The age-herald., 1898-12-06

Montgomery, December 5.-(Special.) 1.-The friends of a new constitution for Alabama are very jubilant tonight, and are declar- ing that the measure is sure of success.
 The democrats held a joint caucus this afternoon to discuss the advisability of calling conven,.on. It was clearly the sense of the caucus that a convention should be called. Everybody is discussing the merits of the bill, and both the friends and opponents of the measure are down at work with determination. Those friends of the convention gained great advantage when they secured democratic caucus to consider the matter. The deliberations of a caucus would not be necessary to pass the bill through the house, as there are ffty-seven democratic members pledged to its support. But the situation in the sen- ate is not so favorable There are thirteen democratic senators committed to the con- vention, and there are also several others in the doubtful column. A caucus could bind these members. but the party lash will not be applied. This was decided in eau GUS this evening. It was determined to make the deliberations of the meeting merely advisory, and in this action all fac tions are satisfied
 1t Was Hot Caucus The caucus was an exceedingly "hot num- ber." It was exclusive. None save demo- cratic members were in the meeting. News 1 paper men were excluded. The utterances 1 of the peoples representatives were too sa- l cred to fall upon the ears of their constit- | uents
 | The caucus was called to order at 4:15 | p. m. by Chairman Mitchell. Roll call re- vealed the presence of sixty-nine members. l thirteen senators and ffty-six representa- tives. There are 10S members of the cau- l GUS, but not all of those absent were in the l city. Several members have leave of ab- l sence But many members who are op- 1 posed to convention refused to go into a | caucus, fearing it's acton would bind them l quorum had hardly been declared be- fore Senator Boykin, of Russell, was rec | ognized away back in the right hand | corner of the chamber. Senator Boykin is | leading the opposition to the measure, and | he was in easy reach of the door, The sen- | ator offered a resolution that the members | of the caucus who had on the stump pledged themselves against the convention be not bound by the caucus. The senator spoke in support of his resolution.
 As he was telling the members why he opposed convention member suggested that some things might be said in the meet ing which none save the regular members should hear. MT. Boykin replied that he was willing for the people to hear all that he would say. He proceeded.
 When Senator Boykin had concluded Representative Davis, of Marion, offered Ys a substitute that the deliberations of this caucus be merely advisory and not binding. This idea was not popular, and a half dozen members were trying to speak when | Mr. Mcqueen was recognized and moved that the caucus go into executive session. There was storm of "noes," but the chair thought the eyes were in the majority. A parliamentary wrangle followed, which several speeches and many points of order were made. A member wanted the vote to go into executive session reconsidered, and on an aye and nay vote the executive ses- sion won by fl to 36. The gallery was soon cleared. together with the lobby.
 What They Did
 Just all that occurred within those closed doors may never be known, but there was some sky-scraping eloquence wasted on an empty gallery. The session lasted for nearly two hours. The resolution to make the caucus deliberations merely advisory finally prevailed. Then it was decided to appoint a committee of ten-five each from senate and house, to draft bill calling convention. This committee has not yet been named. Everybody seems satisfied with the caucus action. It has done little more, however, than to pour more fuel upon the flames. The fight on the consti- tutional convention is hot and its getting hotter
 A Restricted Convention
 Representation and taxation are. two questions that will not be disturbed by constitutional convention, and it was the elimination of these troublesome questions which has made a convention possible. The following resolution covering these points will be presented and 1t seems to meet with the approval of the friends of the measure:
 "Whereas, The unrestricted suffrage
 of the negro race has been demonstrated
 to be unwiSe and contrary to his own
 best interests, well as fruitful of
 much injury to the white people; now
 therefore, be 1t
 Resolved, That the paramount issue
 before the people of this state is the
 reformation of the suffrage to the end
 that the corrupt and venal vote be elimi-
 mated and the consequent menace to
 good government and good morals be
 removed,
 Resolved, further, That the brave
 soldiers of the civil and Mexican wars,
 upon whatever side they fought, and
 their descendants. of right ought not
 and must not be disturbed in the exer-
 else of suffrage
 Resolved, further, That the limita-
 tions upon the amount and agencies Of
 taxation found in the existing consti-
 tuition have proven amply sufficient for
 the proper purposes of government ~itn
 the possible exception of very few
 municipalities, and have abundantly
 demonstrated the wisdom of the convefi- ton which framed them. en< khs faith