The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-08-08
SEN. JOHNSTON
 ALABAMA DIES
 IN WASHING CT0N
Governor May al Once Call Special Session
 of Legislature
VOie Needed For Passage In Senate Of Wilson's Tariff
 and Currency Measures

Washington. Aug S--Senator Joseph F. Johnston, of Birmingham, Ala, died at his apartment here early today.
 Senator Johnston had not been able to attend sessions of the Senate for a week He had been confined to his apartment most Of the time and a few days ago pneumonia developed. The Eena tors son, Forney Johnston, was summoned last night from Birming- ham, but 1t was believed then that the Senator was not in any immediate danger
 Senator Johnston was 70 years of age. had served through the war be- tween the states in the Confederate army, was governor of Alabama for two terms and had been a member of the Senate since 1907 He was unani- zzlous1y elected to succeed the late Sen ator- Pettus ana was reelected in 1eO7
 The death of Senator Johnston weak ems the Democratic majority on the administration tariff bill in the Senate, though party leaders insist there still will be no serious difficulty in passing the measure
 At the Democratic caucus it was am nounced that 49 Senators declared they would support the bilfNAt it's final pas esaze. On the basis of the caucus Attainment. Democratic leaders figure that the vote on the tariff bill without defections from either side, would be .4s to 47 for it's passage. The death of Senator Johnston leaves the ealcula- 4ion 4s to q.
 In the event that any western Sem ator who does not strongly favor free sugar might possibly vote against the Dill the Democrats had been coun ting. on the vice-preEident to carry the day dn case of a tie. Senator Johnstons death, provided his seat is not filed before the vote on the tariff bill. re- moves the vice-president from the s-e r-1-cff.f7fffnz an strict. alignment Should one vote be lost to the Democrats on the basis Of poffttcaf Rorecasts and no member of the minor aty come to their aid, the vote would stand 4s to 47 against the bill
 There still is the possibility that at least one member of the minority may vote for the Democratic bill
 Danger of the Democrats to swing their majority may be obviated by the 1exfslature of Alabama under the 17th amendment to the constitution provid- 4ng quickly for the filling of the va- cancy caused by Senator Johnston 8 death
 The constitutional amendment pro- vides for the filling of vacancies in &he Senate in this way: When vacancies happen in the representation of any state in the Senate. thes authority of such state shall issue writs of electio1 to i'll such vacancies, provided that the legislature Of any state may em- power the executive thereof to make temporary appointments until the peo- ple i'll the vacancies by election as the legislature may direct.
 As in most of the other states, the Alabama legislature has not been in session since the constitutional amend ment was adopted, this spring, and consequently has not empowered the governor of Alabama to fill any va cancy by appointment until an cleo ton may be held urthermore, the Alabama legislature does not meet un- til 1915.
 Democratic leaders in Washington. st was said today would urge upon the governor of Alabama the desira- Biifty of his calling the legislature into EpeciaI session to give hiun authority of appointment, to provide for an inn mediate election
 Senator Johnston already had an uounced his intention to be a candi- date for reelection. Representative TEobson had taken the stump against him and the names of Representatives Clayton and Hefiin have been men xtoned also as candidates. Majority Leader Underwood, of the House, also Es a possibility, though he has said he would not give up the House leader ship for a Senatorial togas. Senator Johnston was chairman of the military affairs committee, one of the most im- Ksortant to the Senate.