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A Look at Georgia Politics
By Jerry McLaurin
Staff Writer
As the June 12th deadline
for registration drew closer
the number of qualified
candidates for the offices of
governor and lieutenant
governor of Georgia grew
even larger. y
Bill Laite, former Bibb
County legislator and state
corrections official, qualified
as a Democratic candidate
for lieutenant governor on
Wednesday, June 5. Laite is
taking an adamant pro
capital punishment stand. He
is advocating legislation that
would require that persons
convicted and sentenced to
death be executed in the
county where the crime was
committed. According to
Laite, “...it would be
cheaper and easier to move
the electric chair to each
county, the county where the
crime was committed, in
stead of moving the prisoner
to Reidsville.”
On another note, Laite said
that if he’s elected, there will
be “town hall meetings”
throughout the state “so that
people can relate to the
lieutenant governor.”
Upon qualification, Laite
took a shot at Zell Miller who
is popularly thought of as the
front runner in the lieutenant
governor’s race, saying that
his (Miller’s) campaign is
dying, “The people are
seeing that he is a George
McGovern Jimmy Carter
man and the bottom is falling
out of the bucket. I don’t even
view him as a contender
anymore.”
In 1969, Laite was convict
ed on federal perjury
charges connected with an
indictment of wage and hour
violations on a construction
job he directed in Texas. He
served time from Nov., 1969
New
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to April 1970.
June 4, State Sen. Max
Cleland, D.— Lithonia
qualified for the lieutenant
governor’s race. Cleland, a
Vietnam veteran and triple
amputee promised to change
the function of the lieutenant
governor’s office. His ideas
represent the most sweeping
of all the candidates. He
pledged to do away with the
lieutenant governor’s duty as
presiding officer of the
Senate and to cut the office
staff in half. He promised to
propose constitutional a
mendments to relieve the
lieutenant governor of his
legislative role, including the
power to assign pending
legislation to committees and
to make the office a part of
the executive branch of
government or aid to the
governor.
He said industry hunting
and liaison between state and
local governments might
also be considered as new
jobs for the lieutenant
governor.
He expressed a dislike of
the “civil war we’ve had
between the governor and
lieutenant governor.” He
pledged to work in harmony
even with Lester Maddox
should he be elected gover
nor. Cleland said he would
favor abolition of the office
“if the office cannot be made
to work better than it has in
the past.”
As an advocate of full
financial disclosure, Cleland
said he would file all
contributions and personal
income data with the
Secretary of State.
State Sen. Harry M.
Jackson, gubernatorial can
didate found himself in hot
water June 6, after making
an unexpected speech upon
being recognized from the
-’podium' ’* at the United
THE JACKSON PROGRESS-ARGUS, JACKSON, GEORGIA
Methodist South Georgia
Annual Conference held in
Columbus.
The furor developed when
Methodist officials question
ed the right of a politician to
speak in the church. Jackson
answered that in order to
bring morality back into
government, political lead
ers “should go to the
church,” rather than having
“the church come to govern
ment,” thereby belittling the
church.
William Sermans, a Val
dosta insurance salesman
and a volunteer worker at the
conference, said that church
gatherings are common
campaign forums for Geor
gia politicians. “Lester
(Maddox) has always used
the church. He hits the
churches pretty hard in his
campaigns”, he said.
June 6, Democratic guber
natorial candidate George T.
Smith disclosed his personal
financial assests ; he claimed
a net worth of $60,552.
Smith, a Marietta attorney
and former lieutenant gover
nor lost to Lester Maddox in
the 1970 race for the office of
lieutenant governor. His
financial statement revealed
ownership of $101,430 worth
of stock in the National Bank
of Grady County; the
statement also revealed
liabilities of notes payable in
the amount of $89,922.
Smith owes $26,400 to the
Capital City Bank in Hape
ville for debts from his 1970
bid for lieutenant governor
and $39,000 to the First
National Bank of Cobb
County for stock he bought in
the Grady County bank.
He claimed a yearly
income of $35,000 to $40,000
from his law practice plus
$10,035 per year in retire
ment pay for 16 years as a
legislator and lieutenant
When we redesigned
the C&S Charge Card we
decided to give it more
than anew look.
So we gave it more
to do. By making it a
check guarantee card.
That tells the more than
11,000 Georgia merchants
governor.
Smith, unlike most of the
candidates said that he would
not pledge to comply with the
disclosure law requirements
if it isn’t upheld by the high
court; he denounced the law
and called it a “millionaires
law” because it does not limit
a candidate’s personal in
vestment in his own cam
paign.
Smith is also opposed to the
controversial bank holding
company act, which would
allow large banks to buy up
small town banks through
holding companies. The
proposed legislation was
defeated in the 1974 General
Assembly session but is
expected to come up again in
1975.
A federal judge refused the
request for injunction by
white racist J. B. Stoner to
prohibit the city of Columbus
from removing his ads from
city buses. Judge J. Robert
Elliot said Stoner failed to
prove that those named in the
suit were responsible for
having the ads removed.
Stoner isn’t one to give up
easily however, he has two
more identical suits, one
each, filed in a Macon court
and in an Augusta court.
IN APPRECIATION
The Family of Ira T.
Fincher would like to express
their warm feeling of
gratitude for all the many
expressions of love shown
them and particularly Mr.
Fincher during his extended
illness. The friendship and
loyalty displayed by his
many friends lessened his
suffering and always lifted
his spirits and brought him
happiness. No one loved
people more than he, and
therefore he cherished his
visits, cards, and gestures of
friendship.' << <
who honor C&S Charge
Cards that your personal
C&S check is good.
Guaranteed up to SIOO
by C&S.
Ask about the new
C&S Charge Card at any
C&S office.
THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 1974
Van Deventer Stipend
Aids Day Care Center
K / Jr rahtegidl
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Mack Davis Presents Check to Mrs. Hearn
An auxiliary bank account
through donations from the
VFW Auxiliary, the Towaliga
Homemakers Club, the
American Legion Auxiliary,
and the 4-H Fireballs is being
given a shot in the arm by the
continued monthly check of a
SIOO contribution by the Van
Deventer Foundation. This
account is specified for the
Butts County Day Care and
Training Center.
An appreciable factor of
the account was expressed
by William Mack Davis,
Director, as he presented the
Foundation’s first monthly
check of SIOO in August 1973.
“The Foundation voted this
amount to be used by the Day
Care and Training Center in
meeting any costs deemed
necessary for any service the
Center participants may
need which are not stipulated
in State expenditures for its
operation,” Mr. Davis said.
In addition to this monthly
check the Foundation pre
sented each of the three
classrooms a portable tele
vision set to be used and
enjoyed by each as their
needs and interests warrant
ed. This generous gift has
been enjoyed by each of the
three groups since their
delivery in August 1973.
Plans by the Butts County
Association for Retarded
Children to expand services
has been materially helped
by the Foundation’s monthly
donation. The front porch of
the old Presbyterian
“manse” on Mulberry Street
is being enclosed to provide
office space. The Fund met
the cost of painting, screen
ing, and carpeting the
enclosed porch, thus provid
ing adequate office space,
GEORGIA
SO MUCH SO NEAR. |
Vacation time is near again. So are the good
__ times in Georgia. Our booklet will tell you
where to find all the fun. 11 reads like a
treasure map-with a prize at everv turn.
Send for GEORGIA DAYS,
some days
I Georgia Department of Community Development
Tourist Division- P O. Bex ySotr
Name
Bk state .. ■ Zip -
. _ M _.
It’s the new miracle
plastic that’s got a lot
more than a pretty face.
Bank of Jackson
Where Better Ideas
Mean Better Banking
Beauty Spot Kiwanians
Reports Enhance
Are Needed Patriotism
The Beauty Spot Group for
the Beautification through
Conservation program met
Thursday morning, June 6th,
at 10:00 o’clock at the home
of Mrs. Lou Moelchert.
Present were Mrs. Glenn
thereby releasing additional
classroom facilities which
are greatly needed to amply
care for the total enrollment
of 21 persons.
The account has provided
some very special amuse
ment and training for the
students by meeting admis
sion fees for three perform
ances of the Atlanta Child
ren’s Theater during their
engagements for the Butts
County Public Schools.
A token economy has been
established due to sufficient
sums available for financing
small daily payments to each
of the individuals whose
performances and behavior
warrant merited evaluation
for such special recognition.
Through this plan vast
encouragement has produc
ed more effort and a keener
desire to excel in an assigned
task. A desire to improve is a
resulting factor.
A program on patriotism
was presented and greatly
appreciated by the Kiwanis
Club members at the
meeting on Tuesday, June
4th.
Jack Little presented Bill
Jones, Butts County School
superintendent, a 5’ x 8’
American flag for patriotism
being taught in the Butts
County schools.
A certification certificate
was also given Mr. Jones
which verified that the flag
had flown on the capitol. This
fact was verified by a capitol
architect.
The flag that was present
ed Mr. Jones was given to the
Jackson Kiwanis Club by
Senator Herman Tal
madge. The flag had flown on
the capitol April 4th.
Meredith, Mrs. T. H. Price
and Mrs. Lamar Weaver.
Unable to attend was Mrs.
David Burford.
Calls are being received
from persons interested in
the Beautification program.
Mrs. Meredith asks anyone
knowing of a pretty vege
table or flower garden to call
Mrs. Moelchert at 775-7323.
MEMBER FDIC
