The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-11-17
JUDGE PURIFOY'S
ANNOUNCEMENT
Will Make Race for Commits
sioner of Agriculture.
FORMERLY STATE AUDITOR
Is Now Examiner of Public Accounts
Practically No Doubt That Popu-
list Party Will Disband-
ston Begins His Campaign

Age-Herald Bureau, Hotel MADISON, Mont
gomery, November 6.-(Special)-The con-
test for the democratic nomination for COM
missioner of agriculture is to be run on
five wheels. The fifth one was added to-
day when Judge John Purifoy of Wilcox,
sometime auditor of the state, and at pres
ent examiner of public accounts, announced
his candidacy. The other contestants are
Captain j. NJ. Thornton of Talladega, Col
onel r. R. Poole of Marriage, Colonel Hiram
Hawkins of Barbour and Captain w. H.
Lawson of Montgomery.
In discussing his candidacy this morning
Judge Purifoy said to the representative of
The Age-Herald:
II shall be a candidate for commissioner
of agriculture before the next democratic
state convention. If 1 have made only an
acceptable but, as is believed and asserted
by many others, familiar with my work. a
capable faithful and efficient judge OF pro-
bate of my county, legislator in the general
assembly of the state, state auditor and ex-
aminer of public accounts for the state,
without any previous preparation or train
ing, why should 1 not administer the office
of commissioner of agriculture in the same
lidhhcl, WITCH al iCdSt loi ~ ySeeAS ~ A--S
life has been spent in agriculture, actively
engaging in and directing it's practical
work?
"In presenting my name for the position
l do SO without any feeling that the party
or the people of the state owe me any I'M
paid debt for past services. If have dis
charged my duty faithfully and efficiently
in other positions of public trust, or as a
faithful partisan, l only did my duty. l
realize fully that these places of honor be-
long to the people, and it rests with them
to determine who shall be the fortunate
one. If any one of my competitors is nomi-
mated he shall have my cheerful support"
Populists .,Iu Dissolve
AS was predicted in the interview of
Judge Baltzell, sent from Montgomery to
The Age-Herald last Sunday, there is prac-
tically no doubt that the populiSt party in
Alabama intends to accept the proffer of
the democrats and participate in the demo-
cratic primaries in April. Former State
Senator A. T. Goodwin, of Gilmore, who
was the populist nominee for governor in
1885, was in the city today, and in an Inter
view with the representative of The Age
Herald he gave it as his opinion that the
above course would be pursued. "The pop
ulist conference in Birmingham on the 24th
will pass resolutions endorsing Governor
Johnstons administration and William j.
Bryan" said Captain Goodwin. "Of course
this means that the party will be disband-
ed. l have maintained ever since the demo-
cratic party showed it was in earnest about
the adoption of reforms suggested in the
populist platform that there was no use for
two populist parties"
Captain Goodwin further gave 1t as his
opinion that the populists would be very
active in their support of Governor John-
ston for the senate. This is exactly the re-
suit that has been predicted by all who
have watched the governors close confer
ences with the populist leaders since the be-
ginning of his second term as governor.
The Governor Starts Campaigning
Governor Johnston will be in Birmingham
to be present at the State fair tomorrow
Governors Day. From Birmingham the
governor will go to Athens, where he will
open his senatorial campaign in joint dis
cussion with Senator Morgan The gov
ernor will spend several days of next week
in Limestone, and will then probably go to
Marshall and Jackson counties All three
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