The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-11-22
BOTH INDUCED IN SARCASM
Governor Offered the Senator
Choice of Time.
MORGAN DECLINED THE OPENING
Had Been Refused on Previous Day
and Did Not Care to Interfere With
the Governors Arrangements
Speakers in Fine Fettle.
MORGAN DECLINED THE OPENING
BY Ro8ERT M. RAwLEs

BY RO8ERT NJ. RAwLEs
Athens, November 21.-(Special) 1.-THE
third meeting between the senatorial can
didates, Morgan and Johnston, billed to
come off in this county, took place today at
Elk River Mills, in Big Creek beat, twelve
miles west of Athens.
This is one of the original stronghods of
the popuite party in this county. 1t is the
home of some of the leaders of that forlorn
hope.
There many of the meetings were held in
various schoolhouses, while the leaders Or
ganized strong opposition to the democ-
racy, but today when more than 200 of its
voting population assembled to greet the
two leaders who are trying to secure the
rich plum, there were but few who had not
returned to the original faith.
Elk River Mills is near the corner OF two
of the strongest white beats in the county,
and many from these beats came over to
hear the distinguished men who were to
speak.
Senator Morgan spent the night In
Athens, the guest of his old senatorial col
league, ex-senator Pryor, and drove out
this morning, reaching the speaking place
about 1870 o'clock. The governor had
spent the night in Wickham beat, across
the river, with Ben Gray, one OF his sup
porters on that side of the river, and with
his friend, Banker Allen, had reached the
ground some time prior to the time for the
speaking, and was shaking hands with the
"plain people, and strolling over the rich
fields that are bare of their crops, talking
agriculture and hog raising with the farm
ers.
enator Morgan Considerably improved
The senator, though feeling tired last
night from his thirty-mile drive of yester-
day and the exciting incidents of the day,
was in fine fettle and never appeared at a
better advantage than today when he drew
rein before the postoffice at Elk River
Mills. He was soon surrounded by a crowd
of admiring friends.
Many of them had never seen a senator
before, and many were old-time supporters
of General Morgan.
Cautain John A. Turner had been selected
10 introduce the speakers and to keep time
Nor Them An improvised stand was erected
near the placid waters of the peautl1ul Elk
and under a cotton shed tine gei9meheh
stood while addressing their fellow-citizens.
The governor this morning very gracious
Nv rendered the senator his preference as
To tdne but the senator replied that he mad
no preference, and his friends had asked
on the proceeding day for the opening ana
closing and This had been denied by phe
governor with tine assertion that the ap-
monuments We're his, and that this belonged
to him. he declined to take What he Thought
would be an unfair advantage and was
satisfied to use his hour and thirty minutes
altogether.
The Governor Speaks First
Governor Johnston was presented to the
audience and began his speech with the
usual statement of being glad to meet the
plain people.
He told of his election by the white peo-
ple, of his efforts to do whait was best for
the whole people, and while he had tried
to do this he mad been severely criticized
hy many but If there was a man who could
truthfully say that he had not discharged
his full duty, let him speak. His conscience
was clear.
The back tax law was first taken as the
first thing he had done after being inau-
guraited governor. When he went into
Office the Gich corporations and rich men
of the state we're paying but little or their
share of the taxes and the poor with one
mule or horse was bearing the burden of
taxation; that under the working of the
back tax law more than $4,000, 600 had been
added to the tax books of Alabama this
year, and that in Jefferson alone half of
this amount had been gathered from the
corporations that were escaping their share
of tine tax rate.
He had caused an investigation to be
made of the accounts of every officer who
had business with the state, and where they
were found ITO be short they were made
to ddsgorge His examiners had gone into
every county. The men who had not kept
square with the state were not all crimi-
nails. Some off them were honestly mistaken
The debt of the state had been wiped out,
an enormous debt of more than $3.50, 900, and
there was money dn the treasury to pay
every claim against the state.
Some Juggling with Figures"
'It is true,' said the governor, "that there
has been some juggling with figures"
The laws under his administration were
being as well enforced as under the admin
istration of any governor the state ever
had. That he had the satisfaction of seeing
more capital coming to the state for invest
ment than at any time in her history. Her
mines and furnaces were In full blast and
the credit of Alabama was higher than ever
in her history.
The state could borrow money cheaper
than 1t ever could. But, thank God, there
was no need to borrow. He had served the
people faithfully and we'll as governor and
was here as a candidate for senator of the
United States. He said that Morgan had
been more honored than any citizen In the
state. He had been faithful and diligent