The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-08-25
Johnson and Zimmerman Forces
 Both Claim Victory
WORKING ON THE DELEGATES
Many of the Enthusiastic Supporters of Johnson, 1t Is Said. Will Not Support Clarke for Senator.
 Two Platforms Ready.

Columbus, Ga, August 24.-The contest between Mayor Tom L. Johnson of Cleve- land and John L. Zimmerman of Spring field for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination, although within twenty-four hours of decisive action, is tonight as much disputed as ever. At the headquar- ters of each candidate the most confident claims are given out. At the same time the forces of both candidates are working not only with the uninstructed delegates, but also with those who are instructed.
 Following the withdrawal of Bookwal- ter as the Johnson candidate for senator. the Zimmerman men inaugurated raid on the Johnson ranks, claiming that the instruction for Johnson for governor ap- piled only to the balloting on Wednesday and not to the selection tomorrow of mem- bers of the committee on credentials res olutions etc.
 Confession of Weakness.
 The Johnson men met this charge by saving it was a confession of weakness and insisted that the instructions applied to the selection of members of the new state central committee and the entire or- ganization of the convention. It is still conceded that the one securing a ma jority of the committee on credentials tomorrow afternoon will on the following day be nominated for governor, as there are 145 seats out of the 690 contested and neither candidate can win without having all of his delegates seated.
 Some of the free silver enthusiasts who are instructed for Johnson for governor are out openly against Clarke for sena- tor and the indications are that this op- position will be carried to the floor of the convention, if the committee on resolu- tions includes in It's report the endorse ment of Clarke.
 Clarke Called Bad Names.
 While the Zimmerman men are not in favor of endorsing any one for senator on the Chicago or Kansas City platforms, they are calling Clarke all sorts of names. such as a Mckinley democrat and one of "Cleveland's bunco-steerers." The Zim- merman men favor a conservative plat form, such as the party had in Ohio four years ago, when John R. Mclean headed the democratic ticket.
 The Johnson men declare for the re- affirmation of last years platform when Johnson had undisputed control of the state convention with additional blanks favoring 2 cents per mile on steam rail- ways and Scent fares on street railways and referendum.
 Will Endorse Some Man.
 Cleveland, O., August 4-Regarding the possibility of the non-endorsement of a candidate for the United States senate by the democratic state convention at Co., lumbus, Mayor Johnson tonight said that he would insist on the endorsement of some man for that office, and if the con- vention refused to make such endorse ment he would withdraw from the candi- dacy for the gubernatorial nomination. The mayor said that the reason for his insistence on an endorsement by the con vention was to suppress any insinuations that he would be a candidate for the sen- ate himself in the event of his defeat as the candidate for governor.
 Break In Johnson Lines.
 There was a break in the Johnson lines late tonight on the choice of a senator. The delegates from northwestern Ohio, all instructed for Johnson, called on George M. Saltzgaber, temporary chair man of the convention, and pledged him their support for senator. Saltzgaber has served several years as state senator, and is the prospective candidate for con- gross in the Fifth district. Among those who refuse to support John H. Clarke of Cleveland are W. l.. Finlay and W. T. Durbin. two of Johnson's closest ad- visors Among the Johnson men who joined in the opposition to Clarke, were ex-Congressman Lentz of Columbus and Congressman Harry c. Garber, chair man of the democratic state committed