The Augusta Courier

Talmadge National Defender Of Constitutional Government;

Georgian Is Tower Of Strength For South In U. S. Senate

American Mercury Sees The Senator As Great Power To Be Reckoned With

The AMERICAN MERCURY calls Herman Talmadge "the new voice of the South" in an article appearing in its February, 1958 edition.

In this edition, the Mercury says:

"An energetic and forceful new national spokesman for constitutional government and States' Rights has emerged."

In reading the article, we find that the reason they call him the new voice of the South is very clear.

Speaks South's Language

It is due to the fact that he has had the intelligence to speak the language of the people of the South and has not been ashamed or afraid to do so.

The article bases its opinion primarily upon things which he did and which he said prior to his entrance into the United States Senate.

So far, in the Senate, Talmadge has played safe and undertaken to overcome the attempts of the liberals of the nation to smear him.

A Potent Figure

As to this, the AMERICAN MERCURY said:

"Left-wing columnists and magazines have long tried to smear him. Nationally syndicated columnist, Robert S. Allen said that 'it was pretty generally anticipated that he would roar into town and 'run amuck.' so to speak: hootin' and tootin' and storming around all over the place . . . But he has completely confounded them, just as he has very highly gratified a lot of other people who were hoping he would do exactly as he has done conduct himself like a gentleman and an upstanding and conscientious public servant."

Yet, as to his first year in the Senate, MERCURY also says:

"He did such a good job fighting the civil rights bill, foreign giveaway programs and other evils, he has earned the role of spokesman for Americans seeking to stop federal waste and intervention in local governmental affairs."

Miami Speech In 1953

The MERCURY quotes from a speech by Talmadge made in Miami in July, 1953, as the beginning of "the new voice of the South".

These quotations are:

"From that day in July, 1953, when Talmadge forecast the now too-real blunders of the federal government in a speech before the National Retail Hardware Association in Miami, he became a spokesman for those who oppose present trends in Washington."

Blasts Foreign Aid

"His first blast at national politics included a sharp blow at foreign aid: 'We are fast coming to the realization that (Continued on Page 3)'
American Mercury Sees The Senator As Great Power To Be Reckoned With

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we can't buy lasting friendship from other nations,' he warned. Even the most foolhardy must now realize that there is a limit as to how much we can drain our national resources. We can no longer engage in a 'cat and mouse' game with the Soviets, letting that regime force us to assume the role of the mouse.' He called for an end to confusion and fear, urged a return to the fundamental American principles 'of Washington or Jefferson or Monroe or Jackson—or Teddy Roosevelt.'

"In this same Miami speech, four years ago he said, 'We should work in this country for strong, compact armed forces with the best equipment available. Against the communist hordes, we cannot expect to win victories with numbers of men alone.' The statement was prophetic, as has been proved by the recent claims that Russia has outstripped the United States in the missiles race and in other fields of scientific progress."

Fills Need of South

The MERCURY also stresses the need of a Southern spokesman and the stressing of this need emphasizes the fact that the South has not had a real spokesman in recent years.

As to this need, MERCURY said:

"Sixty million Americans who live in the Southern States or who share Southern viewpoints are today in deep need of articulate, outspoken leadership. Northern mass circulation magazines and TV and radio networks seem deliberately engaged in building up opportunistic Southerners who do not speak for actual Southern viewpoints, as the voice of the South.

This is spreading confusion and misinformation."

On The National Scene

"For this reason the appearance of such a refreshing figure as Herman Talmadge on the national stage is a fact for rejoicing. In his first year in the Senate he has shown promise of a great career in Washington. Unfrightened by the smear-pots, unaffected by the temptations of the Madison Avenue 'liberal' publicists, Talmadge goes his way calmly in the Senate, fighting for his convictions as he sees them. America has need of such men."

And then, as to the emergence of Talmadge as a spokesman, MERCURY also says:

"The emergence of an important new national figure in Washington is always an event. When that man combines, as in the case of Herman Talmadge, political incorruptibility and first rate brains, the debut becomes a direction marker.

"It has long been one of the paradoxes of American politics that although States' Rights has all the logic and the force of American tradition, Federal bureaucracy has the most plausible and effective debaters. Talmadge's coming to Washington will do much to redress that disbalance.

The nation will hear much of the Georgia newcomer during the disturbed period ahead of us."

Lyndon Johnson, of Texas, has set himself up as chairman of a subcommittee in the Senate to do the very thing which Joe McCarthy tried to do two years ago.

Ghost of McCarthy

As Senator Lyndon Johnson's committee digs into the guided missile program and attempts to find out why we have failed in this great undertaking they will be able to see through their own consciences the ghost of Joe McCarthy floating over the dome of the nation's capitol.

It is strange that the one man who knew that we were losing this race and who tried to do something about it should be crucified for his patriotic efforts.

Those who helped crucify him in the United States Senate will never live long enough to win any permanent glory from their belated efforts.

The ghost of Joe McCarthy will shine brighter than any halo they may undertake to create for themselves.