Birmingham state herald., 1896-01-26
WATCHING IN WASHINGTON The Campaign in Alabama EIic-
 iting Much Attention. JOHNSTON PLAYED TO WIN All Our Congressional Representatives Except One Commend the Work of the State
 Executive Committee.

Washington, Jan. 23-(Special Corre- spondence.)-The campaign of 1896 is on in Alabama. and here in Washington each move made by the opposing forces is watcl- ed with eager and feversh interest.
 The result of the meeting of the state ex- ecutlve committee was awaited by all the members of the Alabama delegation with the greatest anXiousness, for their own success in the future depended much upon the provisions agreed upon by the exeeu- tive committee. That with possibly one eX- ception they were delighted at the action of the committee might have been easily told by glance at their faces as they read and compared telegrams received here from Montgomery shortly after the committee had agreed what should be the policy of the party in the coming campaign. As to the one exception General Harrison, your cor respondent has not seen him since the meet Ing of the committees, but in repeated con versatons before that date he had ex- pressed himself as greatly. deplorlng that such contest as would be had should come at this time. That he had been importuned again and again to make the race but would not consent to do so, for he saw that even if he had been successful it would have been at the sacrifice of hundreds and hundreds of friends, to say nothing of the tremendous harm that would have resulted to the party. General Harrison regretted that MT. Clarke should enter the race, be- , lieving that the best interest of the party would have been subseryed by eliminating national issues from the state campaign
 
 ceive the unanimous nomination..
 It Is the universal opinion here that the committee has acted wisely and that many of those who have strayed from the demo- cratic fold will return to the party that re- deemed from radical msrule our well loved state.
 The date of the covention is also con- sidered happy conclusion. Let the cam paign be short and the fight against the common foe long and well developed.
 There is little doubt expressed here, but that Captain Johnston will be the nominee of the party for governor, and interest and speculation have turned to the senatorial fight. General Harrison has already been mentioned as a probable compromise can didate between Clarke, Oates and Tomp- kins, while General Shelley is spoken of as he always Is on occasions of this kind as one of the Richmonds. Of course Seere- already full, and It Is not a handicap race anyhow. Hon. John II. Bankhead, who some time ago, 1t was announced would be in the race for governor, is also put down as gazing over to the other end of the capitol with longing eyes. The most for midable candidate. however, that the pres ent incumbent, Senator Pugh, will have in the whole bunch Of starters, is a man whoSs. name has been frequently mentioned in coin nection with the race, but who 1t Is safe to assert has as yet told no living man that maneuverlngs down In the county of his home leads to the belief that his friends are beginning to take active steps in his behalf, and In the democratic caucus of the next legislature a tall form will arise and say Dallas county presents for sena- tor of the United States the name of Ed mund w. Pettus." R. E. l.. N.