The Augusta Courier

Thompson Does As He's Told About Jobs

Last week's issue of the Courier carried a story to the effect that Eurith D. (Ed) Rivers was the head man in the State Zebra Party.

Since the publication of that story friends and observers have written and called us to give us additional evidence of Rivers' position in the Zebra Party and his growing strength.

These observers point to the fact that nearly every appointment made by Thompson has been an Ed Rivers man. The State Purchasing Agent is a long time supporter of Ed Rivers and is the brother-in-law of his former law partner. Justice W. H. Duckworth.

L. C. Groves, the head of the State Revenue Department is an old time Rivers man and was the campaign manager of Justice T. Grady Head of the Supreme Court, who is one of the most loyal Rivers men ever to live in Georgia. Groves was on the payroll when Rivers was Governor before.

Likewise the Revenue Commissioner Glenn S. Phillips of Harlem is an old time supporter of Rivers. Phillips was on the State payroll during the Rivers administration.

The Highway Department is shot full of Rivers appointees. The most recent appointments have been that of Judge J. M. C. Townsend to the Court of Appeals.

Judge Townsend was an assistant attorney general when Rivers was Governor and was Rivers' campaign manager in Rivers campaign for Governor in 1946 when he was defeated.

Thompson has also appointed Stafford Brooke of Dalton, Georgia, as Judge of the Superior Court of that Circuit.

Stafford Brooke was campaign manager for Rivers in 1946 in the 7th Congressional District.

The most recent appointment has been that of the Judge and Solicitor General of Fulton County. E. E Andrews was Solicitor General and there was a vacancy in the office of Judge of the Superior Court.

Andrews had as his assistant, Paul Webb, of Lavonia, Georgia, who had recently moved to Atlanta and had a minor job with Andrews.

Webb is an old time Rivers lieutenant and was on the State payroll during the Rivers administration.

Rivers in order to get Webb as the prosecuting attorney in Fulton County got Thompson to appoint Andrews as Judge and to move Webb up as Solicitor General.

This gives Rivers control of the prosecuting attorney in Fulton County.

Observers say that since Rivers was indicted in the Superior Court of Fulton County when he was Governor before that he is very much interested in controlling the prosecuting officer in Fulton County and the appellate courts this time.

Webb was on the State payroll when Rivers was Governor before.

The observers say that the reason for it is that if court action is started against him this time he wants to be able to control the courts himself.

They point out the fact that he now controls the Solicitor General of Fulton County, who controls the prosecutions in that county.

He is directly responsible for three members of the Supreme Court and one or two members of the Court of Appeals.

As the report goes his strength in the State Government is increasing and he is taking no chances on criminal prosecution at this time.

To further strengthen his position he is now launching a building a radio station at Decatur, only five miles from Atlanta.