The age-herald., 1898-10-18
"Maj. Johnston Protests Against Snap Judg-
 ment"

 sNaj. Johnston Protests Against Snap Judg-
 ment"
 To the Editor of The ge-Herald:
 Will you kindly allow me little space in your valuable columns? I have no fault to find with your report of the 14th of my remarks at the meeting of the night be- fore. I beg, however, to say that I spoke in favor of the "Bowron resolution" and that I voted for them and against the Lane resolutions"
 Nor is it my purpose to complain of the caricature of myself, over the above head ing, in your issue of the 10th. I have never ta..en any stock in this method of advanc- ing or of answering argument, but 1t is a matter of individual taste, and so long as it is kept within decent, so-called 'le- gitimate bounds" Unfortunately, not al- ways the easel, am content for those who want their laugh to have it. Indeed, per haps, I ought to be grateful to the artist for placing glasses on my eyes, and for leaving one foot at liberty. Fortunately I have no special use for the cane kindly placed in my hands by the artist and am certainly not in the habit of carrying cane or any other weapon. And still, the old Adam born in me is not, even now in my mature years, enough eradicated to pre- vent me, on occasion, from using a cane, aor what not, in the way of defense, but, God forbid not in the way of offense. I am distinctly obliged to the editor or to the artist-as the case may be-for depicting me, if at all, over the words, Major John ston Protests Against Snap Judgment" I have done this through my long and busy life, and God willing, l propose still to live and finally to die in this faith and practice
 But to the matter chiefly in hand My contention, in the meeting of the 14th, was distinctly on the Nine that the people should be heard, and that no small gathering, in- vited or accidental, ought to undertake to determine the destinies, and the property interests, of many thousands of their fel- lows. I was avowedly in favor of full and free discussion, among those present-up to midnight if necessary-and then re-venth- ation of the whole matter in public meet ing, at an early time and fixed place, at which the whole community, inside and out, or their committees and representatives, should be heard. And I wanted to see the proposed new charter and be heard upon it. home and before the committee of the legis- lature we'll in so far as l might deem tnis proper and necessary.
 When it became manifest by a vote, after discussion, that this was not the view of the majority of the meeting, l then favored the adoption of MT. Bowron's resolutions and not at all of the substitute offered by MT. Lane, and finally adopted over my vote and that of others.
 As to the proposed Greater Birming- ham," I would be very glad to see the lim- its extended, but the how and the where, and indeed, the time of doing this are great questions, about which not only my poor contention, but the opinion of many others Gas gathered and published by you, and heard, perhaps, more largely on the streets and in the suburbs), abundantly show to be matters as to which, to say the least of it, there are two opinions. I re- serve to myself, upon a further hearing, the final making up of my own opinion, without regard to the undue fear, or the shifting favor of any living man or set Of men whatever.
 Very respectfully yours,
 JOHN W. JOHNSTON.
 From Lumber Company