The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-01-02
MORGAN or ALABAMA.
The Effort to Defeat His Reelection and
the Lines on which 1t IL Ordered.

WASHINGTON. Jan. John T. Morgan took
his seat in tho Senate from Alabama on March
1. 1877. with a Republican colleague. lie was
one Of the group OF Southern Democrats sworn
in as MON bers OF the Forty-nfth Congress on
the same day-Manning {, Butler OK South
Carolina. Lucius Z. G, Lamar OF Mississippi.
Matt Ransom OF North Carolina. Richard
Coke OF Texas. Augustus II. Garland OF
Arkansas, Isham q. Harris OF Tennessee,
John W. Johnson OF Virginia. and Ben
Hill Of Georgia, OF this noted group.
Senator Morgan is now the solitary political
survivor and after nearly twenty-tour years OF
consecutive and conspicuous service his fourth
term expires on March 4, 1000 his reelection
is disputed 10y rivals. under circumstances
which make the contest OF national interest.
Senator Morgan II now In his seventy-sixth
year. but il reflect cd he will, when he ends the
term. still be Ave years younger than was
Senator Morrill, Of Vermont at his death.
The State election in Alabama. at when the
Legislature that will have the choice OF a
United States Senator Ia to be elected. will not
be held until next August, but already the
primaries for the selection OF Democratic
nominees have been and are being held
throughout the State. OF course, a Demo-
cratic nomination is practically equivalent TO
an election. the last Legislature having only D
Republicans 10 l2S Democrats and Populists.
The candidates are Senator Morgan. Governor
Johnston. ek.Congressman william @. Oates.
and John @. Roquemore OF Montgomery.
The reelection OF Senator Morgan Is opposed.
first. on geographical grounds. The southern
counties Of Alabama are devoted to agriculture
and shipping, the northern TO mining ana
manufacture Mobile In the south. Birming-
ham In the north and Montgomery. the capital.
in the central belt Of counties. the three most
important cities. have no Senator. but both
OF the present senators come from the town
OF Selma, a place OF 5000 Inhabitants
Accordingly. the northern counties, which have
shown recently the largest measure OF growth
in population and resources, generally favor
the election Of Governor Johnston. who Is a
resident Of Birmingham. In the next place. the
Alabama Democrats are ardent Silverites.
almost wholly. and they suspect Senator Nor
gan 81 lukewarm support Of Bryan's renom-
nation. At tho Chicago Convention In 1890
the delegates from Alabama. twenty-five In
number. voted for Band. thon q leading candl-
date. but on the fourth ballot shifted to Bryan.
putting him In the lead and assuring his nom
ination on the fifth. Senator Morgan candid
recognition Of the iutility and hopelessness OF
'anti-im perialism" as a Democratic issue for
tins year has also been OBpu III the eUOTJ 10
array the Bryan men Of Alabama against him.
Candidate Johnston is the Governor. He
has served two terms and the power Of tho
State Administration in Alabama is an I'm
portant factor IN it's politics. more especially at
O time when che Federal Offices are under Re.
publican control. The people OF Alabama,
however. have much to gain through tina policy
OF expansion and OF the enlargement OF the
American foreign market, The cotton In
dustry OF the southern counties. tho iron in
dustry OF northern counties. the two chief
factors In the States prosperity and de-
velopment. cannot be served by the main
teDance OF a hermit policy. Mobile, one
OF the chief ports o. the Gulf. has been
resumlng some Of its former great promi-
hence since the enlargement Of the American
marked in the Antilles as a result OF American
victories. and the success Of the Nicaragua
Canal project. in which Alabama Is deeply In.
terested. by bringing the trade Of the Pncinc
closer, would be Of substantial advantage.
Senator Morgan has been consistent in his
advocacy Of tho policy which has brought such
credit to American arms and prosperity to the
country generally. and he perceives the advan-
tage which must come TO the South through
Ind ustrial alliance with the interests which
predo inmate in the North. and the discarding
Of the geographical lines established in the
(ivil War, A laudable and reasonable trust In a
representative who has served the State so
long encourages the hope that Alabama viii
have the benefit OF Senator Morgan services
for another term.