The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-04-05
MR.. RHODES DEFINES HIS POSITION
AND CORRECTS GOVERNOR JOHN
STON'S MISLEADING STATEMENTS

To the Democrats of Jefferson County:
Former Governor Joseph f. Johnston,
m a communication in Sundays Age-Her-
aid, bjs innuendo undertakes to place me
In a false position before the democrats
of Jefferson county. He says;
..The newspapers here have stated that
there are three candidates for delegate at
large In jefferson county-General Shel4
ley. Mr.. Tomlinson and General Rhodes.
! think it pretty safe to suggest that the
chairman of the county democratic com
mittee and those who aided him IN TX
ing up a delegation, did not confer with
either General Shelley or Mr.. Tomilhsoh
who are both opposed to the nomlha'loh
of Mr.. Cleveland. Why should they have
been excluded from Mr.. thompson ea'z
cus? ~
I was never in a caucus with Mr.
rrhompson. chairman of the county DEM
ocratic committee. "Thompson's caucus.
I am reliably informed is a myth; 1t new
er had an existence except IN the lllas
nation. Like Governor Johnston, nau
heard of the arranging of not only one
ticket of delegates to the state conVeh-
ton. but of two tickets, but ! did not
suggest single name on either ticket,
whereas Governor Johnston selected
twenty-sixl So much for the crime oil
fixing up" a ticket.
Time and time again during the past
six months in the editorial columns OIL
THE News I have declared opposition TO
the nomination of Mr.. Cleveland. Ihese
declarations have been re-published IN
the Age-Herald and nearly every daily
and weekly newspaper in Alabama.
Governor Johnston, however seems 10
read but few newspaper articles except
his own. Had he desired TO do simple
Justice, he could have communicated with
me with but little trouble, by call, man
or telephone. and learned the facts be-
fore he ventured to publish damaging
and baseless insinuations against me-
| am a candidate for delegate-at-large
To the national democratic convention
have right to be. | am democrat anu
never voted anything but the straight
democratic ticket, national, state ana
county, however, distasteful to me at
times the candidate or platform may
have been.
If I shall be chosen a delegate to the
national convention, ] shall not vote for
the nomination of Cleveland or Bryan.
or Hearst, nor for the reaffirmation or
the Chicago or Kansas City platform
snail do all in my power to secure the
nomination of a good strong, harmony
promoting man and the adoption OF a
short but positive platform. declaring IN
favor of a tariff for revenue only and
an economical and honest administration
of every department of the government,
and against trusts and Rooseveltism-fg-
noring issues concerning which there may
be sharp differences of opinion and af-
frming policies which all democrats and
many Independent voters will endorse. in
order that the maximum number of
voters may be attracted to our ticket.
Party success. honestly deserved and hon.
orably won, shall be my sole aim and OBJ
Ject.
l have as much right to be a candidate
as Governor Johnston | have not exer-
cised the right as frequently. In the past
fifteen years. he has been candidate
In every state election, except one-he
has been candidate for governor half a
dozen times. more or less, before and
after holding the office; a candidate for
United States senator. and now is can
didate for delegate to the state conven-
ton The announcement of my candida
cy was made two months ago; his two
weeks ago. Though last in the field he IS
the first to declare that political war IS