The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-08-03
NeUs Of the Week From
 The Capital Of Mississippi

1 funnier things have happened in Miss issippi politics.
 Now, on the eve of the primary. as six months ago, there is little interest
 and no enthusiasm. As a matter of course interest has increased to some
 extent in some communities where gubernatorial candidate happens to
 make his home and is considered worthy the honor he seeks at the hands of the.
 people-but even under these condi-
 tions there is no life. no pep, no ginger and no enthusiasm.
 It is expected that about 150,000 votes
 will be boiled, but no man can predict
 with satisfaction even to himself just how these votes are going to be appor-
 toned Johnston, Russell and Longino
 are admitted to be punched and well in
 the lead of Collins. Should Collins re- ceive the 10000 votes accorded him by Johnston in an interview printed
 week ago, there will be 1S0,0o0 to be split between three An even break
 would mean about 43.000 votes each,
 but as matter of course there will be no such even apportionment of the votes. It is possible that MT. John- ston's prediction to the effect that he is going to poll 60,000 votes is as cor
 rect as any other dope. that has been offered the public. but fhe other candi- dates do not accept FMr. Johnston's
 
 hesitate to say so But for the sake of
 argument let it be supposed that John-
 ston or Russell or Longino showed up with 60,00o votes in the August 5th primary there would be 10000 votes to divide between the two next highest 40 900 to 30,000. As JohnstonNis the only candidate for governor who has
 made any figured claims, he will be put in the lead-for the sake of further argument The question then arises, who will be the next highest and have the pleasure, if such it may be called. , of measuring lances against Johnston? Here Is where the dopesters shine. They argue that in the event Russell is the second highest he will defeat Johnston in the second primary but that if Longino is in the second with Russell he will defeat Russell. The Johnston men scoff at any such con-, tingency as defeat at the hands of Russell in the second primary. claiming it cannot be accomplished for the good and sufficient reason that Russell is going to poll his full strength on the first round. Russells votes are coming from the Vardaman- -Bilbo following of last year, and it is not believed that is sufficient to land him anywhere. It defeated Vardaman for the snate and Rolbo for congress a. year ago-when they were running on their own ac- count. Besides Collins is going to poll a lot of the old Vardaman and Bilbo votes-even if he did desert Bilbo after he had ridden into office on his coat tail four years ago. So did a great many others, but the chances are that the majority of these "others" have deserted both Bilbo and Collins as well as Vardaman.
 The soldier vote Is another factor in this primary election that is not to be ignored by any means. It will amount perhaps, to 25,000 votes, and is not all going to swing in line for any one man. It is known that the greater portion of this vote is going to Lieut. Oscar Johnston-at least that is the general impression. No great number of the soldiers are going to support Russell or Collins-they did not even pretend to be willing to fight for their country nor did Longino, for that matter, though he did get into the Y. NJ. c. A service and wore the khaki for few months. He also had three sons in the war. But Johnston got right down into the ranks of the private soldier and took intensive training for the most dangerous branch of the service-the tank car-and was at the seashore under orders to get to France at once when the armistice was signed He
 was ready to go into the very thickest of the fight and give his life for his country if necessary, so that thousands of young men who were doing just what he was doing and ready to do, feel that he comes nearer to being one of their number than do any of the other candidates. And then Johnston enjoys the distinction of having beaten the stuffin' out of Pennsylvania captain who swore at him and ordered him around as if he were a dog or a Yazoo Mississippi Delta nigger. For this unpardonable crime, striking an
 officer, private Johnston was court
 maritaled, argued his own case and
 held the captain up to such ridicule that he was reduced to the ranks and
 Johnston promoted to a lieutenant
 few days later.
 During the past few days consider
 able interest has ben aroused espe-
 cially among the lawyers of the state