The age-herald., 1898-02-06
M.Ax,v
TECHNICS FROM
 CURRENT TOPICS.

| |. While the voters the politicians and the office-seekers in every section of the state | are discussing the advisability of select | ing candidates to the legislature by the l convention primary plans, there Is dan | ger of the people losing sight of the per | sonal views of the legislative candidates upon subjects of grave importance to the | welfare of Alabama.
 | It is certainly time for the average citi- | zen to realize that the biennial meeting l of the state legislature rarely results In | any material and positive benefit to the | people of Alabama.
 l During the sessions small local bills-in
 themselves important-are struggled with; | schemes for the benefit of a favored few
 are introducedt facetious lawmakers grow
 l grotesquely humorous over bloomers and | shirt waists, theater hats and such ap- | purtenances of certain classes of feminin- | fty, but unless an election for a United States senator is hand, one is almost | forced to inquire why the legislature of l Alabama ever convenes at all. The people | gain almost nothing by the gathering to- | gether of the so-called lawmakers of Ala | bama.
 l Alabama has lived faithfully up to her l poetic legend Here We Rest, long I enOuBu. Die IdS uillteu Quletiy tloIl6, l almost rudderless for many years. | "What has been, should be- seems to be
 the motto of the average citizen, and every | improvement demanded by the present al-
 1 tered social and political conditions is | baked and blocked by the votes of unn- formed, ambitionless, non-progressive leg l islators.
 | A few weeks spent at the state capital, 1 lad xxyifh oil thn cla n nn- litical office seems to be the aim and ob- | ject of the average member of the legis- | lature
 l The time has arrived in the history Of Alabama when no man should be elected | either to the senate or house of repre- | sentatives until he commits himself to the advocacy of those measures for which the | best people of the state are clamoring. 1 No man should be sent to the next legis- lature who fails to take bold vigorous | stand, not only upon financial matters, | but upon the school question and the need | of Alabama for a constitutional conven- l tion.
 This is not the time to encourage moral | cowardice. Alabama children are plead
 | ing for educational advantages; the state owes the smallest, poorest little waif with l in its borders the rudiments of an Eng
 l fish education.
 | There can be no hope of improved citi- | zenship while school houses are closed for | want of funds, and the lawmakers are | afraid to take an honest stand for the | education of the masses.
 The constitutional convention will force | itself upon the people; it, is a question that l will not down, as long as ignorance and l illiteracy stalk hand in hand in every por- | tion of Alabama.
 I Alabama needs the educational test of | suffrage, and eventually she will have it, | despite all the menacing of small, con-
 tracted political asprants.
 l Alabamians should demand of every can- didate for legislative honors that he de- | clare himself on the school question and l that of the constitutional convention. 1 Unless he Is in favor of radical improve ments in the educational condition of the state and of the holding at an early day of a constitutional convention. the candi- l date for the next legislature should be left 1 quietly at home to sorrowfully ruminate 1 upon the errors of his ways. | The action of the teachers of Alabama regarding the preparation of school bill | to be presented the next legislature is Q step very far forward in the right direc- | tion. By experience and observation these | educators are the best qualified to speak intelligently of the necessities of the peo- ple in regard to school matters. It should | be the effort of every teacher in Alabama | to make the school interests of the state | a vital, burning issue in the approaching political campaign.
 There was once in Alabama a very try | ing, reprehensible son, who. after having enjoyed great advantages in every way, | darkened many years of devoted, amoi- | tious fathers life with series of serious l offenses. At last, in desperation, his grand father undertook to remonstrate with him, and after exhausting all forms of argument exclaimed: civilian, what have you ever done to repay in any way your father IT all his lavish indugence?" Oh quickly replied the offending son, "I have given him the pleasure of my society," Alabama has indulged many of her sons with agreeable sojourns at Montgomery, and in return, the great majority or them | "have given her the pleasure of their so- ciety.'' that and that alone. Now has ar rived the time when something more Is to be required at the hands 0e the law makers of the state. They must give Ala bama better free schools-abso,utely freo schools-and more of them, and they must vote for a constitutional convention. If they cannot commit themselves upon these iin- perative issues, they should not receive the
 indorsement of their fellow citizens, wheth- CT by convention or primary plan. The people are entitled to a mans views on , every public question when he asks office at their hands.
 If he has personal convictions or is afraid to express his genuine sentiments he is not the man for any political posi- ton.
 The people pay the salaries of public serv- ants; they elevate them by their votes to places of trust and responsibility, ard
 they should see to 1t that these officials
 faithfully earn their wages and are worthy of their elevation.
 Tire safest. surest plan is to demand straightforward. honest position from every oGice-seeker upon every public question
 involving the rights of the citizens of the
 state BALL.