The times., 1899-01-12
SUFFRAGE IN ALABAMA.
Talk Regarding the Prospective
State Constitutional Convention.


group of Alabamians who had called
at the Metropolitan Hotel last evening to
see Hon. Francis l.. Pettus, of Selma, son
of Senator Edmund W. Pettus. of A'a-
bama. were discussing the coming consti
tutional convention of that State.
Mr. Pettus Jr., is himself a distin
guished Alabamian, being prominent at
the bar and having been speaker Of the
State senate, and conceded as one OF the
coming leaders of political thought in the
State.
''Of course you are going to be in the
Convention" queried one OF the g oup.'
Il will, II am not beaten" replied Mr..
Pettus.
The other Alabamians agreed that Mr..
re,tus would have no opposition, and h
pleasantly remarked ne was not coMting
any.
That convention remarked Mr.. W. L.
Pitts, another visiting Alabamian. will
constitute the ablest body Of men who
have assembled in the State since the con-
stitutional convention of jS76
The conversation developed several in
teresting features relative TO the purpose
and scope of the convention, which has be
come theme of absorbing interest not
only to Alabamians, but to citizens OF
other Southern States having communi
ties in which there is prepondcrance Of
negro voters; for the qualification OF the
right of suffrage, with view to ellminat-
ing as far as possible the vote Of the
most ignorant element, is, as in Missis-
sippi and Louisiana, the inspiration o.
the new convention for Alabama The
convention is to meet the first Monday in
August next At the election which IS to
take place early in July. the question Of
convention or no convention Will be sub
mitted, and at the same time candidat 5
for delegates to the convention voted for.
Should the convention win, delegates re
ceiving the highest votes in their respec-
tive districts will he accredited TO rep e.
sent them in the convention.
The convention is TO be composed OF
1872 members. the same number as tn
general assembly, thirty three from each
of the senatorial districts and ninety nine
from the lower house districts. Both
Senators Morgan and Pettus have been
importuned to become members of tae
convention, but both have decided TO leave
the task to other Alabamians.
Among those regarded as certain TO be
in the convention is former Chief Justice
of the State Supreme Court Robert c.
Bricken of Huntsville, than whom few
State jurists' opinions in the country are
more frequently quoted The convcn-
tion. it is conceded, while il will be com
posed almost exclusively Of Democrats.
will be dominated by no faction of the
party such as has been engendered BY the
money question. Some OF its most dis
tinguished members will be from among
those who opposed free silver, which has
always carried Alabama Besides the ef-
! fort to arrive at the nearest possible
luton OF the negro suffrage problem. it
is quite certain, from expressions thus iar
made throughout the State, that the con-
vention Will reframe its organic law so
as to adjust it to the expanding and pro-
gressive Industrial conditions and posi-
hilities of the State. More liberal pro-
vision will be made as to the taxing pow
er, and manufacturing enterprises and the
| like will be encouraged by exemption from
taxation for limited periods. The per
| sonnel of the convention, judging from
the agitation now going on in the State.
| will embrace representative men from all
| the chief pursuits and professions.