The age-herald., 1902-03-04
Washington Day byDay

Washington, March s.-(special)-Gen- eral Harrison of Opelika Is impliedly candidate for Governor of Alabama, in succession to MT. Jelks next November. Perhaps it would be more accurate to say that he Is tentatively candidate In that 1 his friends are urging him and he has so far yielded to their wishes as to seek expressions of opinion and support from 1 various Democrats of influence In the state.
 | General Harrison is unwilling to an- swer yea or nay to those friends who are asking him to become an avowed candi- date for the Goyernorship until he has in a measure ascertained the general public view through the medium of public lead l CTS. Assuming that as a matter of course he is sincere in his attitude, he is pur- suing wiser course than most other men l who seek public office, and therefore his 1 final decision will depend upon the pre- ponderating character of the replies he 1 will receive from his inquiries of Demo- 1 cratic party leaders throughout the state 1 It will be recalled, however, that Gen
 
 position of being forced to accept the l state Senatorship from the Opelika Sem 1 atorial district in the last Legislature, l declaring persistenly that he did not de- l sire the honor. It Is not remembered that he ever did formally accept the Senator l ial nomination unless he did so by a word at the last moment. The facts l force the familiar phrase, Swearing he'd never consent, consented"
 Fresh In the public mind of Alabama Is the condition that General Harrison refrained from declaring himself a can 1 didate against MT. Jell1s for the presi- dency of the state Senate, yet he and his friends wrote to the state Senators con 1 corning whose support of MT. Jelks there was any possible doubt, asking for an expression of views as to his own can didacy and, inferentially at least, ask ing for support of General Harrison him. self; and we all know that a few of the most powerful politicians of the Demo- cratic party spent many days in Mont gomery putting forth every effort to de- feat MT. Jeks by eecting General Har- rison.
 Up to the time of Governor, elect Sam ford's desperate illness, the election of .ar. Jelks to the presidency of the Sem ate was every where accepted as fore gone conclusion; but when 1t became ap- parent that MT. Samford's deplorable ill., ness would have the most mournful ter mination, the situation as to the presi- l dency of the Senate underwent a sudden 1 change.
 l This reference to our most recent polit- 1 ical records in Alabama Is made in the utmost good faith and good feeling; that 1t is rendered necessary in order to ar rive at a fuller understanding of the fact that General Harrison is now seeking an expression of views concerning and in support of his tentative candidacy for the governorship this year.
 The impression deepens with Alabam- ians of affairs that former Governor John ston does not desire another term as I governor, and that he will not consent l to become candidate unless all efforts 1 to secure some other candidate against MT. Jelks and the constitution shall fail. 1 Some Democrats of note in Alabama have written the opinion that General 1 Harrison sa ctivity as well as the appar- 1 ant activities of others in the State, Is really in the interest of Captain Johnston for governor. But that view Is scarcely tenable Undoubtedly Captain Johnston looms largest in the public eye in the present agitation against MT. Jelks and the genei al supporters of the consttu- tion. for he is the ablest man of all the opposition, and he still has a well-organ- ized force in politics.
 But Capt ain Johnston desires a seat in the United States Senate, and nothing else One or two other Democrats whose present attitude respecting the constitu- tion and the clements of it's support and adoption is doubtful desire also to reach the haven of the Senate But this is an- other story.
 The contention that if Captain Johnst on should again seek the Goyernorship and win it, the influences that were powerful enough to elect him might likewise be sufficiently strong to elect Legislature which would choose him Senator in sue 1 cession has been held untenable because l of the provision in the present constitu- ton making the Governor ineligible for l the United States Senate This argument is not sound and for three reasons: 1 A Governor elect is absolutely a private l citizen until he assumes the duties of his office, and up to a specified moment for taking the oath he is at liberty to decline I the office. The votes cast on election day make a Governor prospective, not an actual Governor.
 The constitutional provision that the Governor shall not be elected United States Senator is merely moral quan- tity. and as law it Is not worth the ink that prints 1t; the Senate itself being the sole judge of the qualification of its mem bers. The State Legislature may elect whom 1t pleases how 1t pleases; but the Senate decides the question of eligibility. The supreme law of the nation declares | how a Senator shall be chosen, and apart from the clearly-deflned and ex- pficit nnes the Senate would not consider anything.
 The opposition to the new constitution of Alabama opposes. It's purpose is to change or insofar as possible ignore cer- tain terms of this instrument of organic lo.., l. l.