The age-herald., 1900-03-27

 contest in Alabama was contributed to the Atlanta Constitution of Sunday by E. w. Barrett:
 Birmingham, Ala, March A.-The pri- mary election in the senatorial contest in Alabama is scheduled for Saturday, April A. On this day the democratic party is to select about eighty-one candidates for the house of representatives and about seven- teen candidates for the senate. There are sixteen "hold-over" senators. About nine teen representatives have already been nominated
 Tn every county fin the state the actual candidates for the legislature are incon- spicuous. The contest Is Morgan-Johnston everywhere. AM local and other issues are practically eliminated or occupy the outer circle of the battle-ground
 Senator Morgan will have served twenty four years, or four terms, in the United States senate on the 4th of March next, when his present term expires. To Alabam- ians he has heretofore ranked as did Ben Hill to Georgians. Morgan for a score of years has been the popular idol of the peo- pie of Alabama. They have respected him. loved him and have been proud of him. No man in Alabama was ever known to have used the word politician as descriptive of Morgan. As a statesman they have spoken of, honored and been proud of him. Until Governor Johnston burst into the pasture of political notor.ety no thoughtful Ala bamian over dreamed that Morgan so long as he lived would ever have opposition to continuous succession to himself in the sen ate
 "Governor Johnston is ambitious and in- dustrous Through the aid of Senator Morgan and his friends and followers after unsuccessful attempts in 1880 and lssi, Joseph F. Johnston finally, in 1S96 won the democratic nomination for governor. Dur ing his first term Governor Johnston won much praise and credit as business gov ernor He applied himself diligently and with courage, and brought about many creditable reforms in the administration or the state government Beginning with ms second term, over year ago. his ampltioh began to override his statesmanship. lhe praises heaped upon him and the power III his grasp turned his head and talents 10 the building of a political machine about hlfn' His former business administrator or al- fairs began tottering as his machine pumo- ing ambition expanded and as senatoriai desires began permeating his speculatiVe brain.
 "He advocated a constitutional conven- tion-a sore necessity in thds state, 10 eliiiii nate the negro and thereby to an extent purify the ballot box, which has hereeo- fore in many sections of this snte, been Intensely muddy. A constitutional conNen- tion hill with his support passed poth houses of tine legislature and received ms signature Primaries to elect delegates to the convention were held. Many or the de,eqates selected had ioeen and remained Jchnstons political opponents within the lines of the party. Soon thereafter doV- ernor Johnston, perhaps fearing that the acts of hies political opponents in constl- tuticnal convention might result in the smashing of the political machine he had constructed, called the legislature in extra session, and under political whip and spur, and with the aid of populist and repuoi- can members, drove through bill repeal ing the convention act. Success In this led him and his immediate followers to an exalted idea of his strength and power and he soon thereafter announced himself a candidate for the United States senate to succeed Morgan.
 From the day of his announcement the contest has been vigorous. At Athens and other points in Limestone county he and Senator Morgan met in joint debate. It was largely a one-sided affair The people applauded and enthused over Morgan; and Limestone, an early county to act, went overwhelmingly for Morgan. The senator was then recalled to Washington and the joint debates ended. Morgan has remained in Washington practically all the time since while Johnston has been actively at work on the stump, and by virtue of his irpdomitaloe energy and political ability has succeeded in carrying several of the early counties to act-especially counties largely popuhstic. Indeed Governor John ston is much stronger among the populists than among the democrats.
 "As matters stand today of the sixteen snold-oNer senators, one of whom Is a populist, nine are counted for Morgan five for Johnston, including the populist. and two for Oates. Oates, however, has re- tired from the race, and it is claimed that his two votes will go to Morgan.
 "Of the counties which have already acted, Morgan has carried Clarke, with two votes Colbert, with one; Crenshaw, with one; Limestone, with one; Marengo, with two. and Walker, with one, making a total of eight.
 Johnston has carried Jackson, with twoj Marshall, with one, and Winston, with one, total of four.
 1.-Two nominees-one from Coffee and one from Dale-have instructed for Oates, but will now go for Morgan, giving him ten of the fourteen already instructed. 1.-Two nominees in Morgan and one in Macon counties are to be instructed. Both candidates claim them.
 Russell county, with two members of the house, acted and went for Johnston several weeks ago, but owing to gross ir- regularities In the Girard beat, opposite Co., lunsous, Ga., new primary has been or dered in that beat and 1t may change the result. The Georgians are alleged to have taken hand in the interests of the gov ernor.
 Information from the great bulk of the counties to act on the 14rn of April Is that Senator Morgan will secure perrsctly safe rnaiority