The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-08-18
[Adv.1
JOHNSTON HEADQUARTERS.
The Ex-Governor Makes Report of His
Canvass in North Alabama.

Capt. Joseph F. Johnston said yester-
day:
| have just returned from the Ten
ressee valley, and L never nau larger or
mere enthusiastic crowds anywhere in
any campaign. Our friends are confident
Of sweeping that section.
The opposition Is generally found in
the cou1 tnouse towns and amongst the
politicians, and is more noisy an braggy
than effective; their bark is worse than
their bite. [ asd about 1900 people to hear
me in Huntsville, nearly all voters, and
there was only one jerks man in evil
dence when the meeting closed.
Hundreds of voters from the country
precincts met me- and If l had one man
to tell me that his precinct was solid for
me, | mad scores; and some stated that 1t
was as much as 20 to l.
There was a splerdid meeting at Athens
en- Saturday with some three or four
hundred voters, and the crowd was al
most unanimous on my side; one Of the
Jelks f1en asked leave to notify the
crowd that Soyernor Jelks would speak
there next Saturday. Our friends said
that he could, but that they would give
notice that l would cancel any engage
1nent and be there, ana they then de-
cined tc announce Governor Jelks' APP
pointment 1t is q little strange that there
should be an attempt to withdraw the
governor from his confinement to speak
In a County where there are alleged to be
mo Johnston men," A witty speaker on
my side asked where Governor Jelks was,
and one Of his friends replied at his post
Of duty" and the reply was that he
seemed to be tied to the post.
At Cullman the opposition tried to pre-
vent me from getting a crowd by hav-
ing Bankhead, Cunningham and Under
wood speak at points near Cullman,
north, east and south, but we had an
over-fowing house, and an enthusiastic
crowd. l heard that Mr.. Bankhead had
only seventeen men and fourteen child
rem to hear him, and the others not
much better.
The stock and trade of the opposition
speakers is that 1 opposed the constitu-
ton and 1t is up again for ratification
How often is it to be ratified? Consid-
ering that $1,000 white democrats voted
against 1t, and that 1t got its majori-
ties in the Black Belt, 1t would not
seem to be a very potent issue, and 1t
looks like these orators ought to be
frank enough with the people to tell
them that l had announced my purpose
to accept and carry out the constitution
In good faith and that it could only be
amended or changed by direct vote Of
the people. My opponents are In great
distress when they can't tell the whole
tional convention seemed to fear that I
would be governor and prohibited the
governor from either approving or veto
ing bill amending the constitution.
The new constitution limits the governor
to one term The spirit OF that provis-
fon is that the governor in office must
not be tempted to use the patronage
during his first term trying to get an
other, and Governor Jelks is the first
man in Alabama to violate the spirit of
the constitution.
l am going to speak mainly in the
lower part of the state this week. II
had time to reach every county I think
that 1t would require an expert to find
who was running on the other side, but
Governor Jelks friends on the state
committee did not give me that oppor-
tunity. 1t seems that he did not want
to make any canvass himself, or to evsn
meet the people and get acquainted, and
of their ability, but don't have to be
introduced to so many people as my dis
tinguished competitor.
Hartselle. August 16.--Joseph E. John
ston addressed a large, attentive and en-
thusiastic audience at Hartselle today
from all parts of Morgan county. His
speech was clear. logical and convinc-
ing, and in the opinion of the writer
gained for him many votes. He answer
ed in a statesman like way all the
charges and arguments OF his opponents
without any abuse of any one. His ad-
dress was enthusiastically cheered sew
eral times during his address. 1t will
be found on the day of election that he
He will carry Morgan. w.