The age-herald., 1900-01-19
JEFFERSON TO BE
 HOTLY CONTESTED Morgan and Johnston Forces Will Make Active Canvass. THE DIRECT VOTE QUESTION Matter Still in Muddle-Red Hot Poli- tics in Clarke County-Gubernato-
 rial Contest Not Forgotten
 The Qualifications
THE DIRECT VOTE QUESTION


 Senator Morgan and Governor Johnston. Every beat will have it's Morgan and its Johnston club unless present plans fall through. It seems to be a conceded fact that the fight between these two contest ants will be of the torrld nature and ex- citing in the extreme.
 The Morgan people will organize a coun- ty campaign committee tomorrow, a meet ing for that purpose having been called by the Morgan state campaign committee, which has headquarters at the Morris ho- tel.
 The Johnston people will organize a John- ston campaign committee early in Februa- ", and will follow that up with a thorough and systematic canvass of the county in behalf of Governor Johnstons candidacy for the United States senate.
 Senator Morgan's supporters claim that he will carry Jefferson county by a good majority, and Governor Johnston's sup porters seem equally as confident of suc- cess.
 In the meantime each side Is casting about for suitable men to make the race for the state senate and the house of repre- sentstives. Leaders of both sides say they will 6bring out the cleanest and strongest men possible, and that whichever wins Jeff terson county will be represented at Mont gomery next winter by the abest delega- ton ever sent to the general assembly of the state.
 Direct Vote for Governor The question of direct vote for guberna- 4au;al primary is as badly muddled as ever Nearly two weeks ago petition was sign ed by the requisite number of the commit tee requesting Chairman Lowe to call a meeting of the executive committee. The object of the meeting was not stated in the request. but it was understood to be for the purpose of modifying the plan of the demo- cratic primary with regard to candidates for governor As the plan now stands the county convention will name the delegation to the state convention. The intention was to have the committee order the names of candidates for governor printed on the bal lots, and to provide also, that the candidate getting a plurality vote in the primary should have the privilege of naming the delegation to the state convention.
 Following closely on the heels of this move came a suggestion that the sub-com- mittee in charge of the primary had all the authority necessary in this respect and that if they saw proper they could place the names of candidates for governor on the ballots When informed of this suggestion, Chairman Lowe avowed his intention to call a meeting of the full committee if the sub- committee undertook such proceeding.
 Another Petition
 Then came a petition, prepared day or two ago, and signed by sufficient num- Der of executive committeeman, requesting the chairman to call the committee to- eether, and stating specifically the busi- ness to be transacted at such meeting. That 1t should modify the primary plan only in so far as 1t affected tine candidates for governor and no farther. That it should order the names of gubernatorial candidates printed on the ballots to vote in the primary and then adjourn.
 The object of the meeting was specified, 1t is claimed, to allay the fear on the part of some, that if the committee should meet they would alter. the entire primary plan, and for that reason there were some objections to committee meeting.
 This last petition has not yet been handed to Chairman Lowe. and whether it will be depends largely on tine develop ments of the next few days. The candidates for governor express their willingness to leave the question Ito the committee as to whether the vote in the primary be direct for the candidate or for delegates to the county convention. Clarke County Clarke county is the present political
  primary will be held there tomorrow. That county has received within Ithe past ten days perhaps the most thorough canvass in its history. Prominent political speak CTS have addressed the voters of every precinct in the county, and the issues of the campaign have been thoroughly dis cussed. The county Is now claimed by both Senator Morgan and Governor John ston, though up until ten days ago 1t was practically conceded. to the governor. The candidates for governor have not al- lowed the senatorial candidates to monopo- lize the attention of the Clarke county voters. MT. Tomlinson and Congressman stallings have been in the county several days, and each has made an aggressive canvass. Generally Shelley stated several days ago that he would go to Clarke coun- ty about the middle of the week, but for some cause he did not go. The Qualifications Governor Johnston is reputed to have said in a speech in Crenshaw county last Saturday that participation in the demo- cratic primary did not pledge the voter to vote for the nominee of such primary. This statement has given rise to considerable discussion to the qualifications necessary for participation in the primary. To set | at rest this discussion the Age-Herald herewith publishes the resolutions bearing on that subject adopted by the state execu- | tive committee. The resolutions read as | follows:
 "Be 1t resolved by the democratic state executive committee of Alabama that we | hereby cordially invite all conservative voters. irrespective of past political asso-