Birmingham state herald., 1896-02-09
EFFECTS OF MIR. CLARKE.

lStratlOn and the cause of the single gold standard. There was a generous Bir- mingham audience to hear him. It rep resented all shades of political opinion There were democrats of all factions, re- publicans, populists and political Adul- lamites. There was applause now and then greeting the effGrts of the distin- guished visitor; but strange as it may appear the real steam of the enthusiasm was emitted by the populists, who are just now deeply solicitous lest harmony should get hold of the democratic party and lead it to victory
 As to MT. Clarkes effort, as far as it concerns the "battle for principles" be- tween him and Captain Johnston, 1t is difficult just now to tell which is the more marked-the disappointment of the Clarke men. or the qualification of the Johnston men. The administration men here and hereabouts had their expecta- tions keyed to a high pitch, and had corlled up a great deal of enthusiasm for the cause and the occasion, to be let loose with a loud report when MT. Clarke should speak of himself and give the name of the administration. But the ex- pectations of the Clarke people were blasted and their enthusiasm was blight ed. Their candidate disappointed them in himself. in his championship of the administration and in his justification of his conversion to the doctrine of the sin gle gold standard
 There are staunch men in the wire grass, to say nothing of party men else where in the state, who are mindful of the aspirat tions of Governor Oates and Colonel Tompkins, who were eXpectant that MT. Clarke would say whether he was entirely out of the race for the United States senate. He said nothing about it in his Birmingham speech. It will be remembered that a Montgomery special to the State Herald of Friday quoted a wiregrass democrat on this point as saying: "It will be an easy mat ter for MT Clarke to straighten all this out by stating whether he will be can didate for the senate if he Is elected gov ernor, and whether he will be candl- date if he is defeated for the nomina- tion." So much for MT. Clarke's man agement of his own personality.
 Now, as to the manner in which he handled the august theme of the admin istraton, the State Herald can think of nothing better than to quote it's neigh Dor, the Evening News, than which the administration has not anywhere bold CT, stauncher champion and defender Said the News of yesterday:
 "Mr. CIarke's justification of his com ing into this (Jefferson) county, the home of his opponent in the contest for the democratic nomination for governor, against an unbroken practice Of courtesy among Alabama aspirants to high state honors was tame and unsalstactory' and his argument in favor of sound mon ey was not as strong and convincing as his ability and reputation had caused his audience to expect; in fact, his discus sion of the currency question is admit ted by many of his warmest adherents to have been sad disappointment to them.'
 Also remarked the News with keen appreciation of the fitness of things: (,
 "The fight in Jefferson county and throughout the state is now on in earnest. Pity 'tis that MT. Clarke was not strong enough to resist the siren song of rule or ruin coterie, which lures him to cer- tain political discontinue. Far better would 1t have been for the democratic party of Alabama and for MT. Clarke had he never consented to the sacrifice.
 Another disappointment of this occa- sion is the failure of MT. Clarke to say anything about his votes in congress against the eight hour law and for free coal, ores and lumber, matters in which capital and labor of Birmingham are vitally interested, and which affected them far more immediately than MT. Clarkes candidacy for governor.
 He thus entirely ignored questions in which Birmingham is most deeply con A bat huc ha privilege to vaunt the honesty and man Illness of his own conduct, let's think moment of what there is in MT. Clarkes complaint that there have been times when Captain Johnston in his former canvass for governor discussed other than state questions. Now MT. Clarke asks democrats of Jefferson and of Ala bama to make him governor, and in the same breath is guilty in greater degree of the offense he charges upon his oppo- nent. MT. Clarke devotes himself to any thing but the affairs of Alabama, except as he finds occasion to criticise the dem- ocratic state executive committee, the highest constituted party authority in Alabama.
 True. he complains that the financial question has not been properly debated in Alabama-a consummation which ne is here rightly to effect-but this issue if must be admitted by his own friends has but remote bearing upon very many matters of practical concern to this com monwealth If MT. Clarke alone has properly treated the money question there are many who would like to know wherein Secretary Herbert, Col. Josiah Patterson and Governor Oates failed Tn their speeches against silver before Ala hama. audiences. MT. Clarke has again disappointed his Birmingham audience
 Touching the nomination of captain Johnston as inimical to the bringing of oanital here MT. Clarke pulled the whis- l,ers off an old chestnut and held its pol isbed side to view. But that there IS worm in that hoary nut few do not know. The argument was used against Captain Johnston in 1894. He was defeated ana the promised inflow of capital here on that account has never materialized even n little bit The truth is. and MT. Clarke will realize 1t before he has gone far on the jack o'-lantern excursion he has been led into the recesses of Jones valley. that