Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1897-02-03
OPINIONS WHICH HAVE WEIGHT
The State Has Advanced and the Old Constitution
Has Served Its Purpose Interests of the
People Make New One Abs0-
1ute1y Necessary.

AS the readers of the State Herald
know, this journal has, for some time,
been the advocate of convention to
frame a new constitution for Alabama.
A bill providing for the submission of
khe question of convention or no conven-
tion to the people and for the election of
delegates has been introduced into the
house of representatives by the Hon.
Samuel C. jenkins, of Wilcox county,
and into the senate by the Hon. w. F.
Hogue, of Perry. The Jenkins bill has
been reported favorably by the judiciary
committee of the house, is now on the
calendar, and will come up for passage
during the present week. The senate
bill has gone to the committee on privi-
leges and elections, and from it favora-
BILE report is confidently expected. No
more important question, for the future
welfare of the state, WILL in the opinion
of the State Herald, occupy the time and
attention of the general assembly at
this session. Our readers will recall that
in October last, the Industrial and Com
mercial association of Alabama, nom
partisan and non-political body, held
meeting in Birmingham, at which as
sembled representatives of the various
commercial and industrial associations
of the state. Papers were there read,
and addresses delivered, which set forth
- 4I,o cfof fnv 0I q n
in it's organic law, which changes could,
in the opinion of those present, be pro-
cured only by the calling of convention,
since, under the requirements of the
impossible to alter that instrument by
proposing separate amendments. A COM
mittee raised to consider the proposition
reported in favor of new constitution,
and that report was adopted, with but
one dissenting vote. With view to for
warding the work, the association ap-
pointed another committee to press the
matter upon the people and the legisla-
ture, it being necessary to procure the
passage of bill, before the people could
have an opportunity to express their
will at the polls. AS the association is a
non-political organization, the committee
was appointed without regard to the po-
litical views of the members, and, as a
result, strong committee, composed of
representative business and professional
men, was named. Naturally, the presi-
49, oe +t,a occoo;otiop tho Hon II T.,
Mckee, was made, by virtue of his Of
flee, chairman. The other members are
as follows: S. D. Weakley, lawyer, of
Birmingham, vice-chairman of the full
mittee styled the executive committee;
Hon. ]. C. Compton, ex-president Of the
senate and lawyer, Of Selma; James e.
Webb, Esq, lawyss, of Birmingham;
Hon. w. ]. Wood, ex-senator, ex-probate
judge and lawyer, Of Florence; w. F.
Vandiver merchant, of Montgomery;
Samuel Ullman, president of board of
education, and DR.. ]. H. Phillips, super
intendent of public schools, of Birming-
ham; Hon. Erwin Craighead, editor of
Mobile Register, Mobile; Hon. H. c.
Tompkins, ex-chairman of state demo-
cratic committee, ex-attorney general
and lawyer, of Montgomery; Hon. John
B. Knox, chairman Of state democratic
committee, and lawyer, of Admission;
Hon. W. C. Jemison, mayor of Tusca-
loosa; Hon. F. M. Hight, mayor of An
niston; Hon. ]. Asa Rountree president
Birmingham State Herald of Birming-
ham; Hon. r. A. Mitchell, mayor of Gads-
den: Hon. David D. Shelby. lawyer, of