The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-06-20
HE ISSUES A STATEMENT
Discusses Question of Primary
 or Convention.
The Selma Attorney Resents the Insinuation That His Boomlet is Matching in the Joe
 Johnston Incubator.

Selma. June 19.-(special) )-At a late hour this evening Colonel w w. Quarles of this city, who it has been said for the past few weeks. would be candi- date for Governor against Governor Will liam D. Jelks. issued the following state- ment:
 The following is decmed due from me to my friends, the public and myself at this time.
 When I saw 1t publicly stated. as from the inside that the powers that be had determined to order straight con- vention in order to force a large portion of the Democratic party to bolt. and say "Shibboleth." and the fight of the rank and file for their natural political rights seemed to be all but finally lost. I felt, In duty and good conscience, bound to lift a warning and pleading voice in The Mobile Register. Five reputable gentle men, two in Montgomery. two in Mobile and one in Selma. can, under their oaths, acquit ex-Governor Johnston of all com plicity in this crime Hundreds of friends here and elsewhere throughout the State can likewise acquit him of all complicity in the crime) of being the father in part or in whole, of an earnest desire to see me Chief Executive of their beloved State. I have ever been, and am still. the friend and supporter of Senators Morgan and Pettus. of Judge Haralson and Treasurer Smith.
 Is Not Candidate.
 am not a candidate for Governor of Alabama, nor do want to become one.
 am not committed by word or action to any human being to run or not to run.
 am not one of the outs
 am not seeking office, but I a mearn- estly and honestly seeking the full and absolute triumph of the natural political right of all Democrats in Alabama to rule themselves. unshackled Rnd ureursed by too much machinery and committees.
 The unqualified and immediate triumph of vital principles is, in my humble opin- ion, of infinitely more importance to all the people of this State than the answer to question as to who shall be Governor.
 Will we have straight convention, or a straight primary for the nomination of our next Governor? Is a question nearer and dearer to my heart even than wheth- CT I shall be so honored.
 They say the committee will be self perpetuated unless the convention Is held. Why so? Cannot the people in the primaries elect four committeeman from the State at large and two, or any other number from each Congressional dis trict, just as easily as not? If not, pray why not?
 They talk about compromise. If the committee has the authority to give the people a. piece of loaf have they not the authority to give them whole one of bread? The supply is unlimited; and the people are hungry.
 They ask. Shall the bars be put down. and shall the bars be put up? Why not give this see-saw a rest? Let the bars stay just where they are. where they have been in this State for years, and where the National Democracy has held them firmly fixed from time immemorial- letting in all and keeping out none ''who believe In the principles and will support the nominees of the party"
 The Georgia plan is put forward for Just what is 1t, it is hard to say It seems to he part fish and part fowl. and leaves ample room for guessing, juggling and traff1&Sing.
 Mississippi's Plan.
 If we are SD poor in resources that we must borrow from our neighbors. why not go westward to Mississippi? Happy whose constitutions. laws and Supreme Court say all the party must be made in straight primaries. There political peace and harmony reign supreme to bless the peo pie and the commonwealth alike.
 But why not let us have an Alabama plan, all of our own and just as good or better than either; broad enough. good enough, to include and shelter all honest Alabama Democrats? A plan, simple, honest. just and Democratic, which says and means, secures and in sures; honest. legal and constitutional white supremacy in Alabama-a harmo nious white suffrage. and united De- mocracy which gives one vote to one man. with the sacred right to cast 1t un- 1 bought. unbartered. and unbossed. ac- cording 10 the dictates of the voters | own conscience and sovereign will. in straight honest primaries. and in hon l est elections at the voters own polling | place, at his own home flor his own | choice for every public officer, from con- | stable to Governor. and that vote to be | honestly counted just as cast
 For the enlightenment of certain fair l minded CD newspaper, published at the | capital, I trust I may be pardoned to say | that I have never been in the hands of | my friends @ politically, and am not | now, and do not expect to be In the tu- | ture and it's nasty assumption or the con- | trol and direction of my probable can | lidacy. and my movements, both now and hereafter, is entirely gratuitous, un- | authorized and undesired. My thoughts | and actions. whether l should run for | Governor or not, will not be controlled or | dictated by any one person or newspa-
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