The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-07-24
TELLS WHAT HE HAS DONE
Cut Out Telephones at the
State Capitol.
Colonel benson Makes a Character
istic Speech, Denouncing News
paper Editors as Liars and
'sIsqL zlI1oW-spIsAoo

Birmingham, July 23.-(Special.) -Four
hundred people, many Of whom were pre-
sent out OF curiosity, attended the first
meeting of former Governor Johnston's
campaign tonight at the Auditorium The
advertised speakers, Jesse Stallings and
e. M. Robinson of Mobile were not on
hand and there was some disappointment
Professor 8. L. Robertson acted as
chairman.
The first speaker was Colonel W. II.
benson who in his usual manner. gave
q fiery TRADE against everybody ana
everything. He touched on the new
constitution as he has done before. and
landed Captain Johnston to the skies.
He said that newspapers in Alabama
stooped very low and none of them could
be believed any more. He characterized
editors in Alabama as liars and towards
His speech was an incorporate denuncia-
ton of men and matters.
Johnston Speaks.
Captain Joseph F. Johnston was next
introduced and he spoke for about three
quarters of an hour on the lines given
in his address at the Morris Hotel con"
vention a week ago. He said that the
common schools and the right OF free
people to govern themselves were the
issues Of this campaign and all others
were subsidiary to them. When Gov
ernor, he said, he would endeaVor 10
make the new constitution as light on
the people as possible.
He, too, touched on the newspapers,
and said they had spoken of him as
dangerous candidate. He referred TO MS
term Of ONCE the condition OF the finances
of the State when he went In claiming
to have eradicated noafing dept OF
s6O0O00 with teachers salaries unpaid Also
ne said hAsw ne left the state With Thstney.
He told OF economies brought about while
he was Governor, mentioning the fact
that he had cut out two or three tele-
phones in the capitol.
As to the elective Railroad Commits
sion. he said IL the people sent legislators
TO the capitol and a law was framed
bringing about such a law he would al
tx hts name In i've minutes. This mat
ter was with the people He spoke OF
his eighteen years residence IN the county
and what he had done. telling why he
Thought he was entitled to support. He
proposed that an honest ballot should be
given. He did not want any vote which
was not an honest one.
Sure of Election.
He claimed to have received number
of letters from all over the State and
he felt certain that he was going to be
nominated and elected. He deplored the
fact that he did not have as much time
as he might want to go before the people,
but in the next thirty days he said he
would get over a good part Of the state.
According to his idea there were no
doubts but that he was going to be noml-
mated.
c. F. NORTH of Montgomery was the
next speaker and he made the announce
ment that this was his second political
speech in his Afe. He said he wanted
to show where he was In this campaign
and paid eulogy to the man whom ne
thought was best fitted for the ONCE.
B. B. Conner, of Birmingham was the
next speaker. The greater portion OF
the crowd had left before the last speech
1t Is estimated that of those able to vote
in the crowd at the opening rally one
half were men who will vote for Gov
ernor Jelks.