The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-08-01
GOVERNOR JOHNSTON AND THE
 PRIMARY.

The Alabama situation as to seats in the United States Senate. as pre- scented twelve months ago. was unpre- cedented. Those in party authority realized the great probability of one or both seats becoming vacant in the near future and for the first time in American history 1t was arranged to secure during the life of incumbents an expression of popular will as to who should i'll Senatorial vacancies when they did occur.
 This complication was due to the fact that it. was the expressed desire of the people that Senators Morgan and Pettus should be chosen by this Leg islature to succeed themselves It was great tribute to their character as men and as public servants that the people of their state should desire them to remain in service as long as they lived and to die in the harness The expected has happened and the vener- able statesmen having faithfully served their day and generation have gone to their rewards. They will live for ever in the affections of the people of Alabama.
 The succession plan had no charm for The Advertiser. It was not to our liking and certainly would never have been of our making. It was. however formally adopted and accepted. If we could regulate a primary for United States Senator, 1t would be the plan under which Senators Morgan and Pettus were voted for. Each county expressed its choice for Senators and Senators and Representatives were in- structed accordingly. It was unani- nous instruction for the incumbents This carries out the true principle of Senators through their election by the Legislature representing the state. The general primary plan disregards this fundamental idea of the Senators being representatives of the State. and puts them upon the basis of the representa- tives who through congressional dis tricts represent the people.
 The succession plan. however dis tasteful it may have been to many. was formally adopted and accepted. Prominent Alabamians announced themselves as candidates for alternate Senator to succeed to the vacancies as they might occur. A close campaign know the result-Congressman J. H. Bankhead and former Governor J. F.. Johnston led the list and were de- clared in effect the nominees of the Democratic party for such vacancies as might occur in the United States Senate. There was no dissent at the time from the general belief that the people wanted them to succeed sena- tors Morgan and Pettus. for such DOT ton of their terms as remained un- served at their death.
 The Legislature has already obeyed the popular will as to Senator Morgan's successor by electin9 Hon. John H. Bankhead If they had chosen to do otherwise they would have had to con- front an indignant people who had in unmfstakable terms expressed their wishes in the matter.
 The same situation is before them now as to the selection of a successor to Senator Pettus. If the popular will had to be obeyed in the choice of MT Bankhead. the same must be done in the case of Governor Johnston. >who has become by the course of events and the choice of the primary. the one to step into Senator Pettus's Senatorial shoes
 The intention of the primary will have thus been accomplished and we devoutly trust that this makes an end for good and all in Alabama. of a scheme the form of which was so deep ly repuenant to a large number of the