Birmingham age-herald., 1894-07-11
JOINT DEBATE.
Captain Johnston and MT. Bowman Meet on the Hastings at
 ODeonta.

ONEoNTA, July 10.-[Staff Correspond ence. l-There was joint political discus sion last night at the county court house between Capt. Joseph F. Johnston, sup porting the organized democratic ticket, and Mir. P. G. Bowman, supporting the populist ticket.
 Captain Johnston came to Oneonta for the purpose of filling an appointment, and was invited by MT. Bowman to divide time, which he agreed to do. The meeting was called to order at o'clock with large audience, notwithstanding the in- element weather. Both factions were we'll epresented, with the majority in favor of the populists.
 The occasion being Captain Joh hnston's appointment, he was introduced for the first speech of one hour.
 He said: "Fellow countrymen, l am here tonight representing the cause Of the democratic partythat party which carried us through the dark days of reconstruction and brought peace and prosperity agaln to our commonWealth.' v
 He devoted the first half hour of his talk to the money question, and advocated an abundant circulating medium, and cited | the currency system of France as the cause | of the prosperity of that government. After ] dwelling at length here, he turned to the local issues in Alabama which led to the convention of Captain Kolb's bolt. He said: "Captain Kolb had right to run for governor of Alabama, but my objection 10 his candidacy was his method. lie had no right to go among the farmers of Ala bama and try to gain their votes by ex- citing their passions and prejudices against the democratic party, arraying class against class, the farmers against the mer- chants and the laboring men against the lawyers.
 He indorsed in unmistakable terms fair election and an honest ballot in August He denounced ballot box stuffing as un- democratic and a crime for which men should be punished. "If the democratic party is corrupt, then let us reform 1t. We must remain inside the ranks to ao this. It cannot be done across the lines. When a man runs for office he must eliminate self and personal ambition. We want clean men to govern our state--men or character, ability and honesty. There are many great men in Alabama, all of whom should be sacrificed before we should sacri- flee the principles for which we are fight ing, Kolb has too much of self and too little of the people in his canvass. He tries to create the belief that If he is elected governor the farmers millennium will dawn.'
 When he referred to John T. Morgan as standing like Saul among his brethren the audience grew wild with enthusiasm, ir- respective of factions.
 Time was called and Colonel Bowman was introduced as "the man who presided over the world famed opera house conven- tion: the man who has stood by Captain Kolb from the beginning and who is here tonight representing his cause.'
 MT. Bowman opened his speech by stat ing that he had been highly entertained by Captain Johnston's learned discourse on the money question ana other matters, put claimed that Captain Johnston had not dis cussed the issues that the people wanted to hear discus sed; that he had confined himself to matters of little interest In the important fight now at hand. He said: "Captain Johnston is in favor or a lar election, but his party is not. Oates IS obliged to say that he wants fair count whether he does or not" He enumerated the counties in which the popul1st ticket was carried in the last election In evidence that he was representing the party of the white people of Alabama. He read an ln- teryiew with Senator John T. Morgan, In which he expressly denounced ballot box stuffing. He referred to the military block ading the thoroughfares of Birmingham and parading the streets with thelr Dayo- nets. ''Let such as this con tinue and they will be trying to run every blow In these mountains with a soldier and a bayonet behind you.'
 He denounced forcibly several measures advocated by the democratic nominee Tor governor and many acts oi the present state the national administration, the school system all received their share of his de- nuncisiion. He said the next governor of Alabama will be elected by the people and he will be seated if he gets but one ma]or- ity.
 MT. Bowman was frequently interrupted during his speech by cheers, both factions applauding their respective candidate. His speech was surcharged with that de- gree of impulse characteristic.
 Captain Johnston closed in thirty min utes talk-cool, conservative and logical.