The age-herald., 1898-08-07
WHO KILLED
 COCK ROBIN? There Are Many Sparrows Claiming the Honor. THE DEMOCRATIC VICTORY Attributed to the Intelligence of People andt eSpler di l Record of Govern or Johnston's Administration
 Some Interesting Facts.
THE DEMOCRATIC VICTORY
Special Dispatch to The Age-Herald.

Special Dispatch to The Age-Herald.
 Montgomery, Aug. 6.-Now that the vic- tory Is won, the politicians who come to the capitol are all discussing who did it. They say that there are very many spar rows who claim to have killed Cock Robin
 The victory must be attributed, first, to the common sense and intelligence of the people of the state, who may be relied on to do finally what is right. They have come to understand that there is nothing in populism as the party is organized in Alabama, except the hope of spells, and few offices here and there-small pickings; little potatoes and few in a hill.
 Second. It is conceded that the victory is largely due to the splendid record and labors of Governor Joseph F. Johnston, and his efforts for the party on the stump in every section of the state. The people have considered what he is worth to them as governor of Alabama. and his popular vote, running ahead of the balance of the ticket shows not only that his labors are appreciated, but that he is today the most popular man in the state. A man and an officer who has the people of the state behind him and to support him with such practical unanin1ty and approval as has hardly been known since the days of Hous- ton.
 The tax commission law, recommended by Johnston, and unfalteringly advocated by him, is also reckcned a very great factor in the democratic victory. The principles and the provisions of this law have been approved especially by the plain people of the state wherever that issue has been dirctly made.
 Hon. J. J. Mitchell, the author of the law, made his canvass in Lauderdale county on this issue, county where 1t has been well enforced, and he was practically unan- imously renominated and elected
 In Jackson county, where the popuists are very strong, the county tax commits sioner, Hon. Milo Moody, was nominated for the state legislature and elected by an overwhelming majority.
 In Morgan county Hon. Osce Kyle was attacked in the primary for voting for this law, and he was renominated and elected.
 In Escambia county, when it became known that the populist nominee for the legislature had voted against this law, large numbers of the voters turned against him on this account, saying that they would vote for man who voted against the law which was calculated to make rich as well as poor pay their taxes.
 So it is clear that the tax commission law really made an issue by the action of the democratic state convention, is entitled to full share of the victory won
 In confirmation of the benefits and re- suits of this law, the Atlanta Constitution of August reports upon the tax assess ments in Georgia, where there is no tax commission law . big headlines as fol- lows: Tax Values Fall Over the States Two-thirds of the Counties Reporting Show Decrease as Heard From of More Than $2,- GOO 000." The comparison Is instantly drawn between the Alabama raises in tax values last year of nearly ten millions of dollars, in the increase in actual money in the state treasury, in increase in value of the state bonds, and the condition of values in sister state, whose wealth and popula- tion are gerater and whose prosperity is equal to ours
 The state committee has merited and re- ceived gerat deal of praise. Its chair man is brilliant politician who will make his mark in the public history of the state, and he and his associates have received great commendation.
 And as it was put firstly, so it may be put again lastly, just as the shrewd ob- servers who come to the capitol put it, that the rank and file, the men behind the guns, the people who went out although there was not that excitement and antagonism which generally cause interest and action and did the voting, these are the men who destroyed the Spanish fleets of populisnl and republicanism, leaving hardly trace of their poor existence in the state of Ala bama.