The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-08-03

creased the power OF the court house
Clique to control counties.
There were other clauses in the new
Constitution that he objected to, espe-
cially that clause giving the right to
create 40 new officers in Alabama. Too
much attention had been paid to creating
the offices and not to the people who had
to pay these officers. He said that Dali
las County Lad sent UP about 5000 ma
jority for the new Coz ,t!tption (applause)
and had never been on the negro side of
any question. He made strong anti-con-
stitution speech.
He paid his respects to Governor Jelks
for saying that he would not appoint a
man registrar who was opposed to the
new Constitution. He claimed to be a
Democrat from conviction, had never
lodged Democratic election. and had
never took the stump against a Demo-
cratic platform.
Governor Johnston said he knew the
new Constitution was adopted and when
he was elected Governor he was going
to take an oath to support the new Con-
stitution; that he was going to do his
best to enforce the new Constitution in
the interest of the people. His opponents
had done him great political honor
when they thought that he could take
the Constitution by the throat and choke
1t to death.
He Landed his own acts as Governor,
and claimed that while he was Governor
he had not laid his heavy hand on any
honest farmer, lawyer. mechanic or mer-
chant. He was in, favor of inviting men
in the Democratic party and not In favor
of driving them out. He wanted as many
Democrats as possible for we needed
theNn in hIlcinaQS fIuo
The negro Is now eliminated" he said
land you can't bring up these over
whelming majorities as you once did"
He claimed that he was reared in the
Presbyterian faith and he believed 1t was
foreordained that he was to be nomi-
mated and elected Governor. When he
took his seat ne would take the new Con-
stitution up in his arms and would en-
force 1t as best he could. The trainers
of the new Constitution made a mistake
in not saying that Joseph F. Johnston
should not hold another office.
He asked any one who were not salts
fled with his position on the new Consti-
tuition to stand up and speak out, and
not shoot paper wads in his back after
he was a hundred miles away. A good
| many things had been put in the new
Constitution at his suggestion, and he
| thought most any kind of a Constitution
could be enforced right If a first-rate
man was In the gubernatorial chair. He
| was in favor Of the new Constitution on
one ground, for 1t had forced a primary.
| He said in 1898 he came out for a pri-
mary, wherein the white Democrats OF
| Alabama could express their preferences
at the polls. He criticised Governor
Jelks for saying ANY old thing would
| do him." when the talk for a primary
a n hat hat he en- lI,, mai
| in favore OF a primary. He claimed that
| Governor Jelks had advocated in his pa
per, the Eufaula Times. that negroes
| should vote in Democratic primaries.
He lauded himself to the skies for the
part that ne took as a member of the
| lighting committee 1t was mighty easy
| for little bob tail politicians to go round
the streets and criticise him for driving
| the negroes out Of the offices in Dallas
| county. He called on any in the audience
| to get up and say then wherein he had
done anything 50 wrong. He wanted him
to stand up now and speak out, or for
ever hold his peace.
Governor Johnston said he had not
promised any man to make him United
States Senator or any other office.
but he was going into office a
perfectly free man He argued that
Under the letter of the constitution Jelks
would be ineligible to be Governor. He
defended himself from the charge that he
had dominated and bossed the Iegisla-
| ture. made that body pass any law or
| repeal any law that he saw proper.
All during his speech Governor Johnston
was applauded literally. His audience
amounted to about $50 before he closed
and the closest attention was paid to
what he said.
He replied to what Mr.. Knox said
about his not using good grammar. II
he could get the votes of those who did
not use good grammar he would not care
a cent for the votes of the fellows who
spoke correctly. The reason he could not
speak correct grammar was. that he was
at the front with Lee and Joseph e.
Johnston, when he ought to have been
at school, He lauded himself for passing
the back tax law and making the cor
pOrations come uA" He plead guilty
to the clarge. took the responsibility Of
approving the law creating a salary for
the Adjutant General, and also assumed
the responsibility for the appointment of
the clerk at 81 200 salary, whose duty 1t
was to get money into the public treasury
and that he had got in s2S, 900 toward the
education of the children Of Alabama the
first year. His speech from one end to
the other was a laudation Of his own ad-
ministration.
He alluded to what Governor Oates had
said. and quoted what the Joint commit
of the legislature had brought in. claim
ing IN round numbers that there was a