The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-10-17
JUDGE STRATTON
 ISSUES 4 LETTER Accepts Republican Nomination
 for Governor
TICKET IS COMMENDED
GubernatoriaI Candidate Thinks That Much Good Will Be Done Party In the State Through
 the Nomination.

Judge Asa F. Stratton of Montgomery has addressed a letter to the republican state campaign committee which met in | Birmingham yesterday, accepting the nomination for the governorship recently rendered by a mass convention of repub- licans. The letter in part, follows
 Your letter of the 4th inst notifying me of my nomination for governor of Ala bamd by the republicans of the state, duly received. In answer thereto, can say that the nomination was neither sought nor desired that it was made without my knowledge or consent, yet be- cause of peculiar conditions which con front the party in this state at this time, do not feel at liberty to decline the honor conferred by my fellow republicans and. therefore, accept the nomination which should have gone to some abler republican.
 It is high time for the rank and file of the party in this state to act, because incompetent leadership is too timid to | take advantage of the present favorable l opportunity for an appeal to the people | and thus prepare for accessions which 1 in the near future will ask utilization with our party.
 Consent of the Governed.
 | In this country, all just power and authority whether in government or party organization, emanates from the consent of the governed. This principle has been disregarded by the republican state exec utive committee, which assumed not only to dictate to the voters, but to disre- gard and suppress their will. The action of the mass convention, over which you presided, is an assertion of the manhood and patriotism of the republicans of Ala bama, and a just rebuke to the arrogance of the state committee, which should be the servant and not dhe master of the republican voters of the state.
 No party can grow, no party can suc- ceed which does not align it's forces and appeal at every election to the judgment and intelligence of the people. The repub- licans in many of the states and in several national campaigns led forlorn hopes, sui fered defeats for their convictions before Abraham Lincoln carried the party ban ner to victory. Here is an answer to all criticism of the action of the republican mass convention. We can not materially err or do wrong when we follow the ex- ample of the founders and great leaders of the party. Just why any one calling himself a republican should oppose the action of the republican mass convention in nominating a state ticketJis incompre- hensible on any other theory than the selfish and ambitious reasons upon which the bossesp always act. If the present or ganization was selected by the last state convention for four years instead of the usual two, the existence of a republican state ticket in no way abridges it's term. A ticket can do no harm to any one, but much good to the party.
 Prejudice Is Past.
 In the past when the partisan prejudice ran high and intolerance was the rule, frenzied democracy tried to prevent repub- lican tickets and to intimidate republi- can candidates, but today when partisan prejudice and hate have passed away and good feeling and tolerance is the rule, there are so-called republicans in Ala amab who would initiate democratic methods The press of the country credits Secretary Taft with saying that southern republican politics was a chase after of- flee. This is a graphic description of the moribund condition into which southern Irepublican politics have fallen. The partys condition would be hopeless, the office holders trust" would be supreme, but for the fact that the republicans of Alabama, Texas, and some other southern states have determined to reform matters and place southern republicanism on a higher plane and make it representative of something else besides graft and spells. Good men everywhere will applaud this determination.
 The platform Of principles and policy adopted by the mass meeting meets my approval and support. Corporations, like individuals should be made to respect and obey the laws of the land. Corporate control is a question of intense public interest and should receive the best an1 most careful thought of the country. They should be required to perform theii proper function in tho economy of eur industrial system, and at the same time be protected in all their jsut rights. Still there are many Abuses committed by cor porations and trusts, just as there are by individuals, which cannot be reached by legislation or governmental interference. The recognition of th,s fact is one cause for the appearance of soclalistic ideas and sentiments anG their suggestions as remedy for conditions complained of. No remedy can be found in these vagaires which have Intellectually struggled for adoption and practical application since the age of Plato. remedy can only be found in giving additional strength to the moral and social forces. There must be a toning up of public sentiment-this with A vigorous enforcement of the laws. Negro Gut to Death.
 In row which occurred at Boyales last night about o'clock, Arthur Clark a negro. was fatally stabbed in the abdo-