The age-herald., 1898-12-30
OFFICE HOLDERS
 GAN BE ELECTED As Delegates to the Coming COnstitu-
 tiOnal Convention. THIS IS THE SENTIMENT
Which Exists Among the Leading Men
 of the Capital.
WHO WILL OFFER FOR PRESIDENT?
Not Believed That Senator Morgan or Governor Johnston Will Ask for the Honor-Wa Knox and Lo-
 max Being Spoken Of

Montgomery, December 29.-(Special.)- There is little of a political nature to dis cuss about the capital during the holidays save the constitutional convention ques- tion. Everybody who resides in Montgom- cry and the visitors to the city favor convention, and it seems now to be only a question of who shall compose the dele gates.
 There are few who will agree with Col. J. w. DuBose in his arguments that no of- flee holder can be elected as a delegate to the convention. I have found but one off, ficial who Is inclined to believe with Col. DuBose, and he confesses not to have studied the question. This same official will, or should, be a member of the con venton In fact, there is decided opinion here that all state officials should be made advisory delegates to the convention. Give them the right to serve on committees and to debate, but no vote in the convention. There are many arguments in avor of this suggestion. For instance, there may be no delegate in the convention who is familiar with the states finances, the convict sys- tenn, or other of the departments Certain ly the adyices of the governor, the attorney general ana the memDefS or the supreme bench would be of great value to the dele gates. Every lawyer will admit that the etate's judicial system is sadly in need of revision, and no one is better qualified to suggest needed amendments in judicial pro- cedure than the members of the supreme bench. They need not be given vote in the convention, but their advice in com mittees would be highly valued.
 The People Supreme
 In discussing the eligibility of office hold CTS to become members of the convention, an official who is well learned in the law asserted that in voting on the question of whether a convention should be held the people would determine the matter, as there was provision in the bill that office holders may be elected as delegates. This official claims, for instance that the capital could not-be removed by the convention, for the reason shat tbes,5c.,ereign people decide the question at the polls when yot ing to hold convention. This is a seem- ing plausible argument. Still there is a question as to whether the bill passed by the legislature is voted upon at all. This bill provides merely that the people shall vote upon the question of "convention or no convention"
 After all, the constitutional convention can determine for itself who shall sit as members of the body, and it is safe to pre- dict that there will be very liberal sprink- ling Of Judges, solicitors, members of the general assembly and other officeholders admitted. This is the sentiment in Mont gomery. As very able man, who is neither lawyer nor an officeholder, re- marked today, Tt matters not to me whether the delegates be officsholders, lawyers, merchants, farmers or black smiths, so that they are strong intellectu- ally and honest in framing a constitution that will place our state to the front and give equal protection to all citizens. I be- leve it is this class of men who are going to be elected, too''
 May be Amended
 There is very strong probability that an amendment will be offered to the present bill at the next session of the assembly. This amendment will seek to increase the number of delegates in the convention to one hundred and fifty, and provide for the election of one hundred from the counties, proportioned as in the present house thirty three from the senatorial districts and sev- enteen from the state at large. It is be- lieved that such an amendment would pop ularize the bill. Senator G. B. Deans, of Shelby late populist candidate for gov ernor, said to me that he felt certain that if this or some similar plan were adopted, which would allow the residents in the sen- atorial districts to nominate and elect their