The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-11-19
Opening Battle in the Political
Arena.
BOTH CANDIDATES AGGRESSIVE
Indulge in Caustic Criticisms of Each
Others Official Acts-The Governor
Accepts Senator's Challenge
and Will Divide Time

Athens, November 1S.-(Specia1 1.-THE
opening of the joint debate between Sena-
tor Morgan and Governor Johnston was in
teresting. Morgan had the crowd and the
applause. Johnston's applause was largely
of an Imported nature.
Loyal and enthusiastic friends came with
him to cheer him.
When Morgan walked upon the stand In
the court house square he was greeted with
wild cheers. A few moments thereafter
Johnston followed. He was greeted with
silence. The crowd was evidently for Nor
gan from the start, and remained with him
throughout the three hours of joint debate.
Johnston opened the debate, speaking an
hour and ten minutes. Morgan followed,
speaking an hour and thirty minutes. john
ston then closed in twenty minutes.
There were some rough passages in the
debate. Morgan was bitter and sarcastic
in many of his references to the governor,
and caused much laughter and applause
thereby. Johnston was not aggressive un-
It'll his twenty minutes closing argument,
when he declared that Morgan had an arm
around william j. Bryan's neck, and was
seeking with the other to stab him in the
back.
Accepted the Challenge
Johnston publicly accepted Morgan's
challenge to meet him in debates in this
n,5 o.1,ar >.o,,,t;, ,sr. oo,, 6 aouantly tho oon-
test will go on, and the indications are
that 1t will grow warmer and warmer with
each meeting.
Johnston appears to be in vigorous
physically His voice is, however, clear,
and he speaks with apparent ease. john
ston criticised the senator's position on sill
ver the Chicago platform and Bryan; also
on expansion and the international Ameri-
can bank question, at the same time de-
Tending himself at length on his action in
bringing about the repeal of the constitu-
tional convention bill.
Senator Morgan defended his silver rec
ord and criticised Johnston severely. char
acterlzing him as attempting to hang upon
Bryan's coattail, while he CMorgan) was
walking with him with his arms around his
neck. Senator Morgan dealt at length up
on the constitutional convention question.
He criticised the governor severely upon
his action in the matter.
AT times the debate was warm and some
Tba hoWayar q
not large, perhaps not more than eight or
nine hundred being present, and no great
degree of enthusiasm was manifested. The
debate began at noon and lasted until
o'clock. Chairman People announced the
terms of debate and introduced the speak
ers.
Governor Johnston Opened
When Governor Johnston arose he was
greeted by some little applause. ut is with
much regret" he began, that find myself
here today In opposition to the senior SEN
ator from Alabama. For thirty years l
have been his personal and political friend.
and he has had my honest and hearty sup
port for everything he has ever contended
for The issues between us are not person.
al am glad to say that our relations
have always been of the kindest character.
and that 1t was not any act of mine that
disturbed these relations at the beginning.
"I don't believe that there Is any monopo-
ay In office. Jefferson says that frequent
rotation in office was necessary to the pub
lie good Now, an office that don't rotate
but once in twenty-four years takes long
time to make revolution. I regret that
4 differ from my friend here on some Of
the issues before the people. If my friend
had maintained his allegiance to the peer
less democratic leader of the United States
I would not now be a candidate for office
The people of Alabama are entitled to be
represented In the United States senate by
some man who is in accord with them on
these great questions. 1t is not so much
a question Of individuality as the things the
people stand for. I think will be able to
show you today in proper way that he
has changed his mind on some of these
great issues, and that he is not now In ac-
cord with the great body OF democrats Of