European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 19, 1968, Darmstadt, Hesse Azine where by Ted Simmons a staff writer Mpwo years ago Lester Maddox 1 one of the Smith s Best known sym Bol of segregation was running for governor of Georgia on the slogan you know where he people thought they did. To the racist element he was a hero who had personally chased negroes from his Pickwick cafeteria carrying a pistol and backed up by a handles. To the liberals he was a dangerous extremist to the moderates a publicity seeker a the democrats he was a party bolter who supported Republican Barry Omeater in 1964. To the republicans he was not quite respectable enough to be acceptable. To the politicians he was a three time loser in races for mayor of Atlanta and lieutenant governor of of them Ever gave him any Chance of being governor just As few give him any Chance of becoming president. Maddox has been governor now for18 months and few people Are sure they do know where he stands or whether they Ever did. As governor Maddox has Dis played a paradoxical mixture of com passion for the poor and contempt for poverty programs designed to help them demands for Law and order an denunciations of the courts appeals for patriotism and Damn legs of the Federal government surprising moderation and statements that seemed startlingly extreme. He keeps his own counsel has few close advisers and largely ignores those who have attempted to temper his Public image. Those responsible for the moderate tone of his inaugural address in which he warned that there would be no Roo for extremism in Georgia during his administration soon lost his before the Surprise of the new Maddox had worn off the governor was again describing the Federal government As Tho country s worst enemy of education and declaring that if Washington did t quit telling Georgia How Torun its schools it could take its Federal Aid to education and ram the statement caused state school officials considerable concern since Georgia receives More than $80 million year in Federal funds for schools. But after the first flurry Maddox in typical fashion let the matter drop. A High school dropout Maddox has pledged top priority to education. He kept a Campaign pledge to increase teachers salaries by an average of $1,258 a year during his first two Yearsin office. When pressed about his loyalty to the National democratic party Maddox said that pledging to support part nominees without knowing who they Are would be putting party ahead of Godard country. He has promised however that Hewill not go outside the party and endorse third party presidential candidate George Wallace although he has held private meetings with Wallace and admittedly would like to support him formally and openly. He 53-year-old Maddox son of a devout Southern Baptist Mother do snot drink or smoke and frequently lectures on the evils of while flying Over South Georgia where tobacco farming contributes substantially to the Economy Maddox turned to a reporter and said earnestly you know it s a shame they never found anything to do with tobacco but smoke he once threatened to extend enforce ment of the state s anti gambling Laws to include Church Bingo and periodically he prods the Revenue department to crack Down on sunday liquor Sale sat country clubs and other private s election by the general Assembly when there was no majority Winner in the general election has Given Rise to legislative Independence unparalleled in recent Georgia history. In this year s general Assembly ses Sion most legislation on which mad Dox had placed a High priority failed or was significantly amended. But the governor can Point to Vic tories in such no legislative areas As i up on Bike or political path Maddox has people wondering which Way he s going. Penal Reform which he has Promise to make one of the Hallmarks of his administration. The resolve was prompted to a great extent by five negro inmates. Four of them escaped and surrendered to mad Dox one sunday at the governor s Man Sion complaining of prison conditions. The fifth drowned in a Pond at a pub Lic works Camp while retrieving ducks shot by a guard. Camp officials said the inmate went into the icy water voluntarily. You show me How Many people be Lieve that declared Maddox and i la Tell you How Many fools there rein under pressure from the governor prison conditions have been improved especially in Public works Camps maintained by counties. Maddox assigns each problem to member of his staff although he acknowledges there in t anything ican do for most of the people who come. It just lets them know that there i someone in government who of Ali Uhi created image in 1964 when he ordered negro youths from restaurant. daily in speeches inform Al chats interviews and capital Hall Way news conferences Maddox sounds the rallying cry against the communists socialists left wingers bums beatniks looters rioters and wreck ers All of whom he roughly equates with civil rights activists. Yet negroes have made More advances in state government during his administration than in any previous one. The number of negroes on local draft boards for example has Rise from two to More cum 20. Maddox instructed that negroes be hired by the previously All White Georgia Bureau of investigation and there now Are swoon the 85-Man Force. What America needs Maddox is Likely to say during his response to Al most any question is fewer people on welfare Rolls More on payrolls and a return to states rights private prop erty rights patriotism free Enterprise and constitutional he displays concern for the poor Black and each month in the governor s office Maddox conducts Little people Day when crowds of people gather to file through shake his hand and con fide to him problems that they cannot solve. August 19, 1968 the stars and stripes be of the fears most often expressed about the election of Maddox was the manner in which he might react to racial violence. So far the state has been free of an major violence even during the tense time after the death of or. Martin Luther King or. The night King was killed Maddox sealed off the governor s mansion and refused to talk to newsmen by Tele phone. The next Day he issued a Brief carefully worded statement deploring the murder and quietly alerted 2,000 National guardsmen. The Day of the funeral however mad Dox said privately it made him sick at Liis stomach to see flags at the Capitol lowered to half staff in mourn ing for a Man he had denounced As tool of the communists and once be fore his election had promised to run out of the state. The governor stopped Short of officially ordering the Secretary of state to raise the Flag but he did refuse to close the Capitol. Instead he fortified it with 200 club carrying helmeted state troopers and other Law enforcement officials who circled the Capitol and patrolled its corridors with shotguns As the thou Sands of mourners marched past. The next Day he congratulated at Lanta mayor Ivan Allenjr. That the massive funeral had been without incident. Shortly afterwards however he was offering to finance a shanty in resurrection City if Allen vice president Hubert h. Humphrey now York mayor John Lindsay and the rest of that crowd would move in. Maddox delights in telling various audiences and visitors to his office i m governor. Some people Don t like it but none of them can do anything about age 11
