The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-04-19
CONVENTION AND
EXTRA SESSION TALK

From the Columbiana Chronicle.
No man can rise higher than HIS party.
When he tries to do it. somehow he aI-
ways falls off the perch. There are some
notable instances on record already; will
there be another?
From the Roanoke Leader.
A large majority of the democratic party
favor the holding of a constitutional con-
vention. Ana 1t is democratic that the ma
jority shall rule. A good democrat will
hesitate long before opposing his party on
SO important move as this
From the Tuscaloosa Times.
1t seems to be fact that both the popu-
lists and republicans and now and then a
little automa tieally-pumped-up, ge-there-
anyway mugwumps are coming the gov
ernors way, just now. But "the governors
way" is exactly what two-thlrds of the
people of Alabama do not like.
From the Gadsden Times-News.
The republicans and populists are solidly
for an extra session and the repeal of the
constitutional convention act. They are
anxious to help Governor Johnston make
the democracy eat its words, says the
Montgomery Advertiser. Yes, Johnston is
trailing along with the pops now.
From the Mobile Register
Two-thisds of the assembly cannot be f1s
duced to pass joint resolution submitting
a suffrage amendment to the people at the
next general election. So the issue raised
by Governor Johnston Is constitution or no
constitution, the suffrage amendment
proposition being at best a mere blind.
From the Warrior Breeze.
The great democratic party. with its true
and tried principles, will stand against all
darts. The enemy may spend many sleep
less nights In trying to formulate plans to
damage the great party, but they Will meet
with great disappointment in the knowl-
edge that they cannot accomplish theiR
purpose.
From the Gainesville Banner.
Governor Johnston's effort to have the
legislature convene in extraordinary ses-
sion and repeal the call for constitutional
convention is nothing more nor less than
an attempt to thwart the will of the DEM
ocratic party. His opposition to the con-
vention would have been more manly if lie
had vetoed the bill calling the convention.
From the Mobile Herald.
The democracy of Alabama is in no need
of a Caesar. 1t is fully able to take care Of
itself. It has before this rebuked over
weening vanity and ambition. 1t can do SO
again, and, unless we are very much mis-
taken, it will do so again at the present
juncture. Governor Johnston has made the
most serious mistake of his political career,
and it will not be long before he will rec-
ognize this fact.
From the Talladega News-Reporter.
A new constitution is necessary and 90
per cent. of the people will favor 1t if as
sured that 1t will be honestly given them.
The delegates chosen over the state for the
convention are in the main as good as can
be found and if the people will tell them
plainly what they want and will stand
firmly behind them, there Is no reason why
the new constitution should not be a safe
one.
From the Pratt City Herald.
From the tenor of the governors circular =
letter one is lead to read between the lines
that he has very little confidence in the
great mass of the common people. AS a
result of this lack of confidence he would
perforce take the matter out of their
. hands and get 1t within the limits of a
few whom he has reason to hope he might
control. He has repudiated the plain peo-
pie of Alabama. Now what will the plain
people of Alabama do for him?
From the Huntsville Mercury.
Governor Joseph F. Johnston will never
live to see the day when he can defeat tho
expressed wish of a democratic caucus.
His assault ul&n the constitutional conven-
ton is nothing more nor less than en- as
sault upon the expressed wish of tho
democracy of Alabama. That measure
was launched by a democratic Legislatures
and signed by democratic governor the
democratic nominees for the convention
were elected by democrats and were ratified
by democratic convention under regular
call of the party leaders.
From the st. Stephens News.
Since the constitutional convention has
been made party issue, and the delegates
have been selected from the several coun-
ties and districts of the state for the same,
we regret to see the governor take the step
he has in issuing circular letter to tho
members of the late general assembly, pre-
paratory to calling an extra session of the
legislature to repeal the act calling for the
same and we hope he will think better OF
it and not issue the CALL as 1t would incur
a heavy expense to the state and still not
materialize in annulling the action of that
body.
From the Dadeville Spot Cash.
Governor Johnston, by writing his notori"
GUS letter to the members Of the legislature,
asking their advice as to the necessity of
calling an extra session of that body, shows
that he is nothing if not a willy politician,
who for glory is willing to initiate tho
melted hounds of Acton, and pursue the
game, not only where there is path, but
where there is none. Stimulation and dis
stimulation are synonymous terms with him.
When he stumbles his supreme force is OK
pended in trying to make his compatriots
trip or fall. If he cannot succeed at sue
cess, his ambition is to triumph in failure.
From the Eufaula Times.
What great light has streamed in upon
the governor since the time when. he SOL
emily called for a new constitution. WHAT
meat hath he fed upon since then? Iha
Times is frank to say that suffrage quail
fcation is all he cares for in new con-