The San Francisco call., 1913-08-09
JOHNSTON DEATH
CUTS DEMOCRATS
TARIFF LEAD To |.
Loss of Alabama Member
Menaces Administration
Program in Passing
Revision Bill

WASHINGTON, Aug. S.-Death early
today of United States Senator Joseph
F. Johnston of Alabama. who sue
cumbed to pneumonia at his home here.
leaves a vacancy in the senate that
is somewhat embarrassing to the demo-
cratic majority on the verge OF the
completion of the administration tarin
reform program, and makes necessary
an immediate Interpretation of provi-
sions of the seventeenth constitutional
amendment requiring elections of sena-
tors.
The senator's death reduces the
working majority in the senate to fve
Recent desertions from the ranks on
account of the sugar schedule cut the
majority on the tariff bill to one and
leaves the party the party in a dan
gerous position should any other emer-
gency arise.
In view of this the democrats of the
senate insist that the vacancy must be
filled as soon as possible and to this
end the governor of Alabama and the
Legislature of the state will be called
upon to act under the terms OF the con-
stitutional amendment.
Governor O'Neal of Alabama, realiz-
ing the gravity of the situation, has
asked Attorney General McReynolds for
an opinion as to the proper method of
selecting Senator Johnston's successor.
Attorney General McReynolds declined
tonight to discuss the matter. but 1T
was the unanimous conclusion after an
informal conference of senate demo-
Gratis that the Alabama Legislature
must be called in special session before
Governor O'Neal can do anything.
The legislature then may authorize
him under the terms of the seventeenth
amendment to appoint successor ad
interim and it also may provide the
machinery for a special election TO.
choose a new senator to serve for the
term beginning March 4, 1915.
Both the senate and house adjourned
out of respect for Senator Johnston,
and resolutions in tribute to his mem
ory were adopted.
Senator Overman, addressing the sen
ate briefly, said he would have asked
for a public funeral from the senate
chamber, but Senator Johnston's fam
lily had asked that no such action be
taken.
Senator Johnston had been in poor
health and had not attended sessions
of the senator for a week. He had
been confined to his apartment most
of the time, but his trouble was not
diagnosed as pneumonia until few
days ago.
Senator Johnston was 70 years old,
had served through the war in the
confederate army, was governor of Ala
bama for two terms and had been
member of the senate since 1907. He
was unanimously elected to succeed
the late Senator Pettus. He was
reelected in 1909.
SPECIAL Election to Be Called
MONTGOMERY, Ala, Aug. s.--Gover-
nor O'Neal announced today that he
would call a special election to fill
the vacancy caused by the death in
Washington today of United States
Senator Joseph F. Johnston.
Among those mentioned here as prob
ably successors to Senator Johnston
are Representative III. d. Clayton, Rep
resentative Heflin, John B. Knox of
Admission and Congressman r. p. Hob
son.
Attorney General McReynolds ad
vised Governor O'Nea1 by wire tonight
that the governor is entirely within his
rights in ordering special election.