The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-07-03
His Friends Pointing to Him
as Candidate for Governor
WALLER MAY Be IN THE RACE
Campaign VIII Open Up After State
Committee Meeting-Beiieved
ouarles VIII Also Be
a Contestant.

nor Joseph F. Johnston is identified is
organized and active IN a quiet way
and Immediately after the meeting OF
the Democratic state executive commit
tee 1t will have out candidate for the
gubernatorial nomination. The name of
that candidate is being withheld from
the public but 1t is commonly believed
that 1t will be Capt. Johnston himself.
All that the former governor will say
to the interviewers is that strong
candidate Will oppose Gov. Jelks for
the nomination.
Close friends of Capt. Johnston say
that letters are being received here
from various parts of the state. which
point to Johnston as the man to make
the race. The only candidate thus far
formally In the race in addition to Gov.
ernor Jelks Is Judge A E. Caffee of this
city. It Is believed that the Hon. Charles
E. Waller of Hale, former speaker Of
the house of representatives and who
was a strong candidate for the Demo-
cratic nomination for governor two years
ago, will announce. It is likewise be-
lieved that Col. W. W. Quarles of Dali
las will run. Mr.. L. B. Musgrove is still
thinking of announcing. Maj. w. A.
Handley of Randolph is discussed as
probable candidate His friends are urg-
ing him to announce. And there is some
talk of former Governor w. c. Oates of
Montgomery as possible candidate.
Charles E. Waller.
The Hon. Charles e. Waller was In Bir-
mingham yesterday, and as he has been
w 1ar1ft I'd a "a
presence here was the occasion for much
speculation as to the probable course
Mr.. Waller would pursue. Numbers of
his friends called upon him while he was
here and some of them were free to ex-
press the opinion that Mr.. Waller would
enter the contest though it is understood
that he made no positive statement as
to his intentions.
Discussing the probable issues of the
campaign and his position relative to
them, Mr.. Waller referred to his record
in the Legislature of Alabama and the
great contest for the freedom of the
white people of the state from negro
domination. stating that 1t was well
known to all intelligent people Of the
state that on account of the presence in
Alabama of nearly an equal number OF
negro voters that the selection of all Of
ffcers, county and city. had to be made
in white conventions or primaries and
the question had to be settled solely and
wholly on the proposition of negro or
white supremacy
He pointed out that for many years he
had labored in the legislature for re-
vision of the constitution and his speech
es demonstrated that he desired the en-
tire elimination Of the negro vote In the
state. In these arguments he has ad-
mitted that the result of new consti-
tuition would be the organization OF, two
strong white political parties in Alabama
which he maintained would be to the
best interests of the state.
His Late Canvass.
In his late canvass for governor, he
contended that the sayre election law
was necessary because of the presence
of the ignorant, illiterate and vicious ne
gro vote. and he insisted that If the
white men of the state would agree to
the call of a constitutional convention
that 1t would result in the disfranchise
ment of this ignorant and vicious vote
and result in the Acknowledgement of the
white men of Alabama, and that who
ever should be elected governor of Ala
bama, after the constitution was rati-
fed, ought to recommend to the legis-
lature that the Sayre election law be re-
pealed and that new election law be
adopted, which would allow every voter
to fix his own ballot on any kind of pa
per- of any size dimension. and de-
post 1t himself in the ballot box, and
that the name of the voter and the num-
Der of his ballot should correspond; that
If the voter so desired, he should put
his own name or any sign or mark to
distinguish 1t thereon.
Mr.. Waller said that only those per-
sons who had lived in the midst of the
corrupting influences of an igorant and
vicious colored constituency could rise to
the present demand of the good and pure
people. for a new and better electoral
condition.
He also said he was unqualifiedly In ia
vor of Democratic white primary In AL
ALBANIA for the nomination for every Of
flee from Governor down to the lowest
county office and that he would still main
tain that he was right even II the State
executive committee should rule other
wise In this connection. he said that
every honest leader ought to be govern
ed by his own convictions and that If the
State executive committee should deter
mine against his convictions, which he
hoped they would not do. that he would
for the present at least uphold their de-
cision. but that he would continually do
all that he could to advocate the just and