The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-06-23
JOHNSTON ISSUES
 FIRST STATEMENT Former Governor Defines Atti- tude Toward SenatorShip WOULD STAND BY PRIMARY Question Has Been Raised as to Date On Which Legislature VIII Elect
 Successor to Sena-
 tor Morgan.
WOULD STAND BY PRIMARY '

those who were seen yesterday were sdll more confident that the senator has an impregnabe position before the people and their representatives in the state leg slature.
 Former Governor Joseph F. Johnston. who lately declined to give his views upon the senatorial question: yesterday decided to put an end to rumors concern ing his position in the matter and issuea statement to The Age-Herald in whicA he defined his understanding of the sen atorial subject which has caused so muc! public agitation.
 Former Governor Johnston's statemen. is as follows:
 Governor Johnston's Statement.
 Having been frequently urged by rep resentatives of the press, and to pre- vent misapprehension as to my position, l have decided to make this statement tn regard to the senatorial situation.
 l think Governor Conner was correct in saying that the members of the leg isiature were not restricted In their choice of a successor to Senator Morgan nso- far as this applies to the letter of the plan of the state committee but not as to Its spirit and intent
 If the plan of the committee was in- tended. as has been charged, to tie the hands of the governor and bind him 1 only, and not to be directory to the members of the legislature, il was poor ly conceived; for the governor would have had the right, at any time to nulli- fly the plan by calling the legislature n extraordinary session and urging It's members to set aside his appointed
 The fact, however, is that it was gen erally if not universally, accepted by democrats, as intended to finally deter mine who should Il the places of our distinguished senators in case of vaean- cies. So well was this understood that neither l, nor any other candidate for the succession, so far as I know, made any attempt to secure the nomination of personal friends and adherents to the legislature in single county in Ala bama; nor did those supposed to have senatorial aspirations who were not can oidates under the plan, make any such effort
 '1'he democratic voters in the sena torial districts and counties did not di- vide in their choice of legislative nom inees or the question of the preferences Of candidates as to the succession to the Senate, because it was accepted that the succession would follow the vote in the primary.
 T had nothing to do with getting up the plan, l did not approve all it's de-
 
 tails, but l accepted 1t as a loyal demo crat and because 1t gave the democra tic voters opportunity to directly express their choice In the selection of their sen ators.
 ''The delegates to the state convention held last fall were elected at the same primary, and Dy the same voters as those who elected alternate senators and the resolution of that convention limiting the appointments to be made by the governor under the plan until the next regular or extraordinary session of the legislature was nothing more than q statement of the constitutional provision in reference to all such appointments It was not new doctrine and would have been the law without any such resolu- ton.
 T an quite sure that neither I nor any ether gentleman who entered inc succession race would have done so to secure the temporary appointment of the governor subject to revocation in a few weeks upon the assembling of the leg islature 'es
 While the plan was unprecedented n requiring candidates for governor to pledge themselves to appoint the nom lne2s of the primary to temporary vacan- c1ei, am quite sure that no denocra ,,., governor would have dsregarded inc wishes of the voters fairly expressed. for It IS the very essence of democracy to respect and carry out their wishes.
 Not to Follow and carry out the nlan would not only tend to create discord In our party in Alabama, but 1t would deal a heavy blow throughout the country in the often declared policy of the demo cratic party in favor of the election of senators by the people I think that mad there been no primary and the wishes or the democrats of the state had other wise been fairly made known to the mem bers of the legislature 1t would bo tboi- duty' as l am sure it would be their pleasure to carry out the Judgment and desires of their party
 So Tar as l am concerned I have aI- ways IF the past yielded loyally to the voice or my party and people even when ! had occasion to distrnst somewhat the accuracy of the declaration
 JOSEPH r. JOHNSTON,