The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-07-17
HAS MADE
NO PLEDGES.

"I shall enter upon the canvass for the
nomination for Govrnor without having
entered into n single combination, or hav-
ing directly indirectly made a single
promise OF office Oh reward to any one.
My hands are unshackled and my con-
science free Of obligation TO any one. II
am nominated and elected I shall enter
upon the duties of the office free to
serve the best interest Of the people, and
| pledge myself to give, so far as | can,
to every citizen of the state, rich or poor.
humble or proud corporation or individ-
ual, the rights secured to them by the
laws of the land, and to oppose the null
tiplication of offices and the increase Of
salaries, whether state or county, and to
secure so far rs possible to every qualified
voter the right to cast and have honestly
counted enc equal uncoerced ard un-
bribed vote, in every primary and cleo
ton for the selection end election or his
public officials. In the discharge OF my
duty no sentiment of revenge, and no
remembrance of personal wrong or inJus-
tice shall influence my conduct. l shall
endeavor to pe the just Governor of all
the people, and of every inch OF territory
within the domain of our state
II am sure that my old friends, al
wsys generous, will rally to my support,
and l shall welcome with gratitude the
support Of the honorable and fair men.
who have felt 1t their DUTY, as 1t was
their privilege, to oppose me in the past"
Mr.. WALLER
MAKES STATEMENT.
After Mr.. Johnston had agreed to the
wishes of the conference, the Hon.
Charles E. Waller of Hale was called
upon to speak. He earnestly and heartily
endorsed the action taken as to Mr..
Johnston's candidacy. The conference
unanimously urged Mr. Waller to be
a candidate for lieutenant governor, and
after consultation with his friends ne
agreed to follow the advice OF the con-
ference. standing, he said, on the record
made by him as speaker of the House
of Representatives and as candidate
In 1900 for Governor; and standing also
for the amendment of the present cleo
ton law so as to allow the voter to
fix his own ballots as he might choose,
using such paper as he liked, even to
the writing of his own name, or placing
any other mark of identification thereon;
and that all ballots be numbered and the
names of the voters be numbered to cor
respond. He said that If elected he
would do all he could to provide by law
for eliminating all corrupt practices in
primaries and elections, which have
arisen from the presence of great horde
of negro voters in the State. He read
the announcement made by Mr.. Johnston,
and said that he heartily endorsed Cap
tain Johnstons utterances.
The proceedings of the meeting lasted
about an hour, and the only business
transacted was the agreement that Mr.
Johnston should be a candidate for Gov
ernor and that he should name his own
campaign committee. issue an address If
he thought necessary and otherwise di-
| rect and control his own canvass abso-
| lutely.
| No candidates for other state offices
| or any office was agreed upon or dis
cussed. The conference was unani-
mously and emphatically for Mr.. john
ston for Governor.
THOSE WHO
MADE SPEECHES.
Speeches in cordial support of Mr..
Johnston were delivered by former Con-
gressman Jesse F. Stallings of Butler
and William II. benson of Jefferson;
Gel. Sam VIII John and Peyton G. Bow
man of Jefferson, former Speaker
Charles E. Waller of Hale, Captain
Crook of Calhoun, James Foy of Bar
bour and others
Secretary Wetmore said after the meet
Ing that $50 representatives of the forces
opposing Jelks were present. and of these
ten were of Jefferson county. He said
that practically the entire state was
CONTINUED on Third Paae.)