The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-07-21
JOHNSTON WILL LEAD FIGHT.
tBY JOS. OIL,

| tbi jus. OftLJ
Montgomery, Ala. July ls.--Governor
Johnston is to lead the fight for Bryan
delegation from Alabama In the National
convention. II It Is the purpose OF Sem
ator Morgan or any other public men In
Alabama to secure a delegation for any
other candidate or a delegation unpedged
to Bryan. they will find Governor John
ston making a square, straight fight for
the man from Nebraska.
Not only has he determined to do every
thing in his power to carry the delega-
tion for Bryan, but Governor Johnston
Is positive that he will be successful in
his efforts. He believes that the vast
majority Of the democrats OF the State
stand with him not only in contending
that Mr.. Bryan should be the party's
nominee but also that the Chicago plat
form should be reiterated in all its essen
tials.
The governor is making no fight upon
anybody. The newspapers and the poll
tclans of the State have been trying for
q good while to make him say whether
! he has his eye upon any other ONCE
/ than that which he now holds. and they
/ nave tTlcQ 10 put MIN IN the htNlAhht VI
opposing Senator Morgan and of being
sort Of general political dictator; but the
/ governor has said nothing. He Will not
/ discuss the senatorship nor Will he critl-
| else Senator Morgan, although he takes
| sharp issue with the senator's recent anti
| Bryan interview.
"All the statements and interviews and
| talks suggesting some other candidate
for the presidency than Mr.. Bryan are
a waste of words. so far as Alabama is
concerned" said Governor johnston. in
| talking with me about the matter today
There can be no question that the over
whelming sentiment of the democrats OF
| this State is not only in favor OF the re-
| iteration OF the Chicago platform but
! also OF the denomination of Mr.. Bryan
| You Will find, ! think. that the delega-
tion to the next National convention will
stand as a unit upon those two PROPOSE
| tons"
"Will you take an active part in secur-
ing that end?" asked
My proposition" said Governor John
ston. has been very clearly understood
in Alabama, though do not know that l
have has special occasion to state it,
shall do everything in my power to secure
Bryan delegation to the next National
convention. No politicians can hope to
subvert the will of the people of this
| State under any pretenses. ! am conf
dent that about nine democrats in Ala
| bama out of every ten feel as | do that
| Mr.. Bryan Is the one man TO be consid-
| cred in connection with the nomination
| for the presidency. and that it is foolish
to talk of anybody else. | am for Mr.
Bryan not through any particular per-
sonal ties, although have met him very
pleasantly. but because he is eminent
| ly the man to lead us in the coming
| campaign He Is not only a great orstor
but he is a man OF the breadth OF real
craftsmanship, and beyond and above all
! things, he is one in whom the people
| have absolute confidence. They know
| that he has the courage of his convic-
| tons, they know that he is on the side
of the people they know that ne is not
| only right. but that he stands as no other
man can stand for all of the principles
set for tn in the Chicago platform. Events
| are unquestionably pointing to the fact
| that the coming campaign VIII be but
| continuation in most respects of the cam
paign of 1896 The democratic masses
| who made the platform in 1896 meant it
to be what it is--a great declaration of
| democratic principles. They propose to
keep up the fight on the lines then laid
down, and there Is no question that they
| feel that Bryan is the man of all men TO
be their standard bearer, Not only does
| a
said. but he holds. as no Other man
in decades has held, the confidence and
the enthusiastic worship, | might say, OF
the people"
Governor how does the suggestion of
the nomination OF some negative sort of
man. man who will simply pledge him
self not to veto a silver bill, strike you?'
asked.
"a nomination like that" said Governor
Johnston, would mean simply return to
the days when the trlmmers had control
of the democratic party, made its plat
forms and selected its candidates, The
democrats of this country are in no mood
10 consider n return to those days 1t
| will be n long time before they forget the
| disasters which came as the result of
| letting those clements run the affairs of
| the party. We made a trial of that bust
ness when Cleveland was nominated the
| last time. His election was the most dis
| astrous that has befallen the democratic
| party in many years Thine experiment
| will not be repeated. The campaign is
| bound TO be fought to n large extent at
| least. on the money issue. The demo-
Gratis of the States which give demo-
cratic electoral votes will not think OF
any other candidate save some man who
stands clearly and distinctly as the rep
resentative OF their principles on this and
other issues.
The republican party has now reached
point where II can no longer evade the
responsibility of coming out squarely in
advocacy of the single gold standard.
That Will certainly force the money ques-
ton to the front and no man save a
straight-out supporter of the complete
restoration OF silver can by any posi-
bility be nominated as the candidate of
the democratic party. Mr. Bryan repre-
sents the views OF his party not only on
this. but on all other questions. Speaking
for Alabama, / feel safe in saying that
there is no thought except perhaps among
few politicians, of any other candidate.
The people almost to man are for Bryan.
and j feel certain that Alabama which
acts first and Is first on the roll call of
States. viii point the way to the other
states OF the South and VIII send solid
Bryan delegation to the next conyen-
tion."
what in your opinion, governor is
,ha ,,aaning of this talk OF some other