The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1915-01-10
JOHNSTON ISSUES
WARM STATEMENT
TO HIS OPPONENTS
Says Organization to Effect
Other Than Most Needed
Legislation Is Viola
ton of Pledges

by L. $. DEITY
MONTGOMERY, January ESPECIALLY
For the legislature of Alabama to or
ganize without recognizing as its first
and paramount duty the substitution of
an efficient and consistent fiscal,
financial and revenue policy for the
system now obtaining" would be, in
the opinion of Edward D. Johnston of
huntsville. local option candidate for
the speakership, ito subordinate these
pledges and these distinct obligations
to the purposes of a coalition. organ
lied. engineered and now being spon-
sored by gentlemen who are not mem
bers of the legislature and under no
obligation to the people, and who will
take no oath OF office"
With this ringing declaration, Mr..
Johnston hurls his gauntlet at the feet
Of his opponents. charging that they
are prepared to subordinate the definite
and expressed obligations of the ad-
ministration and of every member of
the legislature to plans which will
prectpitate the hitterest issue which
has torn Alabama since reconstruction
days.
Issues Statement
Mr. Johnston's statement was issued
this afternoon and is one of the strong
est prelative utterances that has yet
been made. He declares that the IN
coming legislature is committed 70 the
assurance that 1t will subordinate all
factional and taxation system, "A neces-
city repeatedly expressed by Governor
Henderson. and that the bitterness ana
personal hostilities. resulting from al
agitation of the liquor question, VIII
have the effect of uniting the mem
bers for the sober work of the ses-
sICn.
II am no anti -prohibtionist, aithouSh
l believe in local option; but | regard
this legislature as solemnly pledged TO
make the needs of the state, as prom
Used by the incoming administration
and expressly or implicitly, but no less
solemnly pledged by every LEGISLATOR
the paramount consideration states
Mr.. Johnston.
The text of his statement in part
follows:
"There has been no time within the past
., wears when the people have elected a
governor and legislature as dehniteiy
committed to a declared policy as the
governor and the Legislature now ABOUT
10 assume office. In former years, when
fractional issues or specific questions nave
been involved, there has always been as
sent from a substantial minority OF tne
neople There was no dissent from the
urinary policy to which the incoming leg
islature and administration is committed
The governor and every legislator re-
| ceiyed his nomination and election know
ing that the people of his county ano
| state. without division. expected that ns
would recognize as the paramount duty
| of this legislature the substitution OF ar
/ efficient and consistent fiscal, iinancia
and revenue policy for the system no"
obtaining: and to man the incoming
legislature is committed to the assurance
that It will subordinate all fractional is
sues TO the peremptory necessity for the
| legislation mentioned, as that necessit,
was repeatedly expressed by Governor
| Henderson.
For the legislature to organize on any
different basis is to subordinate these
pledges and these distinct obligations u
the purposes of a coalition organized
engineered and now being sponsored, by
gentlemen who are not members OF th'
LEGISLATURE and under no obligation TO the
people, and who will take no oath Of Of
flee.
! Have Joined Forces
| when these facts are admitted. the
question involved by the present contest
for the speakership has been stated, II
is admitted that my opponents have
| Joined forces for the primary and sole
purpose of organizing the legislature II
order to subordinate the definite and ex
pressed obligations of the administration
and of every member of the legislature
| and every other question which ma,
arise, to plans which were not announced
before the primary, and which are Ger
I tain to result in disa ster or serious della,
to the orderly fulfillment of their ex
! PRESSED obligations.
That result, II the combination shoule
be successful may be demonstrated How
ever meritorious and appropriate as q
subject for legislation along with and moi
exclusive Of the other important meas
ures which must be enacted. it is GER
tain that the organization of the legisia'
ture for their declared purpose means tnt
| immediate precipitation of the bitteres'
issue which has torn Alabama since re
construction, before the legislature has
! settled down to the constructive WORK
which Is obligatory upon us. Bitterness
and personal hostilities. uniting us 10,
the sober work of the session, are certain
But that Is not all. In that sort of con
| ttOVerSy tnGTe mas heretofore DetH ~
quarter. Their plans If successful will
result In the continued pressing of the
| question and with this result: 1t Is GER
tain that constitutional amendments must
| be submitted to carry out contemplated
tax revision. such as the amendment oil
] section 211, adopted in order to put
(, slaves and all ad valorem property OF
the same basis, and, perhaps. for othel
! necessary relief. such as the land banl
| and other legislation. A legislature or
| ganized on the basis proposed by my op
ponents, recognizing no other .ssue -o
! state policy as important. may be ex
.rected to demand or require as condi
ton to these other measures the suoHns
sion of an amendment In accordance will
! their views and responsive to the con
slant pressure of these gentlemen wh'
| are not members of the Legislature ant
whose symypathizes with parties, admin
istrations and commonwealths Is in direc
relation to the latter's subordination o
every issue to statewide and constitu
tional prohibition. Are our constitutions
amendments. indispensable to the welfar
of the state. to be shot to pieces by tn
| acr.u1onv af another sarnendment' fight :?