The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-11-18
BY ARUHIBALD W. BUTT.

Washington, November H.-(Special)-
which Senator Morgan must make for re-
election. The seriousness of the opposition
to him is not fully realized in Washington
and for that reason his admirers do not
comprehend that he may be defeated. That
he is opposed by politician who sacrifices
anything for office and patronage seems to
be all the more reason that he should be
elected and by an overwhelming majority.
lose greatly in prestige should the aged
senator be defeated. The democrats of ma
tional repute feel that not only would Ala
bama be injured but they realize that the
figure in public life.
Whatever views he may hold at variance
with some of his party, he is one of the
leaders, not only of democracy but of the
country, in the senate. One senator in
speaking of Senator Morgan yesterday said
of him: while have seldom agreed with
Senator Morgan when he first began to
push some issue have discovered that in
the long run have been forced by public
opinion or by his own powerful logic to
support his measure or idea. He has i'm
pressed himself and his individual opinions
on the statue books of this country more
than any public man who has been in pub
lie life for two generations.
"Morgan's War"
'In the cloak rooms of the senate we used
gan's war None of us believed when he
began flooding the senate with resolutions
that he would force this country to inter-
fere with the Cuban matter. 1 consider
that Senator Morgan brought about the
freedom of Cuba, Porto Rico and even the
Philippines, for all gained their liberty from
the same cause.
''It is the same with the canal. Whether
that waterway Is built now or later 1t will
be due more to Morgan than to any one
man in this country. Should Birmingham
ever become in fact Pittsburg and New
Orleans and Mobile a New York and Phila-
delphia, it will be due to Morgan. In the
senate we have looked forward to some dis
tant day when death or i'll health might
have taken Morgan out of public life, but
we have never dreamed that he could be
retired by majority of votes in his state.
His retirement would be a calamity to the
senate"
A Political Opponent
These words were spoken of Senator Nor
gan by a political opponent but also by
senator of influence and power. The public
announcement that Governor Johnston
would contest the seat of Senator Morgan
was read here with surprise. The senator
himself does not view the situation with
any great alarm. He believes that when
the fight narrows down and the people are
brought face to face with the facts that he
will be sutained The senator has grown
more vigorous since he has a fight on hand
He says it may be a good thing to make
him take more exercise, a thing his physi-
clans have been urging him to do for some
time.
Senator Morgans opponent, while not
known much out of his state, is recognized
as wonderful organizer and shrewd
politician. He Is said here to be as bold
and resolute in his procedure of business
as Goebel is in Kentucky. The two men
have much in common and the same meth
ods are said to characterize their plan of
political warfare. Senator Morgan is going
national issues. He so stated the night be-
fore he left Washington, but those who
know Governor Johnston fear that he will
be unable to do this and that before the
election there will be much personal bitter
ness brought about between the factions
Created the Condition
Senator Morgan says that Governor john
ston created the very condition which made
his fight possible. He followed him, he
said, in his desire to have a constitutional
convention called. The governor not only
approved the bill which would have dis
franchised the negro, but went much far
dber than Senator Morgan would have
thought wise. The senator claims that
Governor Johnston not only approved the
measure which provided for the constitu-
tional convention but entered the commit
tee rooms and took part in the actual
work of framing it. In spite of the fact
that he was not authorized to sign the bill
(in fact the constitution especially provides
that he should not sign iD the governor in
order to attach himself to it sent for it