The age-herald., 1898-10-30
REGULATION OF SUFFRAGE
You'd Bs tho Most Important Quss-
 tion Before the Convention.
OTHER REFORMS TO BE OBTAINED
The School Question Not Considered as the Legislature Now Has the Power to Almost Double the
 Educational Fund.

As the time for the converting of the leg proposed constitutional convention has re- ceived new impetus.
 From time to time the Age-Herald has printed articles on the subject, and the fol- lowing interview with Hon. Sydney J. Bowie, of Talladega will be of interest:
 When seen by an Age-Herald representa- tive MT. Bowie said: "It is greatly to be hoped that the present legislature will pass a bill calling for a constitutional conven- ton. Certainly no movement more impor- tant to the welfare of the state can be considered. Certain objections have been offered by those who, conceding the neces- sty for changes in our organic law, seem afraid that new convention will annul the wise provisions of our fathers which are found in the existing constitution Such fears are absolutely groundless. The prin- cipal objection urged is that the limitations upon the taxing powers will be removed. and small communities will be allowed to exercise their pleasure in levying taxes up- on property owners. There is no possibility of any such result. The wisest men of AL abama inserted the provisions in the pres- ent constitution, and barring the cases of few municipalities, such as Birmingham, they have proven amply sufficient as is shown by the fact that no legislature and lew counties have ever reached the limit Of taxation allowed by our present consti- tuition. To suppose, therefore that the convention would indiscriminately tear down the safeguards which are intended Tor the purpose of protecting property own CTS Is an impossibilty. Moreover experi- ence demonstrates that the ablest men of the state will be most anxious to be mem Ders or the convention, and surely if we can trust the wisdom of the men whom we send to the legislature to enact our laws, We need not be afraid of unjust or hurtful legislation on the part of the hest men of the state in convention assen,t,ad
 "Another objection urged is the. fear in certain quarters thai the the right of suffrage may be densea the heroes of the confedera- cy anc their descendants. If there is one thing dearer to the hearts of the people than another, it is their love and venera- tion for the surviving remnant of that bravest of all armies-the army of the con- federacy It is most likely that the con- vention will be controlled by those who actually saw service in the late war Ger tainly 1t will be by those who love and ap- preciate their heroic deeds Is 1t supposa- ble that such men will do iniustics to the veterahs of the late war, or their children? Certainly not. Barring these points. the
 
 vention has, so far as I know. never been attempted to be answered. That there are serious defects in the existing constitution is conceded by all intelligent men.
 Regulation of su nrage
 "By some it has been suggested that the regulation of the suffrage. which is the most important question that could come before the convention. can be obtained by an amendment. It seems to me, however, that no adequate relief from existing con- dtions can be obtained in this manner. The trouble with all of the amendments, save that of the last one passed in the in- terest of Birmingham. Is that they have been defeated because of the difficulty of getting a vote upon the same, and the con- stitutionality of the Birmingham amend ment has been gravely questioned by able lawyers. It seems to me perfectly clear that a proper and just regulation of the suffrage can only be obtained in conven- ton called for that as its main purpose. As stated above, it Is altogether unlikely that any amendment which might be adopted would be adequate to the necessi- ties of the occasion. Moreover, there are certain other reforms which can be obtain ed only in the convention. I do not speak of the school question. because the legis- lature by the existing power vested in it, can almost double the present school fund of the state, and it is likely that the peo- pie will not be willing for some time to come to sustain any nlSneT tdXdtlon TOT school purposes than can be obtained un- der the present constitution.
 Question of Constitutionality
 ."rhere Is one thing, however, which I think can be done by the legislature, and which I think ought to receive its immedl- ate attention, and that is a requirement of the prepayment of the poll tax as con- dition precedent to the right to vote. I do not believe that such law would be tY, orfn ot,alr could oppose it on principle. The only ob- jection which has ever been urged to 1t is the question of its constitutionality I have given some thought to this subject, and do not believe it to be unconstitu- tional. Tennessee, Georgia, and, I believe, Arkansas, require the poll tax to be paid before the voter is allowed the privilege of casting his ballot. and know of no pro- vision in our constitution which would pro- hibit our legislature from doing the same thing. It is certainly not an educational nor property qualification. In my county