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Hot Contest Shapes Up for
Bth District Congress Seat
By Ken Turner in The Atlanta Journal
WAYCROSS, Ga — Here in Georgia’s Eighth Con
gressional District, where the mortality rate on incumbents
is high in comparison with the remainder of the state,
3 spirited race is shaping up for the right to represent
the district in the 85th Congress beginning Jan. 3.
The contestants are: Mrs. Iris
Faircloth Blitch of nearby Homer
ville, a 44-year-old grandmother
who two years ago became the
first Georgia woman to be elected
to a full term in the U. S. House
of Representatives, and:
Braswell Deen Jr., 31-year-old
Alma attorney and World War
II veteran who three times has
been elected to represent his
home county (Bacon) in the
Georgia General Assembly. His
father served three terms in
Congress before retiring in 1939.
They take their politics serious
ly in this part of the state — the
southeast section — and over the
years it has become a habit for
incumbent members of Congress
to face opposition every two
years just as regular as clock
work.
In the past 50 years few
members of Congress from the
Eighth District have gotten by
without apposition.
Two former congressmen can
attest to this fact. W. M. (Don)
Wheeler of Alma, who was un
seated by Mrs. Blitch in 1954, was
first elected to Congress in 1946.
He sought reelection four times
and each time was opposed by
one or more persons.
The same goes for former con
gressman John Gibson of Douglas,
whom Wheeler unseated in 1946.
Mr. Gibson served three terms
before his defeat.
Compare this with the Tenth
District, where the veteran Paul
Brown has not faced primary op
position since first elected at a
special election in July, 1933.
Or the First and Seventh Dis
tricts,- where both incumbents,
first elected in 1946 are facing
opposition this year for the first
time in 10 years.
Mrs. Blitch, wife of Erwin
Blitch, Homerville druggist and
naval stores operator, served two
terms in the state Senate and one
in the House before winning her
first battle to represent her dis
drict in Congress. She is the
mother of two grown children —
Brooks, an Emory law student,
and Betty (Mrs. Henry Tuber-
Tax Books
Now Open
Dear Friends:
The 1956 County Tax Books are now open. If any-
one wishes to pay their 1956 taxes now, we are ready
to receive the payments.
All delinquent taxpayers will please come in and
see about your back taxes as the County needs the
money. The longer the fifas stay here the more it runs
into extra money and costs to you. So, please come in
and take care of back taxes.
Those of you who have a back tax on your car or
truck will have to have these paid by Jan. 1, 1957, in
order to be able to get a tag.
Please don’t wait until the last minute to pay these
as you will have to have your tax receipt before you
get your tag.
So, please come in and get these at once.
John M. Wilson
Tax Collector of Brantley County
ville).
The congresswoman was born
near Vidalia in Toombs County
on April 25, 1912, and received
her education at public schools
in this area. She also attended
the University -of Georgia and
South Georgia College.
Active in Democratic Party
politics since 1936, Mrs. Blitch
lost her first race for a state
House seat in 1940. But six years
later she was elected to the state
Senate. In 1948 she represented
her county in the House byt was
unsuccessful in 1950. Two years
later she was elected to the state
Senate again.
In 1948 she was named to the
Democratic National Committee
and held the post until Aug. 18 of
this year. As a member of the
national committee Mrs. Blitch
served on the party’s policy
making executive committee.
Mr. Deen, a native of Mcßae,
Telfair County, received his ed
ucation at the Bacon County
High School, Alma and Glynn
Academy, Brunswick.
During World War II he served
with the Marines in the South
Pacific and was wounded on the
Island of Okinawa. Following his
discharge from the service in No
vember, 1945, he entered the Uni
versity of Georgia. He graduated
with an LL.B, degree in March,
1950.
Then he returned to Alma
and began the practice of law. In
1955 he was appointed county at
torney for Bacon County,
He has been active in civic af
fairs, in his home town and coun
ty and in 1952 received the Nat
han Cohen award for outstand
ing civic service in Bacon County.
In 1954 Mr. Deen was design
ated by the junior Chamber of
Commerce as one of five out
standing young men in Georgia.
He also* has taken an active
part in the work of the Lions
Club, Veterans’ affairs and the
Farm Bureau. He is a member of
the Alma Methodist Church.
Mr. Deen is married to the
former Miss Jean Buie of Black-
Your Friend,
Social & Personal
Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Langford
and Mrs. Fred W. Reid, Jr. of
Atlanta were week end guests
of Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Penland
at Atkinson.
• * •
Mrs. I. W. Kennedy and son,
Gene, left Wednesday for their
home in Dallas, Texas after visit
ing a sister, Mrs. A. H. Morris
in Nahunta and other relatives in
Jesup.
• • •
Mrs. A. H. Morris spent Sunday
at the home of her brother,
Oacar Nichols in Jesup where she
joined other members of her im
mediate family for a reunion.
• * •
Jack Smith of Gainesville, Ga.
spent the week end at home with
his mother, Mrs. Mamie Smith.
Mrs. J. D. Orser and new baby
daughter, Ada Lisa, have return
ed to Nahunta. Ada Lisa was born
in a West Palm Beach hospital
on July 1. They later spent a few
weeks at the home of her parents
in Belle Glade, Fla. before re
turning home.
• • *
Attending the Eighth District
Postmasters meeting in Bruns
wick on Monday of this week
were postmasters of Brantley
County; E. P. Dodge, Nahunta;
Allen Rowell, Hortense; and C. D.
Gibson of Waynesville. Congress
woman Iris Blitch was the main
speaker.--
• • •
Mr. and Mrs. Earnie Hickox
and Junafae, spent part of last
week in Columbia, S. C. visiting
their daughters, Mrs. Joel Ray
and Misses Safronie and Grace
Hickox.
• • •
Mrs. J. B. Lewis returned
home last week after spending
the summer months with rela
tives in Washington, D. C., Knox
ville and Wellsboro, Penn., and
Somerville, N. J.
shear. Pierce County.
What are the two candidates
talking about most as they go
about the 20 counties?
Mrs. Blitch’s record in Con
gress.
The congresswoman is citing it
as the main reason for giving her
an endorsement term.
And Mr. Deen rips into the
record in an effort to show that it
has been “glamourized.”
Misses Safronie and Grace Hic
kox of Columbia, S. C. spent last
week end with their parents, Mr.
and Mrs. Earnie Hickox. Lucile
Hickox, who has been spending
the summer with her sister, Mrs.
Joel Ray has returned home for
school days.
• • •
Mrs. C. L. Middleton spent last
week on St. Simons Island at Ep
worth-by-the-Sea where she has
a cottage.
• • •
, A large rattlesnake with eleven
rattles and a button was killed
near the home of Earnie Hickox
Saturday afternoon by Roy Parm.
He was near the tobacco barn.
This is the first one killed in
that section in 25 years.
Those who attended the fish
fry in the back yard of the home
of the Bobby O’Quinns in Fern
andina, Fla. on Wednesday of last
week were Mr. and Mrs. Earnie
Hickox and Junafae, Mr. and Mrs.
Reavis Hickox, Glenda, Lamar
and Sandra, Mr. and Mrs. Glynn
Hickox, A. J. Hickox, Miss Lanie
Shuman, Cleo Dorothy and Ray,
Chery Shuman, Mrs. C. E. Addy,
Carol and Debra, Mr. and Mrs.
Roy Parm, Robert and Cynthia,
Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Herrington and
Bryan.
• ♦ •
Cheryl Shuman has been on the
sick last this week.
• • •
Mr. and Mrs. C. S. Kizer, Mrs.
Grace Wakeley, Mrs. S. S. Sarvis,
Mrs. Emmie Newton, Mrs. J. B.
Lewis and Rev. and Mrs. Horace
Williams and family were those
from Nahunta attending the
Quarterly Conference held at
Atkinson Methodist Church on
Sunday.
• • •
Mrs. R. P. Driver, Mrs. Bar
bara Kennedy and Miss Lola
Jean Driver of Reidsville visited
Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Stokes and
Mrs. J. B. Lewis on Sunday.
• • •
Rev. Horace Williams left Mon
day for Macon where he is at
tending Methodist Pastors School
this week through Friday.
• * *
Miss Margaret Crews left on
Monday to return to Martha
Berry College after spending the
summer with her parents, Mr.
and Mrs. I. J. Crews.
» » ♦
Tommie Prescott of Jackson
ville spent the week end with
Mr. and Mrs. Louis Prescott at
Atkinson.
* • »
Mrs. Alex Owens of Brunswick
spent the week end with her
parents, Mr. and Mrs. E. J.
Peoples at Atkinson.
The W. S. C. S. of the Nahunta
Methodist Church met at the par
sonage on Wednesday of last
week with Mrs. W. A. Long, Sr.
presiding over the meeting. All
members present took part on the
program. The topic was “Measur
ing our Growth”. Present; Mrs.
E. A. Middleton, Mrs. R. H. Sch
mitt, Mrs. Grace Wakeley, Mrs.
J. B. Lewis. Mrs. Williams, the
hostess, served soft drinks, ice
cream and cake.
Drive Safely Near
Schools Is Plea
Os Motor Club
The Georgia Motor Club’s an
nual appeal to motorists to take
special precautions when driving
near schools is now underway..
“When school doors reopen on
September 4,” O. C. Hubert, club
president, said, “thousands of
boys and girls will be making
the journey from home to school
for the first time. They need
every protection motorists can
give them.”
The theme of the campaign will
again be “School’s Open — Drive
Carefully.” Colorful posters will
be placed in conspicuous spots
near schools, and bumper strips
bearing the message are being
distributed to car owners.
“We particularly want to get
the ‘word’ to drivers who-have
no children of their own,” Mr.
Hubert stated. “They are the ones
who are most apt to forget that
special speed zones and school
crossing must again be observed
now that summer vacation is
over.”
The specific things that motor
ists are being asked to do in con
nection with the campaign are:
1. Scrupulously obey special
speed limits near schools. •
2. Be extra alert for children
crossing streets at unexpected
places, such as from between
parked cars or in mid-block.
3. Learn to recognize and
cooperate with School Safely
Patrol boys and girls.
4. Be especially careful when
operating a car near school buses.
Never pass a school bus that has
stopped.
Information on
Brother Is Family
Sought by Woman
A North Carolina woman is
seeking information on the fam
ily of the late Walter R. Martin,
a railroad man who once lived at
Blackshear.
Mrs. George Kornegay of 312
Fussell St., Goldsboro, N. C., the
youngest sister of the late Mr.
Martin, was in Blackshear last
week enquiring as to where the
home of her brother was located
and whether there are any living
relatives of Mr. Martin or his
wife in this county.
Mr. Martin .was killed in a
railroad accident at Tallahassee,
Fla., about 20 or 30 years ago. He
owned a farm near Blackshear
at one time, in addition to rail
roading. He was .married to the
former Miss Gertrude Nobles,
formerly of Beard’s Creek in
Tattnall county. After his death,
his wife remarried and lived at
Blackshear.
Anyone knowing of any des
cendants or Mr. Martin or his
wife in this section is invited to
contact Mrs. Kornegay in Golds
boro, N. C., as she is interested
in hearing from her brother’s
family.
Braswell Deen, Jr.
Asks Questions —
1. Mrs. Blitch claims she has passed a Watershed Bill. According to a telegram dated
August 14, 1956 from D. A. Williams, Administrator Soil Conservation Service, Washington,
D. C., Congressman Poage of Texas is the author of Public Law 1018, the only Watershed
Bill passed in the National Congress during the last 2 years. DOES this record of willful and
deliberate misrepresentation and deception deserve endorsement?
2. Mrs. Blitch claims she came to the rescue of the Tobacco Farmers in 1955 and 1956 by
raising the price of tobacco. If Mrs. Blitch is a magician in raising prices of agricultural
commodities WHY didn’t she cast a spell and raise the price of corn, cotton, hogs, cows and
peanuts? DOES this sort of deceit and deception in her record deserve endorsement?
3. Mrs. Blitch claims credit for passage of a Water Pollution Bill. The official record shows
that Congressman Blatnik of Minnesota is the author of S-890, the only Water Pollution Con
trol Bill passed by congress. DOES this record of misrepresentation deserve endorsement?
4. Mrs. Blitch claims “that she got the job done.” The official record shows that she intro
duced 8 Bills in Congress, 7 of which were defeated and 1 Bill passed. The only Bill that
passed of the 8 she introduced is the Bill to build a road around the Okefenokee Swamp
which only authorizes and DOES NOT APPROPRIATE ANY MONEY TO BE SPENT. WHEN
7 out of 8 of a persons Bills are defeated does this prove that she got the job done or was it
left un-done?
6. Mrs. Blitch has placed on the Federal Payroll Mr. Win K. Pendleton and has paid him
over $2,500.00 of Federal tax money to glamourize, popularize and propagandize. She ran on
the platform in 1954 of not putting any of her family on the payroll yet she placed one of
her personal pen pals Pendleton on the public payrolls. If she was doing a good job she
would not need a professional penman for popularity purposes. DOES this sort of spend
ing of tax money deserve endorsement?
7. Mrs. Blitch has received full page advertisements in the Atlanta Newspapers endorsing
Massey Business College. Do the voters want a Congressman to use their public office to
endorse products and businesses? George Dixon who writes a column “Washington Scene”
for the Washington Post and Times-Herald said this in his column about Mrs. Blitch: “The
Georgia Belle rings her own praises and No authoress since Mae West has written about her
self with less false modesty.” DO THE VOTERS WANT to endorse a “Hollywood Star” type
record?
8. Mrs. Blitch ran for congress in 1954 to end absentism. The official record shows that
she was absent when the roll was called over forty times. DOES this type of record deserve
endorsement?
9. Mrs. Blitch claims she has a lot of influence in the Democratic Party. Why could she
not have some influence with the Platform Committee at the National Democratic Conven
tion. It could be that the reason that she was fired and replaced as Democratic Executive
Committeewoman is because she did not raise her voice against the Civil Rights Plank. Does
this type representation deserve endorsement?
10. Over $20,000,000 has been earmarked to development Georgia’s Rivers and Streams. Why
is it the Sth District is continuously left out in receiving appropriations for development of
rivers and streams? DOES THIS DESERVE ENDORSEMENT?
Eisenhower, Nixon, and Benson as well as MRS. BLITCH are asking for an endorsement term.
DOES the depression and bankruptcy type agricultural economy we are now confronted with
deserve endorsement?
Who will fight for a minimum 3 acre tobacco allotment — Who will fight for 90 percent of
parity — Who will fight for price support for livestock — Development of rivers and streams
and ports and harbors — Who will fight for gains made by labor — Who will fight for ben
efits of Veterans — Who will fight for income tax reduction — Who will fight for construc
tion of Federal Post Office Buildings — Who will fight against foreign giveaway programs —
Who will visit each county on a regular schedule — Who will fight to preserve our system
of constitutional government.
IF YOU WANT A MAN WHO WILL WORK FOR YOU AND NOT HIMSELF, then vote for—
Braswell Deen, Jr.
For Congress
Brantley Enterprise, Nahunta, Ga., Thursday, Sept. 6, 1956
Roddenberry Hears Evidence
In Alleged Child Stealing
A hearing was held in Black
shear Saturday in the dispute
between a socially prominent
California woman and her former
husband who she has charged
with stealing their two young
sons.
Mrs. Elizabeth Wing Walker
Concannon filed the child steal
ing complaint in San Jose, Calif.,
Aug. 29, against Col. Elmer
Hardie Walker.
Walker was charged with tak
ing the couple’s sons, Elmer, 11,
and Charles, 9, from Atherton,
Calif. Under the divorce agree
ment Walker was allowed to have
the boys with him for half the
summer vacation if he did not
take them out of California.
Judge Cecil M. Roddenberry of
the Waycross Judicial Circuit
held a hearing on the case Satur
day in Blackshear and said he
would hand down a ruling after
he had had time to study the
evidence.
Judge Roddenberry also ans
wered a remark made in Cali
fornia by San Jose District
Attorney N. J. Menard who was
IF YOU WANT A MAN:
Does the Record
of Mrs. Iris Blitch
Deserve
Endorsement?
quoted as saying, “I’ve heard
about Georgia justice, but I can’t
understand how any court can
sanction such a deal as this.”
Roddenberry said each case in
his court is judged on its merits
and according to the law of Geor
gia. “We don’t prejudge cases.
Everyone who comes into court,
wealthy and poor, is treated with
equal consideration,” he added.
Attorney for Col. Walker is
Lee S. Purdom of Blackshear and
Mrs. Concannon’s attorneys are
O. W. Franklin Jr. and O. W.
Franklin Sr. of Valdosta.
The Blackshear hearing was on
habeas corpus proceedings filed
by Col. Walker against Mrs. Con
cannon to keep custody of the
two children. He alleges that the
mother of the two boys is not
now able to give them the care
needed and that they will be
better off in the custody of the
father.
The two boys are now stay
ing at the home of Mr. and Mrs.
A. E. Davis of Blackshear and
were scheduled to start to school
this week.
Paid for by Braswell Deen, Jr.
