The age-herald., 1900-03-27
IA REVIEW OF ALABAMA'S
 SENATORIAL CONTEST

Montevallo; that he actually sold the most valuable pant of the mineral lands granted by congress to the state university at prices far below their actual value. and that, LOO, when he could have leased the lanuS at rates that would have been most profitable to the university, and 1t is further claimed that Governor Johnston is not fitted for a seat in the United States senate.
 ''The supporters of Senator Morgan ask his reelection on account of his useful and illustrous career in the senate; his great deeds there for the whole people and for the cardinal principles upheld by the demo- cratic party; his pre-eminence as senator, a statesman and an American of the Ameri- cans, and his powerful mastery of state craft, his exalted character, and finally be- cause he is nobly representative of the spirit and wishes of his people.
 Morgan is decidedly in the lead The best informed and most conservative poli- ticians are convinced that he will control not only handsome majority of the demo- crats in the next legislature, which will be elected in August and assemble in Novem- Der, but that he will have a decided majori- ty on joint ballot, and all his votes will be democrats!
 There has been some possip to the effect that Governor Johnston may oppose a dem ocratic caucus, and in open session appeal to all representatives regardless of political affiliations. This gossip is based upon the fact that some of the leading populists are actively at work for the governor, and that he has refrained from referring to a legs- Native caucus of democrats Governor John ston has not publicly expressed himself in respect to these matters, and the conclusion of the gossipers is, therefore, eonjeotural. But however that may be. there Is not now any reasonable cause for doubting that Morgan's majority of democrats in the gen. eral assembly will he amply sufficient to overcome any sort of combination.
 -..-lxA l-. t11 To- is the main point in the struggle that now extends to every one of the sixty-six coun- ties It Is Governor JohnStons home coun- ty and he has a thorough organization made up largely of his appo'ntees to pubIle office, and those appointed directly through his instrumentality. There are seven votes here one senator and six representatives two moro than there are from Montgomery the second most popufous county or the state. The headquarters of both the MOT gan and Johnston state committees are here The struggle Is intense, and 1t VIII become more so until the 14th of April. The odds are decidedly in favor of Morgan. ln- deed. st the mcrnent he Is undoubtedly the winner of Jefferson.
 .The senatcr. will most likely carry Mont gomery county notwithstanding the arpi- trary method for choosing delegates to the comfy conventions by beats without regard to vote or population except in limited degree regarding city beats It Is also prac- tically certain that Mobile will go for Mor- gan.
 '.The largest four counties are Jeffersn1, Montgomery, Mobile and Dallas. Senator Morgan is practically certain to carry all four Dallas Is his home county, and there is no Johnston following there. It may be safely said that all the black belt counties will support Morgan and he will get most of the northern counties.
 "Of the four south Alabama counties that have directly instructed for senator, John ston did not carry one. So it would appear that he Is not strong down in that section
 Tn conclusion, to deal in actual figures, there will be 133 votes in the general assem- bly on joint ballot. Of these Morgan is ab- solutely sure of 80, Johnston is practically sure to get 24. and in the doubtful column are 29 Conceding all the doubtfuls to John ston, Morgan would yet have majority: Indeed, Morgan's recollection is practical certainty"