Birmingham state herald., 1896-02-22

gold men may not climb the silver fence, nor the silver men get over the gold fence, but we can all go through the gate of vital democratic principles, and we want to say to the people of Alabama that the democrats of Jefferson, without regard to their views on financial ques- tons, are in favor of a reunited and llb- eral party, and overwhelmingly in favor of Joe Johnston as the candidate who seeks our support upon the broad and eternal principles of democracy; that we demand him as our leader, SO that we may march triumphant and reunited party to glorious victory in August" ," Loud applause)
 MT. John McCartin.
 MT. Lane next introduced MT John Me Cartin, member of the board of aldermen, as one of the Staunch democrats who has always been foremost in the demo- cratic fights. MT. McCartin Is repre- sentative workingman and the audience cheered him vigorously when he ad- Vanced to the center of the stage. Said he:
 Ladies and Gentlemen and Fellow Democrats: I have heard that Mir. Clarke is very solicitious about the worlxingman. Now l would like to say a few words as to the relative regard in which MT. Clarke and Mr. Johnston stand in the opinions of the workingmen. It might be pi Aciy oidlcQ III d Itply tO lily query Ol workingman the other day as to how he stood for Johnston. Said he: If Johnston would run for the president of the United States and my vote would elect him he would be elected That's rather broad. I said. Why are you so much in favor of Johnston? 'Whyr he answered, because when tine country was going through the social throes not long ago, and capital was fighting labor and labor was fighting starvation, with number of others refused to take reduction of my wages and quit work I was backlisted and could not get an- other job under any circums lances. In this plight l went to Captain Johnston and he immediately secured me a situa- tion In mine in a neighboring county at reasonable wages. If it had not been for Captain Johnston 1 should have been compelled to quit the state and heaven knows what would have become of my family
 And yet" said MT McCartin, MT. Clarke says the workingman has no gratitude. We have heard from MT. Clarke on the eight hour law.
 ''I want to mention another instance of Captain Johnston's work for the work ing man. A few years ago. after years of trial and work, a mining law succeeded in getting through the legislature. On the last day 1t was pigeon-holed some where. Captain Johnston was sent for to help us out He came to Montgomery. and although he had only forty-eight hours to work in, the governor signed the bill before he went to bed and 1t became a law. That law at the time was op- posed by some operators and miners, but it was wise law, so wise that if any man tried to have it repealed today he would be opposed not only by the miners, but by every mining corporation in the state. These two instances are enough to show MT. Clarke how the working n himself Captain Johnston"
 The curtain then fell and amid cheers and music from the band the immense throng filed out of the opera house.
 Whats the Matter With Our JoeP
 The following was contributed for the occasion:
 We want hero, not for song Or story, but hero strong
 To head us in our civic strife,
 That every man in all our clan
 May feel he's parcel of this life
 For good evil as he acts
 When civic issues most perplex.
 One quite above corruptionS reach, Who'll throw himself into the breach, Come veal, come woe, and do his part With all his mind and soul and heart By calumny or praise unmoved
 From paths convictions have approved A man magnetic, simple, bold,
 The heart-strings of the folks to hold. IL A wondrouS hero, say you pard,
 I own to find him it is hard,
 have him in my minds eye, though 4 , A man of stainless character
 In public as in private life, 5 And every man in all our clan
 Knows his abhorrence of all strife.
 He Is sturdy, hardy knight
 Resourceful, steady, patient, white
 In times of turbulence still cool;
 And tempted-nether knave nor fool. Self-sacrifce has been his badge
 From youths high noon to ages prime, And every man in all our clan
 Has found him dauntless all the time. He's built just for a governor,
 I'd give it him without demur,
 But I am but an humble bard.
 With but one vote-it's mighty hard, But thousands think with me you know. I hope you're one of them, old pard- Nothing's the matter with our Joe.
 We want a statesman for our chief, man to open methods true.
 That every man in all our clan
 Can prophecy just what he'll dc.
 A simon pure, clean democrat,
 Sand in his gizzard" and all that,
 With principles, whose warp and wool Are so well woven in behoof
 Of right and justice, we behold
 In such finished cloth of gold
 None of your gauzy, flimzy stuff.
 Unfit for wear or weather rough
 Made for time-serving, fraud and show; Now, tell me true in this regard.
 Since men who reach this standard, pard, Are not high numbered-if you know. What is the matter with our Joe? ------- All can say he seems to me,
 To suit the occasion to a "T."
 Strange and perplexing issues seem Once solid ranks to disunite,
 And every man in all our clan
 Who touches them gets muddled quite. We mix them and they mix us till
 The tangle gets beyond our skill
 Unrayeled may these issues be,
 So folks the head and tail may see; If worked at by skillful hand.
 Each issue singly, strand by strand, And fixed for use when needed-thus Prevent propensities to "cuss."
 My eye upon the man I've got
 To cut our partys Gordan knot.
 The hand to do this work of skill And-tfe our threads together still
 And bind us in new unity
 From Mobile bay to Tennessee
 To this contention-apropos:
 Prayswhats the matter with our Joe?
 A Bad Freight Wreck.
 Atlanta Feb 21.-A special to the Constitution from Carrollton, Ga., says that freight train ran into an open switch at Vaudeville. on the Chattanoo- ga, Rome and Columbus, last night. Sixteen cars were wrecked. A large oil tank full of oil burst and caught on fire,