The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-12-13

selling anything but ''take the whole hog, and make no co1nprOmise.'' It was a matter of doubt about Kolb having a majority even if they had all been there. But the Kolb men won in the argument and 1t came very near deciding the con- test in the State.
 If Jones had carried Madison County solid there would have been no trouble about 1t and Koib would have yielded gracefully long before the State Conven- ton met, and would never have been an independent candidate.
 Governor Jones's administration is In history, and will compare faVOrsbly with any preceding it.
 During Governor Jonss's first adminis- tration many important subjects were dealt with, chief of which was the race question az relates to common carriers. and law was passed requiring the rail- roads to provide separate accOmmoda- tions for whites and blacks; e special tax of one-hAlf of one mill was levied to aid the disabled Confederate soldiers; an appropriation was made to complete the Confederate monument.
 Col. OAtes's Canvass. Tn 1894 Colonel Oates was persuaded to give up Congress, where he had made a most enviable reputation, was leader SAAN people of the State, to run against Cap tain Johnston, whom Governor Jones had defeated for the nomination in 1800.
 Colonel Oates yielded to the important ties of friends and entered the race for the nomination. He made his first speech at Athens in February, 1894. went up on the night train and got OfR at Athens at o'clock a. m. in three feet of snow. It was with difnculty that I found my way to the hotel Colonel Oates arrived next day about noon direct from Wash ington, and in spite of the snow, so deep was the interest in the canvass, that he had a fair crowd in the old Court House to hear him. He made a splendid speech. defined his position boldly and openly, stating that he had voted for a ratio all the way up to 27 to and defended Mir {. Cleveland.
 Very much to my surprise he announced that he would not be a candidate for q second term, if he should be elected Gov ernor, but would stand for the Senate. I was amazed at him and thought that would surely beat him, and was really surprised that he won, but as Colonel Denson would say. he won by ''maIn strength and awkwardness."
 The fact is, he was very strong before the people, they knew he was honest and safe, and were willing to trust him and the aspirants for the Senate were not strong enough to turn the tide against him.
 If he had stood the second time it is al- most sure that he would have been re- nominated and 1t is equally as probable that Johnston would never have been Governor.
 Capta'u Johnston's Campaign.
 A strong effort was made to Get Cover nor Oates to change his mind, but he felt that his word had been given and he de- termined to keep it. And so he did.
 When Hon. R. H. Clarke of Mobile came into the race 1t was too late. Capt. Joseph F. Johnston of Birmingham. had been at work for months and no power could change the people and stem the tide against him after Oates was out of the way Mir. Clarke made an able and brilliant canvass of the State, but 1t was uphill work from the beginning and I felt. as 6ld many others, that his defeat was sure from the start.
 Govarnor Oates was fresh from Con gress and was engrossed with national matters. but he loved his State and was ambitious and desirous of making tfel.i a clean and progressive administration He was a successful business man and was eager to settle the State debt and look to it's gradual payment, one of his