The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-05-18
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
AND ELSEWHERE

for the people their rights in the matter
of a constitutional convention" said
state politician. 'There is no doubt that
Governor Johnston and his plant majority
In the legislature have violated the exist
ing constitution. Upon that point there Is
no difference of opinion amongst represen-
tative party men. What the governor
himself really thinks about the repeal act
from a legal point of view nobody knows
and probably nobody cares. a few persons
remember in an indistinet sort of way
some expressions of opinion as set forth
in his message at the outset of the extra
session; but that extraordinary triumph of
grammar, logic, and fervor in affection for
the people was not taken seriously by
anybody, not even by his exeellency him
self. But the governor found something
to do in his own political interests, and he
did it. The leading men named by the
democratic party as candidates for menu
bership of the convention were not to his
liking, and with an audacity and daring
seldom equaled in politics he required his
legislative. majority to annul its own
act"
There remains to the representatives of
the democratic party the advocates of
constitutional convention generally the
right of appeal to the courts, but it is
probably too late for such an appeal to
avail" continued the man of Information.
application might be made for writ of
mandamus requiring the secretary of state
to take the formal and necessary steps for
holding the election In July. If such action
were successful in the court of first in
stance, the enemies of the convention
would undoubtedly appeal to the supreme
court; but they could delay the appeal I'M
til too late for the decision of the highest
court to be any of practical value, even as
suming that such decision would be quickly
rendered and would be favorable to the
convention-an assumption in any circum-
stances of at time wholly unwarranted; for
to presume in advance upon the judgment
of the highest court is not only absurdly
unwise, but is mischievously disrespectful.
Under the most favorable imaginable con-
ditions it appears there would not be time
to make the canvass for the convention
Therefore it would seem that the conven-
ton called for 1899 has passed from practi-
cal politics. And the legislature having adj
journed it is now impossible for any pro-
posed amendments to the constitution.
There were some potent objections to any
attempt being now made to amend the
constitution by the suggested amendments.
The truth is, Governor Johnston has ac-
complished what he set out to do in regard
to the call for a convention, and his work
cannot be undone until a general assembly
is elected which will not be subservient. to
his wishes and his ambitions The COVER
nor has developed unexpected even master
ly, powers of leadership, and the advocates
of constitutional revision know the nature
of the work before them and everybody
knows that Morgan's seat in the senate is
involved"
The extra session of the legislature lasted
fifteen days and cost the taxpayers about
S150CO-a dear price to pay for thwartlng
the will of the people and violating the
constitution. The money has been worse
than wasted. The repeal of the conven-
ton act is merely the postponement of the
convention, and that postponement serves
the purpose of engendering bitterness in
the public mind, and may result in the
partial disruption of the democratic
party.
General Charles NJ Shelley has returned
from a visit to Washington and the east
The principal purpose of his journey was to
greet his son, Captain James E. Shelley, of
the Fifth United States Volunteer infantry,
which is now at Camp Meade, Pa. The reg
iment will be mustered out of the service
on the 21st of May, and on the same date
and between the LIST and 10Th of June
twenty-five or thirty officers will arrive in
Birmingham, the home of several of them
The others of the party will stop over here
on the way to their respective homes in
Mississippi and elsewhere. General Shelly
suggests that banquet and other enter
tainment be given by Birmingham citizens
TO the returning officers, who have expe-
rienced thirteen months of active service
in the army The suggestion is such a good
and praiseworthy one that it will COM
mend itself unreservedly to the public
The officers should be given a reception i'll
every respect worthy of them and their
service to the country and worthy of Bir-
mingham, which furnished such a large
number of eager volunteers to the war
against Spain.
James NJ Weatherly has returned from
the scene of his legal victory in the great
Gafford murder trial at Greenville. He sue
ceeded in saving Gaffords neck, and will
now appeal to the supreme court in the
hope of rescuing the slayer of Francis
Barlow Lloyd from the life sentence to
which he has been condemned by the But
Ter county jury, Mr.. Weatherly has added
much to his enviable prestige as a lawyer
by securing verdict that saves Gafford
from the gallows.
81 discovered dream of little coun-
try hotel down at Wrightsville, Ca" said
]. w. Bass the popular and hard-worked
postofice inspector. 81 was never moro
surprised in my experience as traveller.
All travelling men know what the average
country hotel is in this country; and when
one of US goes to strange town we expect
the worst. 1 got off the train at Wrights-
vile station early in the afternoon, tired,
dusty and hot. The village was a half mile
away, at the end of a white sandy road.