Birmingham state herald., 1896-02-19
CHEERING NEWS.

tain Johnston's speech at Thomasville. It has made profound impression, es- peeialy in south Alabama, and has been generally read and enthusiastically in- dorsed It is a vote maker Informa- tion which is entirely trustworthy goes to show that Mir. Clarke is making no headway and that very many who in- dorse his money views look upon him as an unavailable candidate. There is no question that he could govern the state wisely and well, but there is a grave ap- prehension that he cannot command the votes necessary to show a clear election. His vote for free coal and iron ore is looked upon as a clear surrender to the presidents partiality for New England. Had 1t prevailed we would see coal today landed from England and Noyia Scotia at Mobile and New Orleans and all along the gulf shore. It may be true that many citizens of Birmingham did not fear foreign competition when the prices were well up, and were, therefore, indf- ferent as to the duty on ores, but it quite another thing when prices are down and the gap between the foreign and the home product is closing narrower and narrower. If coal had been put upon the free list, as Mr. Clarke desired, we would find the Birmingham district cut off today from the Mobile and New Or leans market.
 MT. Clarke's vote against the eight ourlaw, which passed congress, is also a heavy weight around his neck. The trades unions do not understand why the eight hour rule. which has been adopted universally by all labor organizations, should not be applied to government works in the United States. It has been adopted by the British parliament, and the government of that empire, instead of obstructing the rules of the unions, in variably meet them on an equal footing and seek to adapt the prices of labor fairly and equitably to the salutary hours of labor. What possible objection MT. Clarke could have to applying the eight hour law to government work passes our comprehension especially as that law specifically declares that the hours may be extended in cases of emer- gency. Of course, we all understand that in mending a levee or in finishing battle ship for war it might be necessary to labor upon the same work with the same gang longer than eight hours. The Id w covers SucH eIllefSe1c1eS.
 The price of labor will always be regu- lated by it's quality and it's results, and not by the number of hours. When Mir Clarke attempted to thwart the progress of the trades unions in ameliorating la Dor and creating opportunities for more laborers he charged against a stone wall He evidently had not studied the question: Because of this vote, if there were other objections to his candi- dacy, he would be unavailable. The peo- pie at large in the country, who know and care very little about the tariff and labor questions object to him as the rep resentative of what might be called the cul-de-sac policy of the administration, a policy which has entered a labyrinth and is forever running up against a closed wall The people want more pri- mary money, and they are willing to try free silver coinage, convinced that noth- ing could be worse than our present con- dition of prostrate industries. They are not content simply to have enough hog and homny to keep body and soul to- gether. They want to see their cotton of surplus money and not rising in value only when half of it has been lost by dis asters. They have no hope of better times while contraction of the curren- Cy is going on. And hence the farmers will not support MT. Clarke or his views.
 We have reliable information from ev- cry section of the state that a tidal wave has set in for Captain Johnston. It is said by some of the Wisest of our poli- ticians that he will carry over fifty of the counties. His nomination is as cer- tain as that the sun will rise tomorrow. He has no weight to carry. He has no reVenges to gratify He has been true and faithful citizen in peace and in war. He will make a good governor, and all the fusions of the discontented. dis gruntled and ambitious enemies of the democratic party cannot beat him at the nOllS