The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-07-21
TROUBLE FEARED
BY THE CITIZENS
Ordering of Troops 10 Linden
Was In Good Faith
CONTRACT LABOR LAW VOID
Many Feel That Some Sort of Redress
Should Be Allowed Employers
Who Bring In Negro
Help.

Montgomery, July 20.-(Special)-In ths
report of Maj. v. B. Atkins of Selma
on his trip to Linden with the Selma
troop OF cavalry to protect the negro
Richardson from a mob, 1t is made quite
plain that the officers of the county an
ticipated trouble in the night. even
though no mob showed up. He reports
that he brought the negro back to Selma
at the request of Sheriff jackson, who
did not fell that he would be safe at
| Linden.
The information that the danger of a
mob came to the office of the governor
in such way as to demand active attention
and carried with 1t confidence that the
informant knew what he was talking
about. The soldiers were ordered out
on the strength of 1t and there are none
who do not feel that the action taken was
in every way wise and timely, and that
1t no doubt prevented the negro being
hung.
When the train reached Linden two
horsemen were seen to ride out from
bunch of trees and move of rapidly
to the outskirts of the town. 1t is pre-
sumed they went to inform the mob that
there would be nothing doing that night.
After that Sheriff Jackson, who arrived
after night from his trip after jail es-
capes, asked Major Atkins to stay all
night and offer him the protection of his
men. This was done and in the morning
the prisoner was taken back at the re-
quest of the sheriff to be kept at Selma
until the day of his execution.
Portrait of Johnston.
The state department of archives and
history has received a life sized oil por-
trait of Hon. Joseph f. Johnston, former
governor of Alabama, and a leading and
distinguished citizen of Birmingham. 1t
is painted by Nichola Marechal of Louis
vile, designer of the Stars and Bars, the
first flag of the Confederacy. 1t will be
given good position in the gallery of
the director of the department, DR..
Thomas NJ. Owen.
Governor Johnston was chief executive
OF the state from 1896 to 1900, being sue
ceeded by the late William ]. Sanford.
He was a Selma citizen before going to
Birmingham and served his party as
chairman of the state executive commit
tee for several years. Gince going to Biz
mingham he has been prominent in fin
ancial affairs, serving as President of the
Alabama National bank for number OF
years. He had other connections that gave
him opportunity for much good for the
Birmingham district which he utilized
Governor Johnston was born in Lincoln
county, North Carolina in 1S43 and Sc
cured his education In the schools of the
country adjacent until seventeen, when
he left his studies to enter the Confed-
crate army, where he rose to the rank
Of captain. After coming to Alabama he
became law partner of Capt. r. nj.
Nelson of Selma, where he practiced for
several years.
The picture is presented by Mrs. John
ston.
Second Regiment Middle.
While there is a great deal of specu-
lation concerning the resignation of the
STAFF of the colonel OF the Second regi-
ment there is little of definiteness to go
on. It is regarded that the aforetime
curse of the Alabama military, politics, has
much to do with the break between
Colonel Graves and his military family.
A stan man. high ir the ranks OF the
guard, said this afternoon that he knew
the cause of the trouble but could not
tell but agreed that the sin Of politics
is at the bottom of IT,
When seen today Colonel Graves said he
could say nothing at this time. but would
make a statement later. He did not care
10 discuss the situation until he had
gone a little further along. but seemed
to have no i'll feelings towards any one
1t having been said that Lieutenant Col
onel Ericken wanted to be colonel and
that his ambition had something to do
with the break. that gentleman denied
that any such idea existed in his mind
and asserted that he would never be a
candidate for the post against Colonel
Graves whom he holds In the highest
esteem.
Tt is understood that the designations
of some of the staff having been offered
Colonel Graves asked for the others. In
order that a clean sweep might be made.
II is thought by some that this was done
in order to give a chance to trade on
election day.
viii Not Reopen Case.
It is not thought here that the effort
will be made to get a new hearing from
the supreme court on the question of the
validity of the inferior court OF the two
Birmingham beats of Jefferson county, on
the ground that the court has recently
taken a new position on the question of
the advertising clause OF the constitution.
IT Is certain that the question has been
well threshed over and that the court
would not take kindly to proposition
to get back into them. However, there
are none of the members Of the court
in the city now, and 1t is not possible to
get a line on what any of them think
about 1t.
The holding by Judge William II. Thorn
as of the city court of Montgomery, that
the contract labor law is in violation of
the constitution, is In line with decision
of the supreme court last fall in which
1t was decided in the case of negro
held in Russell county. that where there
is no evidence that the contract is made
with the idea of fraud there can be no
conviction under the law. The same po-
sition was taken by Thomas @. Jones,
Judge of the United States court, some