The age-herald., 1899-02-22
Joe IohnstOnism.

NACooiSs OCCOld 1NJAO anu 1A A1' OeSA@SO " the two vacancies on the Alabama railroad commission. Mir. Kyle is a representative in the house from the county of Morgan. MT. Caffee Is a senator of Lowndes and Autauga counties. Both are mon of recog- nized ability. and will fill with credit the duties they have to perform
 But the ability of these men Is no ex- cuse for the act of Governor Joseph F. Johnston, who has seen fit to turn down the one man who was more strongly urged by the entire state than all others. John w. Tomlinson, of Jefferson county. was a candidate for one of the vacancies on the railroad commission. He was a candi- date to succeed Mr. Ross c. Smith, of this county. He was indorsed by almost every man in Jefferson county, by almost the entire state press and by prominent men in every section of the state. No one doubted up to few days ago that MT. Tomlinson would be appointed It seems however, that the personal ambitions of the governor stood in the way. Governor Johnston is an ambitious man. He aspires to greatness. He is a politician. He has had the reputation of considering friends, friends always and of placating enemies. He has been accused of selfshness. He is certainly considerate of his own interests. and has, on more than one occaion, been disloyal to his friends. The Age-Herald has found some good traits in Governor Johnston, but it seems that one of them Is not loyalty to party friends nor party principles. John W. Tomlinson has been the personal and political friend of Gov ernor Joseph F. Johnston for many years, and yet the governor allowed his personal and political friend to remain a candidate for this appointment up to the very minute that the announcement was read in the senate at Montgomery, thus attempting to humiliate one who has been loyal and earnest supporter of the democratic party, and of the governor, for many years. Governor Johnston may have had good reasons for his appointments, but 1t is
 ,ince of all men to give in timations long enough in advance for personal friend to withdraw from a con- test when failure would be embarrassing to him.
 The Age-Herald has lost all confidence in and respect for the present governor of Ala bama. It respects every man who is loyal to party principles, but when man in pub lie office uses that office to further politi- cal ambitions The Age-Herald gives warn- ing to the public.
 Johnston's administration placdly and calmly It has supported him in his dec- laration of principles. Those expressed in his messages were loyal democratic prn- ciples, yet he has cast them aside In more instances than one to further his own ends. He advocated electing railroad commits sioners by the people. Yet the proposed bill to do so was sidetracked. The gov ornor,s hand may ar may mt hove S+aarad this. The cou.lty commissioners court of Jefferson was abolished by suggestion of the governor. That was proper move on his part considered from the point of MT. Cowans report, but 1t was not supposed that the governor would push 1t through with the election of a board of revenue postponed eighteen months, when provision could easily have been made for an cleo tion in July. However the legislature having so passed the measure The Age Herald repeats that it is useless for the commissioners to fight it.
 The present governor of Alabama is im- bued with czarish desires. The Age-Her- ald, as the representative of the people, calls upon him to halt in his mad career. He is too much for himself His egotism has consumed him. His Joe Johnstonism is more than The Age-Herald can longer view with that silence which might be con strued into consent.
 The Warrior Appropriation in Danger.
 The attempt of Senator Morgan to attach the Nicaraguan scheme to the river and horbor bill may result In the defeat of