Hamlet Week for Herman

Throughout the South, Democratic organizations that have grown fat and feckless on one-party power are being rattled by Republican challenge. The G.O.P. threat to Georgia's statehouse is proving so formidable that Democratic Senator Herman Talmadge, regarded as unbeatable in his state, announced last week that he would run for another term as Governor "if the people of Georgia desire me."

Judging from the volume of phone calls and telegrams urging him on, the people did indeed desire Herman for Governor. On the other hand, a small, influential group representing banks, textile manufacturers and cotton interests strongly urged the former Governor (1948-55) to stay in Washington--or face a financial boycott of his campaign.

The Georgia business establishment reminded Talmadge that his senior colleague, Senator Richard Russell, 68 and sickly, may not be able to serve much longer. If both were gone, the state's interests would have only lightweight representation by two freshman senators. Though Talmadge has not used his decade in Washington to advance his influence notably or to author any major legislation, he has had time to husband seniority. Only 52, he can well afford to wait his turn to chair the Agriculture Committee, where he is the fourth-ranking Democrat. By week's end, while still publicly playing the Hamlet role--to run or not to run--he was understood to have decided that Georgians after all desire him to stay on in the Senate.

All of this left the Democrats in worse shape than ever. Carl Sanders, the incumbent Democratic Governor, is prevented by Georgia's constitution from succeeding himself. The leading contender for the nomination had been Ernest Vandiver, a former Governor, but a six-year history of coronary-artery disease and several recent attacks of angina pectoris forced him to withdraw. He was not too reluctant. In a recent poll, U.S. Representative Howard ("Bo") Callaway, 39, a rich, attractive campaigner who was elected in 1964 while Barry Goldwater was carrying the state, led Vandiver by nearly 2 to 1. An old foe of the Talmadges', former Governor Ellis Arnall, may well wind up with the Democratic nomination--meaning humiliation for Herman no matter who wins in November.

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