The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-11-08
MR.. TOMLINSON
ON GEN. SHELLY
Expresses Some Pertinent Views
on the Latter's Candidacy.
THE CHICAGO PLATFORM
Says the General Worked Against Its
Adoption Fight Being Made on
Bryan to Displace His Leader
ship-His Own Position.

Hon. John w. Tomlinson, candidate for
governor, was in the city yesterday
mingling with friends from over the state
He will leave this morning for North Ala
bama, where he has appointments to make
several speeches.
To an Age-Herald reporter Mr.. Tomlin-
so nsaid: "If General Shelley is really in
the race for governor q have seen no for
NAL announcement from him to that eff
fecD, 1 am somewhat surprised, because he
stated positively through the newspapers
before became candidate that he would
not run for governor. He reiterated that
fact in The Age-Herald, in the same issue
in which announced my candidacy. What
has transpired behind the political scenes
that would cause General Shelley to change
his plans 1 do not know. Personally I like
General Shelley, but I am opposed to him
politically; 1 worked for the adoption of the
Chicago platform; he worked against its
adoption; after its adoption fought for 1t
because I believed in it; he stood on it be-
cause the democratic party declared 1t its
platform; am for it's readoption; I do not
understand that he is; 1 stand with Mr..
Bryan in his fight against imperialism; he
does mott
Fight Against the Chicago Platform
"Only few months ago. continued Mr..
Tomlinson, "the opponents of the Chicago
platform, taking advantage of the fact that
certain party leaders in the senate aud In
congress differed from Mr. Bryan regarding
the ratification of the treaty of peace with
Spain, started a systematic campaign for
his displacement as the democratic leader,
and the movement assumed considerable
proportions at the national capital, but the
advocates of the Chicago platform were on
the alert and secured meetings of the demo-
cratic national committee and the demo-
cratic national silvr committee, at which it
developed the sentiment being brought in
from all over the nation, that the demo-
cratic masses were overwhelmingly for the
readoption of the Chicago platform and
the denomination of Bryan and against im-
perialism and trusts
"But the fires of opposition are but smol-
dering, ready to be famed into flame on
the slightest notice. Every discouraging
incident between now and the national con-
vention will be seized upon and urged as a
reason for the national democracy to de-
clare against the Chicago platform and
bryan. fIHOS6 WHO nave Ueeu luClIlltu III
the past to do so will be inclined to do like
wise in the future on the slightest provo
cation.
Alabama the Point of Attack
| "It is known at headquarters that Ala
| bama is to be the main point of attack in
| the south by the opposition. When the Van
| Wyck boom was on it was proclaimed that
| Alabama was against Mr. Bryan. In North
| Alabama few weeks ago one of my oppo-
| nents stated-not in public speech, however
that he believed that a majority of the
| democrats in the state were opposed to
| Bryan. / know that 1T is not true; the
masses are for Bryan, because they know
| he is sincerely for the Chicago platform;
| but unless they organize there may be dam
ger of the state being carried against them,
| as it was in 1894, while they are lulled into
| security by the declaration that there is to
| be no fight against Bryan and the Chicago
| platform.
when I entered the race" continued Mr..
| Tomlinson, II was fully aware that power
| full influences In this county were hostile
| to the views thatI believed In, but l shall
not he deferred by any opposition from
continuing to fight for the principles as de-
clared in the Chicago platform-for the re-
| nomination of Bryan, against the trusts
and combines and against imperialism"