Birmingham state herald., 1896-02-15
THE LATEST ALABAMA NEWS
Montgomery Preparing to Re-
 ceive Captain Johnston
ON NEXT THURSDAY NIGHT
1t Is Reported That the Clarke Bosses Have Issued an Edict That Mir. Clarke'S friends
 Must Not Attend the Meeting.

Montgomery, Feb. 14.-(Special)-The greatest enthusiasm prevailed here today when it became known that captain Johnston would address his friends here on next Thursday night, the 2Oth. The theater has been engaged for the occa- sion. and it safe to say that it will be well filled. A report is going the rounds today to the effect that the Clarke bosses here have issued an edict that MT Clarkes friends must not attend the meeting, the idea being that an attempt be made to have 1t appear that the Clarke speaking drew the largest crowd, and that was evidence that MT. Clarke was the strongest in Montgomery. Very little credence is put .n the rumor, how ever.
 MT. Strong, the secretary of the John- ston club, says that Captain Johnston is as certain to carry Montgomery coun- ty as that the election comes off. He says that Johnston will carry the country beats without any trouble. and that with proper management he will win in the city beats also. His friends are now at work right zealously, and if they do not relax their energies his chances to win in Montgomery will be safe, If appear ances are not deceiving.
 Coming to Birmingham.
 very large number of Montgomerians will attend the mardi gras at Birming- ham on the 18th. They consider that 1t is more patriotic to patronize BirmlnS- hams show than the more pretentlous one at New Orleans. Montgomerians have always been liberal patrons of Mo bile's mardi gras, but as that at Birming- ham promises to eclipse the Mobile pa rade, and as Birmingham is nearer neighbor to Montgomery than the other cities, the majority of mardi gras Vls- itors will go there.
 To Test the Pool Law.
 Mir James Stribland of New Orleans IS making a test of the law which prohio- its pools being sold in this state on races which are run outside of the state. The law does not prohibit pools being sold on races run in Alabama and Mir Strib- land and his attorneys do not believe 1t is constitutional. Stribland had himself arrested today on a charge of violating the law and will make test case as stated, for the purpose of having the law declared void, so that he can open large pool room here and report the races at the approaching turf meetings.
 Regimental Encampments.
 The Ala bama state troops will go into camps in regiments this year, instead of in battalions, as during the past two or three years. The troops are divided into three regiments and the colonel com mandng each will probably be accorded the privilege of selecting the place at which the encampment of his forces will be held. Mobile will certainly entertain one regiment, Montgomery or Birming- ham another and Anniston appears to have a good chance at the third.
 It is intended that the encampments this year shall be administered in as eco- nomical way as possible, In order that the troops shall be enabled to save out of their appropriation sufficient to pur- chase arms and equipments for 100 addi- tional men, three new five-mle rifles for the artillery battery and Hotchkss mounted, rapid-firing rifle, with a range of three and half miles. All of these proposed purchases are intended to be kept al the capital.
 An application has been received from Editor T. M. Alexander of Piedmont ask ing that he be allowed to organize in his town a company to be considered de- tachment of the Anniston Rifles. A number of young gentlemen of Abbevile have also asked for permission to organ iZe a company in that thriving town, and the members of Dothan's brass band have requested that they be assigned to regiment.
 Joe Boothe's Successor.
 Governor Oates tonight announced the appointment of MT. David Johnston as clerk of the circuit court of Montgomery county, vice J. w. Boothe, deceased There were twenty applicants from among whom to choose. MT. Johnston was chief clerk in the office during MT. Boothe'S administration and has had charge of the office since his death.
 Republicans Split.
 The republican executive committee of the Fifth Congressional district met at Wetumpka today and called a congress ional convention to meet in Tuskegee April IS. There was wrangle in the meeting owing to the alleged arbitrary ruling of the chairman, Donk Booth, ex- collector of customs at Mobile. The dis satisfied members will hold a conference here tomorrow and another convention is probability. In this event there will be contesting delegations named to the St. Louis convention.