The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-04-05

oh' Wnlle ne plt1ully deploreS that past
differences are to be kept alive" and par
ty harmony sacrificed.
Harmony can be secured from Cover.
nor Johnston whenever he gets all he
wants, and generally he wants all in
sight IL early surrender is not made, he
declares war and wages it relentlessly
against every opponent No convention
of the people, or party, or committee or
man, that he cannot control, will he toll
crate. The Walls of his wrath are I'M
loosed and a full head of bitterness comes
rushing on He is at present immensely
displeased with the chairman of the coun-
ty executive committee, and the sub-com-
mittee of the county committee, that has
charge of the details of the primary on
April II.
The method of eecting delegates to
the state convention, there being no pro-
vision in the primary law governing same,
was referred by the state committee to
the several county committees. Never
before in this county has delegation to
the state convention been elected in n
primary. The subcommittee adopted GER
tain rules and regulations. pertaining
thereto, which were fair. 1t could not
have been criticised by Governor John
ston, because he does not and cannot ar
bitrarily control the committee.
Governor Johnston becomes eloquent in
denunciation of machine politics., the
secret caucus etc, because someone else
got together a list of names, just as he
did and then the candidates were classi-
fed in tickets" The facts are, as | am
reliably informed. that the Johnston
ticket was originally filed as a whole
list of names having been handed to
the subcommittee, which list was re-
turned with the suggestion that the gen.
I tlemen on it, under the rules would each
have to file "a declaration before their
names could be printed on ballot 1t
appears that Governor Johnston then
took active charge of the matter, and Sc
cured "a declaration from the twenty
six candidates on the Johnston ticket
and those declarations were filed at one
and the same time. The assessment levied
| by the committee the expenses of printing
names on ballots, etc. was paid for the
Johnston ticket" as whole, by Cover
nor Johnston's personal check, and on
the back of the check were listed the
names of the gentlemen composing the
Johnston ticket" the name of Joseph
f. Johnston appearing first and the
other names in the order in which they
appear on the printed ballot.
If Governor Johnston had right to be
'in consultation with several gentlemen.
as he says he was land unquestionably
he had the right without being subject
either, to the charge of holding "a eau
cus") and to fix up the Johnston tick
ct" did not Mr.. Thompson have the right
| to ak up the white ticket?'
If Governor Johnston had the right to
put his name first on the Johnston uek-
| et' though against his wishes did not
Mr.. Thompson have the right 10 put ms
| own name on the white ticket?'
| Did not Mr.. Thompson also have the
right, and was it not just and proper
to put on the white ticket" the names
of true and tried party workers, members
of the democratic county committee?
Did not Mr. Thompson have as much
right to file the white ticket" as Gov
| ernor johnson to file the Johnston
| ticket?'
| The declarations of the gentlemen on
| the Johnston ticket were filed together
after a list of names had been previously
submitted. Was it not proper for the
| committee to accept them as unit, and
! classify them as a ticket? If the COM
mittee had determined on not so classify
| ing the list Governor Johnson would
| no doubt have complained at the sub
| committees extraordinary and unusual
| methods to secure his defeat"
| If Governor Johnson expected that the
names on the johnson ticket were to
| be arranged alphabetically on the ballot,
and not classified as a unit, and every
man was to make his individual fight for
ueleRdIe, WHY WAS 0ONtfIOI JOu1Son Coil-
cerned in any ones candidacy but his
own? If the Johnston ticket was not
to be urged and worked for as a unit
why was Governor Johnston so careful in
selecting his list, that he might declare
when the war was on that the John
ston ticket represents every class and
interest in Jefferson county,"
The whole plea of Governor Johnston
Is for sympathy. He has been so badly
treated. Nothing short of cordial support
of him, however, can escape his critic
ism. A democrat who has not always
agreed with him, desires a party office,
without emolument, and Governor john
ston objects, and wages war on everyone
who does not instantly enlist under the
Johnston banner while he makes an
appeal to others to forgive and forget
When I publicly declared my desire to
go to the national convention from the
state at large no other democrat in JEFF
ferson county was an announced cam
didate for the honor. ] had hoped that
the delegation from this county to the
state convention would be accorded me
without contest. / greatly regret that this
contention has arisen. / have a number
of friends, personal and political, on the
Johnston ticket" but a greater number
on the white ticket
| hope that every democrat, who holds
opinions as to platform and candidate
similar to my own, and believes that 1t
is time for democrats to get together
will vote for the white ticket"