The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-04-18
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
AND ELSEWHERE


The story of the lobby yesterday was that
Governor Johnston would issue that day
his call for an extra session, but it seems
that it did not issue, and SO our political
world waits and wonders. 1t does not ma
terially matter, perhaps. The prevailing i'm
preston is that Governor Johnston will call
an extra session of the legislature In
stanter, and that he viii carry his purpose
of repeating the act calling together con-
stitutional convention. There appears to be
good grounds that Governor Johnston is
clear in his surmises that the legislature
means to sustain him in his desperate de-
mand that the legislature shall stultify
itself by abrogating the call for constitu-
tional convention OF the purpose of the
governors views there is not now any pos
tive information. But there cannot be any
doubt that he intends to call the legislature
together in special session for the main
purpose of repeating the act calling con-
sttutional convention together next Aug
| ust.
| Governor Johnston has entered upon
| perilous course said a politician, land he
| is not the sort of man who turns back
| Governor Johnston is playing for the high
| est political stake any Albanian can play
| for. Politicians tell you that the demo-
! cratic party is not at issue; that the ques-
| ton is merely one of personal concern
| That may be true, but in all the years the
organized democracy has not been in grayer
| peril than 1t is at this moment. 1t seems
| to the unobtrusve observer that Governor
| Johnston has determined to rule or ruin. It
would seem now that he would dominate
the party that created him governor. He
wishes to be senator. He would be United
| States senator at any cost"
Governor Johnston is playing game
that means political life or death to him.
| He has set himself out to defeat Morgan;
| and in that contest he has the open rivalry
| of Congressman John II. Bankhead. ~John-
ston has not openly declared himself. john
| ston is not much on the open fight. Bank
| head doesn't know any other sort of fight.
| l have got nothing to say to the prob
able result. In point of fact, really care
| nothing about it. Let 1t be Morgan, or
| Bankhead, or Johnston-No, 1t cannot be
! Johnston. The governor has got about as
much chance to be governor as 1 have
| got to be priest of Rome! Bankhead will
be senator one day. That is inevitable.
| Bankhead is perhaps the strongest man
in our public life today. Bankhead is
big man, a wise leader, and he will win
when Morgan and Pettus have passed from
| the scene of political activity
|
A good story is going the rounds about
Former Governor George 8. Houston.
Houston and one of the public men now
| icI,o in, ha 1io of
had an appointment to deliver public
speeches. They had to drive long dis
lance before dinner time, and arrived at a
| farm house in time for dinner. Houston
was sick. His companion had ravenous
| appetite. Mr.. Houston said the house
wife, with some Indignation, 81 see you
amt eating much 1 know the dinner amt
much; but it is the best I could get up.
I'm sorry you don't appreciate the dinner"
my good woman, the dinner is perfect,
| but 1 am i'll. In addition to that 1 have
got to make speech Immediately, and
| can't speak well after eating freely"
YES" said the good housewife, with
spirit; Its just like this: an empty wagon
makes the loudest noise.'' Houston
SILENT The other man ate ravenously.
| 1t is customary to accord to the demo-
| cratic nominee for mayor of Birmingham
| the privilege of naming the chairman of the
| CITY democratic committee. Alderman Wal
| ter Melville Drennen, who won so brilliant
| a victory in the recent contest for the may
orally nomination, will today suggest the
| name of the manager of his compaign Mr.
| Basil Manley Allen. Judge Allen, as he IS
| known to all Birmingham, eminently de-
| serves this honor, for he managed Alder
man Drennen's canvass for the mayoralty
| with consummate skill and trustworthy dis
| erection. 1t was Judge Aliens first venture
| in practical politics. Judge Allen has been
| for fifteen years money maker He was
| too busy to deal with politics, and all the
| better for him! He is probably the wealth.
| lest young man in Alabama, and it may be
| said of him in all respect and kindly re-
| gard "he does not throw his money at the
| birds" Judge Allen will mako a good
! chairman of the committee. In suggesting
| Judge Aliens name Alderman Drennen
| does a manly service to one who has done
| himself a work which to so young man
coming to so high an honor cannot be es
| timable.'
| The most encouraging and the most hope
! full figure now in Birmingham is the Hon.
| Mll1am a danuiey, ol aodhohS- Noiohei
| Handley is one of the most notable men Of
| Alabama. The other day the Age-Herald
! told how he had sold for 100000 real es-
| tate to the Southern Railway company.
| And it was all spot cash." declared Col
onel Handley. There weren't any notes
about it. For thirteen years 1 have held
that property in hopes of selling it to a rail-
| road company. 1t has cost me a frightfui
sum, but have held on to it, and the deeds
| are now filed, and all is over"
Colonel Handley is one of the most inter-
| esting men of Alabama. He has practically
builded Roanoke, in Randolph county. 1t
| may be said that he Is Roanoke. He con-
ducts a large store there, he conducts the
local bank, and at his own expense he has