The age-herald., 1899-07-25
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
 AND ELSEWHERE

of Trade eelebration?' reporter asked the auditor.
 No" he answered. 'I am going home this afternoon. and therefore cannot par ticipate in the local celebration of Tues day"
 "Shan you be a candidate for the demo- cattle nomination in succession to Governor Johnston?" demanded the reporter.
 That is question I cannot now an- swer" the auditor responded. Tt Is lm- possible for me to know as to what lines upon which political issues shall cast thedn- selves There is much talk of Johnston and anti-Johnston issues. Whilst l could not be placed in the attitude of opposing Governor Johnston, my personal and podt- icaI friend. I would resolutely refuse to oc- cupy the position of any mans candidate for the governorship. If I become a can- didate for the democratic gubernatoria nomination it shall be as the democratic candidate and MT. Whites candidate, and none other shall wear no personal col lar other than my own. It shall be my distinction to wear the collar of the democ- racV of Alabama. Further than this l have nothing to say to reporters or to anybody. The matter of my possible candideture for the goyernorship I shall carefully consid-
 
 er"
 This was. in effect. all that could be ob- tained from the able and popular auditor of the state further than distinctive hint that he would not be party to scramble for the gubernatorial nomination of the democratic party. He stated in plain words that he should decline to antagonize Gov ernor Johnston, and that he should refuse iy, forr n he regarded as the choice or selection of any one man. Former Governor Thomas Goode Jones is making one of lrls too rare visits to Bir- mingham. It has been several months since Governor Jones has been in this city, | and, whilst he has grown perceptibiy grey CT, he looks younger than ever. He was | one of the youngest men who wore the grey in the late war between the states, | and was but eighteen when he bore the famous flag of truce from Lee to Grant at AppomattoK. The beardless youth distin- l guished himself in that great strife, and in | peace has won the highest honor. "I have nothing to tell you about that is printable" 1 he said to a reporter yesterday. q am practicing law, and am not actively con- l corning myself in politics. He then pro- | ceeded to tell a story powerfully illustra- | tive. but which he preferred should not be | printed. It is almost certain that no other l man in Alabama has stored in his mind so | many pathetic and stirring stories as Gov ernor Jones. He has world of such Sto ries, and tells them woudrously well. Gov ernor Jones is in Birmingham in connec- l ton with questions of law dealing with the l u-id al VNIIa xxrtII xvbi iCf bad l ts origin in Wetumpka. It will be remem- | bered that the lamented Henry Clay Tomp- l kins was about to proceed to the capitol at Montgomery a year ago to argue this case before Chancellor DowdeH. in special 1 session. when he dropped dead in his office l in Court Square. Governor Jones is accom- l panied by his young sons, Masters Thomas
 name of hs h9 atb6r Wh6 was hssrS Srtb'e the
 dent of the Mobile and Montgomery rail- | road twenty years before it became a sec l ton of the Louisville and Nashville Other visitors to Birmingham are Hon l Thomas H. Watts and Hon. William A. Gunter, of Montgomery, who are also here | in the matter of the Tulane will case. MT. l Watts bears modestly one of the most l noted names in Alabama his father having
 bean war governor of Alabama and attor- l hey general of the confederacy. Another l Alabamian who was a cabinet officer Of the confederacy was Leroy Pope Walker. Jefferson Davis secretary of war who or l dered the firing upon Fort Sumter, and l thereby precipitated the great strife. The Tom Watts of today is worthy de- | scedant of an iliustrious father. He is a | lawyer of great ability and man of sim | Sular modeSty. Several months ago he was | In Birmingham attending the state meet | ing of a powerful secret order. q He was l elected to the chief position in the order: but declined to give his photograph to the | newspapers, and resolutey refused to give them any sketch of. himself.
 Hon. William Gunter is a representative l mefber of the bar of Montgomery and was | formerly member of the legislature He
 is one of the largest owners of cotton lands | in Montgomery county.
 
 Hon. William Youngblood an auditor Of | the United States treasury, is in town. on l his way to his cotton plantation near Mont | gomery, w'hither he is conducting his family to spend season of rest and recreation. Asked about things political
  Coionel 1ounSblood declared that he knew
 ot nothing that he was willing to impart
 to the press ''I have simply come south
 to escort my family, and there is no sort or political significance in my visit. am myself enjoying my annual yaratfm. and
 hope to spend two or three weeks in Ala
 banfA Upon the expiration of my stay in the Blackbelt shall return to Birman ghann to spend a week with friends Then may have a word or two for the press which may be of some interest"
 The Hon. Edward l.. Russell, president of the Mobile and Ohio Railroad company ia in Birmingham. The object of Colonel Rus. sells visit was not ascertainable. but is presumed to have in some measure to do with the proposition, so often repeated and in so many varying ways, Of building the Mobile and Ohio into Birmingham. ITnon this point Colonel Russell has nothing def