The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1895-09-23
CAMPAIGN IN ALABAMA.
Already There Is Considerable Talk of
the Gubernatorial Race.

Montgomery, Ala, September l5.-(Spe-
cial.--There appears TO be no question
whatever but that General Charles NJ.
Shelley and Joseph Il. Johnston Will be
the favorites in the race for the democrat
ic nomination for governor next year. Cap
tain Johnston will run of course on free
silver platform and General Shelley VIII
advocate the gold standard and indor5e
the administration. state and national. ii
promises to be battle royal Tho most
eligible man on each side has been chosen.
Captain Johnston and General Shelly have
always been warm personal and political
friends, and both are heightened, honorable
gentlemen. On this account ii is believed
the campaign for the nomination viii he
free of personalities and abuses, although
this does not argue that it Will not be a
warm one. Every inch of ground VIII be
fought for hard. Captain Johnston mas
not yet formally announced, but he has
for some weeks been speaking IN diner
ent sections of the state and the CROWDS
have appeared to be with him very
strongly
The campaign question that is receiving
the most attention now is, shall popuiiSts
and others who in the last state election
voted against the democratic nominees,
but who now desire to return to the dem
ocratic party, be allowed to participate IN
the primaries upon profession OF their
faith and a solemn promise to abide by
the result of the primaries ana support
the nominees"
1t appears to he undoubtedly true that
many heretofore democrats who went off
after Captain Kolbs will-o'-the-wisp are
DESTROYS of returning to their old party.
Naturally they want "A voice in the election
of It's color bearers. AS rule these men
favor the free Coinoge Of silver and would
vote i'm the primaries with Captain john
ston's followers. For this reason, naturally
fc ba mi nj CT
ton opposes the proposition to let the
stray sheep participate in the primaries.
Let them first show their faith by their
works." they say. Let them vote for a
democratic nominee and then they Will
have an u1disputed right to help select
the party's standard bearers"
The administration forces are said to
control the state executive committee
and it is probable that the settlement Of
the matter will rest with the committee.
The silver leaders, however, will probably
make a spirited fight for what hey be-
lieve is only right, democratic and Cor the
best interests of the whole party.
With reference to the proposition Senator
Morgan says:
After one hundred years of experience
IL is too late to bring in new definitions
to ascertain who are democrats and who
are not and to make il an iutcXibie test
that "A democrat refused to vote for some
nominee of the party at previous cleo
ton.
"T'hat is a question to be settled by the
primary meeting to which he is admitted
or refused admission. according to the de-
cision of his neighbors who are demo-
Gratis. They are and ought TO be the only
judges of his proper relations to the party
ana of his fitness, personal and otherwise
to participate In its action II a man sub
scribes to this declaration: 4 am u demo-
crat. and when | vote | viii vote the dem
ocratiC ticket he should be entitled Mt
least to take the decision Of the demo
as ia n lftFr tal liz
ficaton to unite with them in tI'cir pr ma
~ meeting, and when they tacide the
matter no Other committee or body of men
should have the power to ovcrrule that
decision or reject tho vote. This IS home
rule and self government IT is true he-
mocracy."