Power Struggles

PAGEANTRY AND POLITICS

After months of filling out paperwork, traveling to Washington, and waiting endlessly, electric cooperatives marked the dedication of their REA projects with great fanfare. Few cooperatives enjoyed a large-scale celebration like the dedication of Lamar EMC's electric lines on August 11, 1938 in Barnesville, Georgia. President Roosevelt chose Lamar's dedication as a venue to gain support for his New Deal programs and policies, to stump for candidates who would continue to support his programs, and to attack those who opposed him. The President's official visit to Lamar EMC brought the national spotlight to Georgia and the citizens of Barnesville, who worked hard to make a good impression upon the rest of the country.

While an historic event for the electric cooperatives in Georgia, President Roosevelt's presence at Barnesville was decidedly political. American voters had given Roosevelt their mandate for his programs in 1936. Two years later, this overwhelming support had diminished. Roosevelt redoubled his efforts to achieve his goals and attacked his fellow Democrats who expressed anything less than complete support. In his speech at Barnesville Roosevelt accused Georgia Senator Walter George of only making a "lip service" commitment to the New Deal and endorsed Lawrence Camp instead. Generally supportive of the New Deal, George was surprised by Roosevelt's attack, but rose to the challenge by campaigning as a Georgia man who wouldn't be bullied by Washington. Offended by Roosevelt's assault on George, Georgia voters responded by returning George to office by a significant majority. Although Roosevelt continued to be a popular national figure to many Georgians, his ability to influence Georgia politics had declined considerably.