The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-03-10
OATES DISCUSSES
NEEDED CHANGES
In The Organic Law Of the
State.
THE GENERAL A CANDIDATE
To Represent the TVenty-Thir Senate
rial District as Delegate.
PRESENT SYSTEM OF ELECTIONS
Should be Revised in Radical Manner
Opposes Increased Taxation-Par-
doning Power Should be Vested
in Board of Commissioners.

Montgomery, March 9-(Special) -Gen-
eral w. C. Oates returned to Montgomery
this morning from a trip to Henry, Dale
and Geneva counties, where he has been III
the interest of his candidacy for delegate
from the Twenty-third senatorial district
to the constitutional convention. The gen.
eral made speeches at Ozark and Dothan
on the question of a constitutional conven-
ton, in which he gave his views on i'm
portant changes which should be made in
our present constitution.
General Oates expressed himself to an
Age-Herald representative this morning
as being very much gratifed at the recep-
ton rendered him by his home people, and
discussed very freely the different subjects
treated of in his speeches. Probably the
most interesting feature Of his speeches
was the stand taken on the question of
franchise.
II advocated and will advocate in the
convention If chosen a delegate" said Gen.
eral Oates, some very radical changes in
our present system of elections. want a
system whereby absolutely fair and honest
elections can be held in Alabama. Under
our present system offices are bartered
any other commodity, and unless we get
relief one or two more state elections will
bring about serious split in the ranks
of the democratic party in Alabama. We
cannot disfranchise the negroes as class,
for the constitution of the United States
expressly forbids it, but we can cut off the
ignorant by placing about the ~allot such
distractions as will disqualify the lower
and unintelligent element l shall favor
making the poll tax receipt a necessary
evidence for the privilege of the ballot.
This would increase the revenues of the
r.,tl1 Of doll
An educa tional and property qualification
are both fair and just.
LAS means of DISTINGUISHING many of
the ignorant and dangerous class, heartily
favor that convictions for either larceny or
felonies shall disfranchise voter for a
period of at least ten years, and then leave
it to a joint ballot of the general assembly
as to whether a person SO convicted shall
be again granted the franchise"
General Oates went back to the conven-
ton of 1895, of which he was a member, and
told of how the present clause on this sub
ject was placed in the constitution. Il
came to that convention" he said with
the constitution all written out and In my
pocket. l offered 1t to the convention sec
tion by section. When the clause disfran-
chising an elector for conviction in the
courts for either a felony or larceny was
read, made a speech In it's favor l re-
member very well Bob Knox's reply. Bob
Knox was a delegate from Montgomery
county He said: Why, Mr.. President
the proposition of the delegate from the
Twenty third senatorial district is outra-
geous 1t would disfranchise more than
three-fourths of my constituents The
clause was defeated Subsequently at
meeting of the committee composed of the
chairmen of all the committees, l renewed
this motion, and 1t was carried and report
ed back to the full convention and adopted
by that body.
Opposes Increased Taxes
st am opposed to any increase in the tax
rate, and think the raising of the levy by
the recent legislature Is unwise." He en-
tered into discussion Of the best methods
of securing better school system If the
poll tax was properly assessed and col
lected, there would have been no need for
the additional levy of one mill. The con-
troll of the public schools should be left to
a board composed of one member from each
congressional district, with power to legis-
late in all school matters, except appropria-
lions.
The appointment of trustees for the large
state schools should be taken out of the
hands of the governor, he thought. Poll
tics have entered into these appointments
to the great detriment of the institutions,