The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-03-17
If He Makes Race for Gov ernor 1t Will Be Because of the Principles
 Involved
KILBY RECOGNIZED
 AS SURE WINNER IN
 THE PRESENT FIELD
MT. Johnston Will Probably Make no Decision Until After Montgomery
 Conference
Nv HUGH W. ROBERTS


 Washington, March 16.-(Speclai.) Forney Johnston will not be drafted. He has made this plain. If he offers for the goyernorship of Alabama It will be because the state rights ad- herents will have undertaken flgnt all along the Iine-for the election ot chief executive and legislature for the retention of a principle, as entrusted against a fight for the furtherance of political ambitions
 Mir. Johnston has already refused to be drafted. Great pressure has, ln- deed, been brought against him to of- fer-for it is recognized by politicians visiting Washington that without his opposition, the prohibition amend ment advocates will sweep Thomas E.. Kilby into victory.
 Sometime ago MT. Johnson, return ing to his office, found a number Of politicians awaiting him. They de- clared that they had come to get hls answer.
 If you want my answer this after- noon," replied Mir Johnston, in erect Dit is nor' He would not be drafted
 JOHNSTON IS WAITING
 Mr Johnston recently has been twice in Washington. On his first visit he reviewed the Alabama situation Tn de- tail with Senator Underwood Sena- : tor Underwood without encouraging him to run, offered his support in the event that he did run, and predicted his success MT. Johnston declared publicly that he had not definitely de- cided On his return he announced that he was still waiting watchfully. He left the impression that he does net want to run, that he would be glad af an opportunity to remain Tn pfl- 4te life for a number of years to Hfne. but that if it is deemed certain 4s without his leadership the amend yant would be adopted he would make fns race, and a very aggressive race, ae that If he gets into the campaign lgtsvill be an interesting campaign be- affid question. He Will carry the
 1t into the territory of the oppo- on, and drive home iIi most vigor-
 style his arguments day and night
 HIS REAL ATTITUDE
 Without formally stating the fact, ii
 xnown that Mr. Johnston will be gnided in his future course by the de- ye1upments in and after the anti eirsndment conference in Montgom esS April 4. At the same time he has 33 it be known generally that that NnFerence, as far as he is concerned tiat be a conference respecting a prin- ffle and not respecting the candidacy of any individual He stated emphat. iealiy to the correspondent of The Agc- Herald that had the conference been called in his behalf he would not at tend it and would have nothing to dc with it's conclusions.
 MT. Johnston must be shown, as a result of the conference, that no anti amendment candidate, presently in the field, can be elected, and that without his leadership, the amendists vii that he will not run for the specific pur- pose, either of acquiring office, ol forcing the retirement of any anti amendment candidate now running, oi of defeating any certain individual He is deeply welded to the principle involved in the campaign and earnest. ly believes that Alabama cannot af- ford to yield its right under the con stitution to regulate it's own affairs If the establishment or reaffirmatior by the people of that principle car be secured only as a result of his can. didacy he will run; otherwise he vii not The one way. or the other he will be convinced by the conference of April A.
 Dxy,c,