The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1902-07-22

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The Advertiser would have been glad
for this campaign to he conducted en-
tireiy on the line Of public issues and
public records. In it's references to the
Johnston Convention recently held In
Birmingham. ana composed ettirely OF
men summoned there by hira or by his
direction. the names OF some Of his en-
cfflee holders who were present were
given. and among them that Of william
H. Lawson of this County. We have no
intention Of making him part Of this
campaign. any further than he may force
IT. but in view Of his letter OF last Sum
day. published In The Montgomery Jour
nal, few words are necessary.
The charge he brings against the Editor
Of this paper has been used more than
once, and has been 30 thoroughly ex-
planned as to need no further refutation.
The Juggling of It In now 10 mere rnaiies
which viii fan Of it's intent.
There was another meeting which Mr.,
Lawson attended and about which he has
had very little TO say. On the 2fst day Of
January. 1885. the State Executive Com
nittee of the Democratic party met in
this city. Soon after Us adjournment. on
the same day, there was a meeting OF
the friends of Hon Richard II. Clarke OF
Mobile. to counsel with him. as to his
campaign for Governor. OF course only
those supposed TO be his true and stead
fast supporters were expected. Prominent
in the gathering was Mr.. Lawson. He
had many suggestions to make. There
was certainly no man present more ouN
spoken In oppoaitioY to then Captain. ef-
forwards Governor. J.. F. Johnston. He
had even committed some Of his thoughts
to paper. in the shape of a eommuniea-
ton to The Advertiser. and strange as 1t
may appear the language was 50 intem-
perate and violent as TO cause US to de-
cline to publish II. Certainly man 80
intense in his hostility to Captain John
ston. as Lawson developed in Mr.. Clarke
private conference and in the communi-
cation above referred to might ordinari-
ly be trusted to the utmost. yet in an in
credibly short time he was In secret con-
ference with Captain Johnston, and at
once became one of his most active sup
porters. Efforts were made in coosa
County for Captain Johnston on the
ground that 1t would be for Lawson
personal benefit. IL Johnston could be
elected. IL was reported here that Law
So,. has Mas. ,s~srrl@AA a x~1AA ...~.4,xr 40
he would support Johnston and he should
be successful. Further than this, a repu-
table citizen OF Alabama says that he
read direct promise in writing from
Johnston to give Lawson high position
In the Convict Board IL he would sup
port him. At any rate not many hours
passed after Lawson's leaving Mr.
Ciarke's private conference before he was
in the close embrace of his opponent
This is a meeting about which Mr.. Law
generally known will cause very little
credit to be given to his political utter.
ances.
Mr.. Lawson was evidently very keen to
get to the trough at that time. but he
objects to being alluded to az hungry
30 get back now. Nevertheless. he Is the
first man to seize pretext for rushing
to the defense of the Johnston admins
tration. In this defense he boasts about
his connection with 1t in these words:
Yss, I was at the trough six years, as
when ! left left the trough full. There
was no shortage. One hundred and fifty
thousand dollars q year passed through
my hands and every cent of IL went into
the State treasury where 1t belonged and
l was not under any bond. =.
Notwithstanding this boast some facts
have developed in the Office OF the Con-
Wet Bureau, showing that some moneys
which should have passed through his
hands while he was Chief Clerk did moi
do 80. For instance. when Judge Car.
michael came in, he found an account
against merchant in this city for cotton
goods sold him by MF. Lawson as agent
Of the staAeE Cotton Mill at splgener's
When this merchant was called on fol
this money, he expressed his surprise tha
the account was unsettled and stated that
Mr.. Lawson owed him quite a sum fol
dry goods and had agreed that the bill
for the States cotton goods should 81
In settlement of that account. Auditor
Sowell had to turn over the States &C
secure it's collection on account of thi.
merchants claimed understanding with
Mr.. Lawson.
Again a short time after Mr.. Lawson
went out Of the Chief Cierkship. Their,
came to the Convict Department re
mittance from an Eastern dry goods firm
for over four thousand dollars. Thi.
remittance was payable to Mr.. Lawson'I
the books of the Convict Bureau against
that firm for any sum, and the official:
were puzzled. MIR. Lawson was sent fol
and explained that the money was for q
bill of cotton goods he had sold the firm
and he endorsed the check so the STATE
not been honest enough to have sen
that remittance. the State would un
doubtediy have lost II. 1t is further as
serted by state ofnciaIs that there is NJ
record Of the sales Of cotton goods mad
from Spigener's. Mr.. Lawson. as Chic
Clerk and as sales agent for the cotton
mill, unquestionably kept a very ineom
plete set of books. There ia no telllnI
how much money the State may have los
through Mr.. Lawson's ineficiency.