The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-06-29
NOT A rREMRLER.

@~~f~~N Governor Johnston. virtually speak ing through late number of The Alabamlan, of the recent re- mark of Governor Jelks to a re- porter of The Advertiser at the rylroad l station. to the effect that while he did
 not know what action this committee | would take, personally he preferred pri-
 mary" makes the following far-fetched comment:
 After his long and trembling delay; after waiting until 1t was apparent that the people had determined to have a pri- mary anyhow, we rather think that we should have had greater respect for the Governor if he had had the courage to say T don't want any primary and I
 will fight it to the death."
 If the two candidates for the same of flee, Johnston and Jelks, occupied the same political plane and were canvassing
 under the same ethical rules, Johnston's cynicism might be excused as an effort at argument
 Again, oh the same page, The Alaba-
 milan, virtually. Johnston, says, speak ing of the State Executive Commit
 tees part in the proposed State primary: We are not a profound admirer of the
 committee, but we believe that 1t can be
 trusted to aggregate the result, and we l are naturally opposed to any sort of a
 State convention for any purpose. The ex-Governor is man of infinite
 jest. Until retracts the Wetmore cir cnlar he cannot hope to mount upon the
 backs of the State Committee and from l that eminehce put his mind in state of exposure without meeting the dues of
 oLirping sham. What he has to do with
 the State Committed and with a State pri- nary. if any, under the auspices of the organized party is the use he may make of committee and primary to promote his
 ultimate independent candidacy. He Is a candidate per SC. 4S
 Governor Johnston hasNfKeA natural right to run for Governor and in his can- d dacy for the office to possess a mental
 reservation, to wit. purpose to retire
 under contingencies. He is a free man
 with his liberty of the press and the priv
 ilcges of the mail at his service in dis
 tributing the Wetmore letter. All stand
 agreed on these propositions of personal right 1t is d pity the ex-Governor can
 not even "tremble'' when he denies that
 he Is candidate at all while he takes
 no pains to exonerate himself from the
 multiplied evidences that contradict his denIsls. It is pity he cannot ''tremble' when he places reiterated pledges before
 the pubic that the precent controversy l wholly within party lines. If the ex-Gov-
 ernnr could get himself into a single good fit of tremble'' he would no longer have the Lear. to discredit the evidences of his present systematic and tireless en- tersy along the line of the Wetmore circu-
 lar.
 No one expects Governor Johnston to take care of his friends who stand in the way of his chances to ride over and subiug gate hls enemies. His friends are
 always. to him. his supports from the 1 rear None run abreast with him. If he can manipulate politics to divide the vote
 of primary or conventions between Jelks
 and Quarles and half a dozen others he will drop, incontinently, all his objections | to primary or convention or committed.
 He will enter primary or convention with
 his following at his back if he sees his way clear, not otherwise.
 The Wetmore circular is out for work
 in his interest as an independent. if pri-
 mary nor convention suits his purpose.
 The ex-Governor never trembles because he has always a passage of escape in which he trusts.