Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-06-24
ON THIS PICTURE, THEN ON THIS.
JOHNSTON AT ROCKFORD.
THE HOUSE PACKED TO OVERLOOKING
All Closely Followed the Speaker for Two
Hours-The Avowal of Eight Popu-
lltes From One Beat.

Rockford. June 23.--(Special)- about
700 or 800 straight-haired. blued-eyed
men assembled in the court house at
Rockford, Coosa county, Ala, yesterday
and nominated the following county
democratic ticket:
For sheriff.. e. Huff.
Tax collector-Elias Kelley.
Tax assessor-Malley Nolen.
Representative-Felix L. Smith.
Superintendent of education-Smith
Leonard.
Treasurer-John McEwin.
County commissioners-Levi Johnson
and w. T. Leslie.
There was great enthusiasm and har-
convention. The ticket was selected
without the formality of balloting in
most instances, and each candidate was
indorsed by unanimous vote.
AT IL o'clock Capt. Joseph F. john
ston, democratic nominee for governor,
being present, was introduced by Felix
L. Smith, Esq. Captain Johnston de-
livered a strong, well worded and for
chile address to an audience composed
of men of various political proclivities.
The entire audience gave Captain
Johnston close attention and frequent
applause, highly appreciating, 1t seems,
the privilege of listening to the distin-
guished gentleman, and at the end of
two hours speech urged him to continue.
Hardly a man left the hot and closely
packed building.
Not doubt exists in your correspond
ent's mind that Captain Johnstons
speech at Rockford did great good for
the democratic party in this county, and
1t is now believed that Coosa may be
placed in the democratic column for Au-
gust and November
At the close of Captain Johnstons
Es0I11 10 30
this district selected to represent them
in congress- but were denied by a repub-
lican majority in congress, was present,
much to the delight of his many friends,
and favored the audience with a talk
brim full of patriotism and sound demo-
cratic doctrine.
One gentleman stated that eight men
of Rockford beat told him after the
speaking that they intended to support
Johnston and his ticket The pop paper
here had urged its party not to attend,
and predicted that Johnston would not
have 200 men to hear him. The court
house was packed and jammed. More
than $50 pops were present and about
500 democrats.
The democrats of Coosa have splen-
did county ticket and will elect 1t. Put
Coosa down for democratic gain of 500.
At Childersburg Saturday.
spondence) )-Last Saturday night the
goth instant. according to previous ap-
pointment, Capt. Joseph F. Johnston,
democratic nominee for governor, In a
speech of about two hours at this place
presented in an able and fearless man.
ner the time-honored principles and doc
trines of the democratic party to large
and enthusiastic audience, composed
largely of democrats, few republicans
and many populites.
Captain Johnston, in his characteristic
way, made one of his most forcible and
convincing speeches, abounding in in
controvertible truths and unanswerable
logic.
The speaker dwelt at length on the
financial problem, reviewing the history
of silver coinage and the legislation af
fecting finances from 1892 down to the
repeal of the purchasing clause of the
Sherman act in 1898, demonstrating his
familiarity with the subject in all of its
phases and evincing superior knowledge
in his methodical arrangement of the
theme, appealing to the populits present
that free and unlimited coinage of silver
was democratic doctrine pure and simple
and not a new and untried experiment
advocated only by the populite party
For some time he paid his respects to
the fusion ticket headed by GOODWIN,
characterizing it as the republican party
and the old time enemy of democracy in
a manner that was forcible eloquent and
convincing. The audience showed their
approved by frequent bursts of applause.
and at its conclusion Captain Johnston
was congratulated by democrats, popu-
lites and republicans. thus showing his
speech was we'll received and is sure to
rebound to the interest of the democratic
party here in August.