The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-05-20
CANDIDATES NOW
ON THE HORIZON
Talk Of The GubeFnatOFiaI Contest HaS
Opened.
QUESTION OF THIRD TERM
Thought Probable Johnston Nay Want
to Succeed Himself.
SHELLEY MAY OR MAY NOT RUN
Presiding Officers of Both Branches of
General Assembly Are Looked
Upon as Aspirants-Cunning-
ham Will Not Talk.

Political matters in the state, In so far
as candidates are concerned, are rapidly
shaping themselves for the struggle of
1900; and that struggle, by the way, prom
Uses TO be the hottest experienced in Ala
bama since 1876.
The primary elections of the democratic
party will take place eight or ten months
hence; and the populists and republicans
will act about the same time.
Therefore, candidates believe the day Is
at hand when they should begin to make
their wishes known. Public interest CEN
ters in the governorship and the leglsla-
ture. Little attention is being given to
other branches of the public service.
1t is clear at the moment that there will
be a number of candidates for the demo-
cratic nomination for the governorship.
Johnston May Want Third Term
AS related in The Age-Herald four weeks
ago, there is strong impression that Gov
ernor Johnston will be candidate for "a
third term; and such action on his excel
lency's part certainly would not be poor
politics, considered from his present sltu-
alton and what is presumed to be his ulti-
mate ambition. Should he be nominated
and reelected governor he would probably
witness the election of a legislative ma
jority in sympathy with him. That would
mean, as a matter of course, that he would
be elected to the United States senate in
succession to Senator Morgan.
1t Is idle now to discuss the democratic
precedent of two terms only. Precedents
have been blown to the dispensing winds,
nd tJ,a o,,tJ, 2 Tho f{o
ization successfully defied, for the present
at any rate.
Johnston As a Candidate
No thoughtful person can doubt. Governor
Johnstons power, and nobody can galnsay
that there rests with him the prestige of
remarkable personal and executive tri-
umph Nor will any one deny that he dis
plays an audacity in politics unexampled
in this state for many long year.
He failed to get through the extra session
measures of constitutional amendment AMI
primary elections; but he erased from the
statute books the call for constitutional
convention before the ink of the printer
had been allowed full time to dry. The gov
ernor's bitterest opponents are impelled to
admit that victory rests with him. Whether
he has played good politics shall be DEM
onstrated next year. Clearly he must be
reckoned with as not improbable candi-
date for tho governorship in succession to
himself
1t may be that the governor has made a
trade with Congressman Stallings; ono OF
the considerations being that his excellency
shall support Stalings for the chief magis-
tracy; but all stories to that effect must
needs be accepted with reserve.
stallings Been Wanting 1t go Years
Stallings has been, in his dreams, cam
didate for the governorship twenty years,
or nearly half his life time. He has been
also a candidate for the United States
senate; and 1t is doubtful If his vaultlng
ambition goes not beyond even the "gilded
chamber" He is in the fight to win, and
has declared his intention, it is said, to
canvass every beat in forty-nine of the
sixty-six counties before the primaries next
spring. Presumably he considers some Of
the remaining seventeen counties already
his, and the others hopeless. He is a man
OF enormous energy, and he will give MS
opponents enough work to do in keeping
up with him.
Representative Hubbard
Other candidates for the governorship
who, it is alleged, regard themselves as en-
titled to Governor Johnston's friendly con-
sideration. are former Judge John p. Hub
bard, of Pike, and State Auditor Walter S.
White of Colbert. Judge Hubbard is a
| member of the present general assembly.
He was the speaker of the first democratic
house of representatives that assembled in
| Montgomery after the war between the
| states. That was in 1870, when Robert
| Burns Lindsay was elected the first demo-
| cratic governor. Governor Lindsay is
| spending the sunset of life peacefully al
| his home in Tuscumba, but former Speaker
| Hubbard considers that his own time is
come to be governor In 1880 he was elected
| Judge of the old Second circuit, defeating
| the late John K Henry, the oldest circuit
| judge in point of service then living in Ala
| bama. Judge Hubbard is a candidate now
| for the goyernorshp.
| Mr.. White is serving his second term as
| state auditor. He was formerly sheriff and
| tax assessor of Barbour county, and has
| many friends in southeast Alabama.
| George p. Jones May Want 1t
George p. Jones, of Lauderdale. would
apPAeSiatS anu "oleiiiy ouoiH ING oiiSo Va
| governor. He desires that high position
though he has not given it out that he will
be a candidate for the democratic nomina-
| ton. He is, and has been for many years,
| a member of the state democratic commit
| tee. and leaders of the party outside his
| district esteem him to be the strongest
| intellectual force in the Tennessee valley
| He is well under so, and is possessed OF
vast physical powers 1t is the most likely
| thing in politics that he will ask his party
| for the governorship.
Shelley May May Not Run
| General Charles NJ Shelley may or may