The age-herald., 1899-01-19
SUFFRAGE IN ALABAMA.
Talk Concerning the Prospective State
 Constitutional Convention.
From the Washington Post.

From the Washington Post
 A 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 Ala bama, were discussing the coming consti- tutional convention of that state.
 MT. Pettus, Jr., is himself a dstin- guished Alabam an, 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 con- vention?" queried one of the group. 'I will, if I am not beaten,'' replied MT. Pettus.
 The other Alabamians agreed that MT. Pettus would have no opposition, and he pleasantly remarked he was not courting any.
 That convent:on, remarked Mr. w. L.. Pitts, another visiting Alabamian, twill constitute the ablest body of men who have assembled in the state since the con- stitutional convention of 1S76' The conversation developed several inter- esting features relative to the purpose and scope of the convention, which has become theme of aosorbing interest not only to Alabamians, but to citizens of other south ern states having communities in which there is a preponderance of negro voters; for the qualification of the right of suffrage, with view of eliminating as far as possi- ble the vote of the most ignorant element, is, as in Mississippi and Louisiana, the in- spiration of the new convention for Ala bama. The convention is to meet the first ,1nxr ;t, Ia which is to take place early in July the question of convention or no convention will be submitted, and at the same time candi- dates for delegates to the convention voted for. Should the convention win, delegates receiving the highest votes in their respect i've districts will be accredited to represent them in the convention.
 The conventio is to be composed of l32 members, the same number as the general assembly, thrty-three from each or the senatorial districts and ninety-nine from the lower house districts. Both Senators Mor- gan and Pettus have been importuned to become members of the 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. Brickell, of Huntsville, than whom few state jurists' opinions in the country are
 
 is conceded, while it will be composed al- most exclusively of democrats, will be dom- mated by no faction of the party such as has been engendered by the money ques- tion Some of it's most distinguished mem- bers will be from among those who opposed free silver, which has always carried Ala bama. Besides the effort to arrive at the nearest possible solution of the negro suffrage problem, 1t is quite certain from expressions thus far made throughout the state, that the convention will reframe it's organic law as to adjust 1t to the eX- banding and progressive industrial condi- tions and possibilities of the state. More liberal provision will be made as to the taxing power, and manufacturing enter prises and the like will be encouraged by exemption from taxation for limited periods. The personnel of the convention, Judging from the agitation now going on in the state, will embrace representative men from all the chief pursuits and professions,