The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-09-19

Governor Johnson was mild man. nered, sympathetic, resolute man. lie found comfort In disporting himself in the light that beat upon the throne. Out from the ranks of the masses, governor must be taken. Ten years before now he resolved to be the man. He made no concealment of his pur- pose Ills life was an open book. He quit school at the age of IS years to shoulder musket and knapsack in one of the early regiments. His place in the picture was close the flashing of the guns from Shiloh to Appamattox. He led the part assigned to him from Smith to Houston. The part that now come to him was leader in the enchoate era of readjustment The conquest of Alabama had been conditionally lifted. Civil forms had been restored and the garrison had been ordered away pro vided the people would adopt the irr,- possible. To guide the people in their purpose to live up to their God given instincts of mind and soul. despite the their throats was the part of the gov ernor in the year lS99.
 Questions of policy arose in which the people differed from Governor Johnston. It is yet to be proven that the difference condemns his judgment
 One of the disturbing factors of tile session of the legislature of 1S9S-1S99
 was the refilling of the railroad com- mission on the expiration under the 1ox ~( 1. of fxxr4 of 1, It, cumbent commissioners. Under the law, the governor nominated to the Senate for confirmation two citizens of his selection for the vacancies.
 The city of Birmingham had become the railroad center of the state. MT. John w. Tomlinson, a lawyer in full practice there, and in other respects associated to an influential degree with the interests of the town, desired to receive one of the appointments Be- sides this local connection. Mir. Tom linson was the Alabama member of tho national democratic committee. More over. he was an intimate personal friend and admitted adviser of Mir. Bryan. a candidate for the party nomi- nation for President
 Twenty-seven of the leading men of Birmingham appeared in body before the governor in his office to present argument for the selection by him of MT. Tomlinson for railroad commits sionef. In the first place, the commits sion should have the strength and the center of the railroad business of the state the justice of a member taken from Birmingham. Mir. Tomlinson pos sessed the necessary qualification in eminent degree, Foremost among the political supporters of the governor, through all the years antecedent to his final success was John w. Tomlinson.
 The Tomlinson delegation were heard and returned home. The governor sert to the Senate the names of A E. Caffrs, . senator from the district composed of Autauga and Lowndes counties and Osceola Kyle, a representative in the from Morgan county, as as- sociate railroad commissioners. Tn ex- ecutive session the Senate Immediately confirmed both appointees
 Promptly many citizens of Birming- ham united in giving a great dinner to MT. Tomlinson. where many speeches were made in uncomplimentary terms of the governors conduct.
 On April 20, 1899, Governor Johnston Issued his proclamation, countersigned convening the legislature on May 20. in special session. The call was brief and without argument. The explana- tion Was that the enabling act of tho last Aession to allow the people to vote on the question, convention or no convention. should be revoked; that amendments to the constitution should be proposed: that a primary election law should be enacted.
 The day after the publication of this