga.
Friday, succeeding Wallace Butts
who ended a record 22 year regime
which covered the institution’s
highest moments in athletics, dis
tressing at some times but most
definitely never dull.
Dr. O. C. Aderhold, president of
the university, invited members of
the press into the meeting of the
university athletic board at noon
The Georgia General Assembly , ar >d made the announcement of
began a momentous session Mon- | Griffith s appointment, en 1 g
day — with some of Gov. Vandi- I hectic period of specula ion ‘
ver’s legislative leaders exhibiting began when Butts resigna ion a
small signs of rebellion if he revealed Dec. 22.
chooses not to move far enough | Griffith was present as r-
and quickly enough on some of the hold made che^ all .no u ncern _
more important issues.
Four year staggered terms for |
Georgia state senators with half
the Senate being elected each two
years is a simple but effecitve ap
proach to strengthening that body
We hope the General Assembly
will authorize submitting to the
people, thru a constitutional
amendment, the four year stag
gered term proposal of the State
Senate Reorganization Study Com
mittee.
That committee headed by Sen.
Carlisle of Macon has made an
intensive study. It has sifted throu
gh numerous proposals. The final
recommendation offers greatest
hope of accomplishment with least
disruption of the present system.
At the same time, it achieves the
badlyneeded continuity of service
that a Senate should have to fulfill
its proper function.
The committee’s report that Geor
gia is the only state which, by sta
tute, prohibits continuity in office
of state senators should be a tipoff
that revision is needed.
Four Candidates
In Race for Macon
County Ordinary
Clifton B. Byrd of Reynolds was
A special election to name an j recently promoted to District Rep
resentative of the American Red
Cross work at Jeffersonville, Byron
and Robins Air Force Base with
headquarters at Robins.
Affiliated with Red Cross since
February, 1950, Mr. Byrd has
worked with all branches of the
armed forces in the United States,
Far East, Puerto Rica and in
Europe.
He is a graduate of Reynolds
High School, Young Harris and and
Jhe University of Alabama and is
a son of Mr. and Mrs. C. B. Byrd
of Reynolds.
Annual Mayors’ Day
Set For January 31
Miss Sandra Gentry
Selected Peach Queen
House floor leader Frank Twitty
pointed out such a possibility Sat
urday when he boldly declared he
did not believe the governor would
permit the University of Georgia to
be closed down because of the
integration crisis.
This statement was made by the
veteran legislator, who served also
as floor leader during the Herman
Talmadge administration, hours
“Gentlemen, I think it is super
fluous to make this announce
ment,” Dr. Aderhold said.
“The University of Ga. Athletic
Board has just appointed Johnny
Griffith head football coach. This
comes after making a careful study
for three weeks of all applicants.
It is the opinion of the board that
Johnny will do a fine job of
coaching at the University of Ga.”
Sitting at the horseshoe-shaped
table while the announcement was
Ordinary for Macon county is an
nounced for Jan. 11th.
The four candidates for this
post are: Marvin Athon, V. B. Car
ter, George Oakley and Mrs. Janie
Robinson.
Marvin Athon, 55 year old resi
dent of Montezuma, was born and
reared in the Englishville com
munity of Macon County. He at
tended Central School in that com
munity and completed his educa
tion in Ellaville High school.
Son of the late Mr. and Mrs. C.D.
Athon, Mr- Athon was engaged in
Ihe construction business 20 years.
He is a member of the First Baptist
church.
Mr. Athon married the former
Ruby Childs of Ideal and they
have two children.
Robert Swearingen Jr.
Makes Dean’s List at
Mercer Law School
before Gov. Vandiver made an 7'being made was Coach Butts,
Taylor County Poach Queen was | public dectaxation at all on hie
selected Saturday night in the
Butler High School Cafeteria. San
dra Gentry won first and Betty
Willis, second place.
Sandra wil attend the Peach
Growers Convention and take part
in the Georgia Peach Queen Con-
test January 18th at the Griffin
auditorium.
plans for Athens
It is known also that Lt. Gov.
Byrd, presiding officer of the
state senate, is ready to move to
ward making the county unit sps-
tem more equitable if Gov. Van
diver sticks to his campaign decla
ration of keeping it “inviolate”
during His term.
whose resignation as head coach
had been accepted and whose con
tinuation in the position of ath
letic directo has been confirmed.
Griffith, 36 year old is a Ga. stu
dent who served on the athletic
staff since 1956. In 1959 he became
head freshman and has been in
charge of the player recruitment
program.
Five students of the Walter F.
George School of Law at Mercer
University have been named to the
dean’s list for the fall quarter.
Dean James C. Quarles said the
students have grades of 78 or bet
ter for the quarter and comprise
less than the highest five per cent
in scholarship in the school.
The honor students are W. B.
Sparks III, J. L. Kaplan and R- L.
Steed of Macon, R. L. Swearingen
Jr., of Reynolds and T. H. McPeters
on Fontans, Calif.
Swearingen was named winner
of the Geo. B. Counsel Memorial
Award as the student who earned
the highest scholastic average on
all courses taken during the fall
quarter.
Georgia’s Third Annual Mayor’s
Day, at which city and town offi
cials entertain members of the
General Assembly, has been set for
Jan 31.
W. E. George, Executive Direc
tor of the Ga. Municipal Associa
tion which sponsors Mayors’ Day,
said this year’s event is expected
to be the largest yet.
Mayors, Councilmen and city ot-
ficials from throughout Georgia
will visit the General Assembly on
Jan. 31.
That night, a dinner will ‘be
served at the Dinkier Plaza for
members of the General Assembly
and State Officials.
Based on the attendance in pre
vious years, 1,000 persons will at
tend the dinner, Mr. George said.
Last year’s Mayors’ Day was
highlighted by the announcement
of the settlement of a disagree
ment on proposed legislation be
tween the Ga. Municipal Associa
tion and the Ga. Electric Member
ship Co-ops.