The age-herald., 1899-03-07
IN HOTEL LOBBTES
 AND ELSEWHERE


 delegate to the constitutional convention
 from this county. This announcement will
 be gratifying to the democratic voters of
 Jefferson, of whom MT. Lowe IS the oftl-
 clal head. He once served the county in
 the legislature, and, though quite a young
 man, he has had wide experience. As a
 member of the bar he is notably accom- plished;a ;as man, he is possessed of distnc-
 guished ability. He Is a gifted parlia-
 mentarian. and as a debater has no equal
 now in public life in Alabama. man of
 fearless courage and wise conservatism, he
 will adorn the constitutional convention as few men could adorn 1t.
 Former Judge William Richardson of Huntsville, was in town Sunday. He came
 in late Saturday night on freight train from Decatur, 1t taking him over seven hours to make that short journey. He
 missed passenger train about one minute,
 and so obtained permission to travel by the sowmoving local freight train. Judge
 Richardson proceeded Sunday afternoon 10
 Montgomery on legal business Referring to a statement that he was a candidate for congress in the Eighth district to succeed General Wheeler, Judge Richardson ob- served that there was no vacancy in the representation of the district, and none was probable. -eneral Wheeler began on Sat- urday his new term in congress. and was likely to serve it out. He'had not yet been appointed to the regular army, and there
 was no special promise that he would be.
 He did not blame General Wheeler in the
 slightest degree. The people had reelected the general to congress while he was in actual service in the army, and they knew
 what they were doing.
 As to the forthcoming constitutional con vention, Judge Richardson declared that if he were a member the question of reform ing the judiciary would call as strongly for his earnest consideration as that of the suffrage. Possibly the latter was the para mount issue; but certainly the judiciary de- handed deep thought and wise action. The judiciary system of Alabama had not un- dergone any change since the state was ad- mitted to the union, December IA, 1S19. In some matters of procedure there was great demand for reform; and it was earnestly to be hoped that the convention would give it attention. Alabama began very much as New York had; but New York had adapted her judicial system to the needs and changed conditions of the time. There was no need of distinct courts of law and courts of equity. A judge fitted to preside over the one was certainly com potent to preside, over the other.
 Judge Richardson himself is not candi- date for the constitutional convention, and it is understood that he will not be. Only one man in Madison has formally declared himself to be candidate for delegate. The judge could be of great service to the state as member of the convention, for he is man of great ability and sound judgment
 It is recalled that the most distinguished son of Madison, Leroy Pope Walker, was president of Alabama's last constitutional convention, twentyfour years ago.
 "Amongst the four or five Age-Herald pages of the general laws passed by the recent legislature, and published by The Age Herald Sunday, was one that was very amusing" said a man in the lobby. Tt was an act to prevent horses and cattle from grazing on court house grounds, and the amusing part about 1t was the provision that this act should not apply to Morgan county. The grand old county in the Ten nessee Valley will not suffer it's horses and cattle to be denied the privilege of browsing around its proud temple of justice. Perish the thought! No such outrage shall be per- mitted. Morgan county shall be free and independent, and it's cows and its horses shall enjoy the freedom and independence of eating. grass in the grounds where wit nesses are wont to squat and eat tobacco and whittle sticks. Oh wonderful triumph of local legislation! It reminds me of an in o;d ;,1t tba Slat, A bill was under consideration, when a young member from Barbour sprung to his feet and cried out, MT. Speaker! I desire to ask if that bill applies to my county?'
 The clerk will re-read the title of the bill and the gentleman from Barbour can an- swer his own question: remarked the speaker quietly. The bill had reference to houses of ill-repute; and there was great laughter. This local legislation so-called is perfectly absurd; and it is earnestly to be desired that the convention to frame new constitution shall enact that no law shall be passed that does not apply to the entire state."
 "The farmers are now busy preparing for this years crops,'' said well known commercial traveller, ''and fortunate are those Wno nave nad the proV1- dence to produce meat and bread for themselves In a, certain i'm portant Alabama town, not a hundred miles from Birmingham, I saw last week an advancing merchant selling cot ton checks that cost cents yard to far mers on time at 121z cents. Of course, the merchants take great risks at present times and they have to put on prices. About the most prosperous country, mer- chant l know, who does an advancing business, has his store at Clanton. He opens his books, say on February |, and closes them August 1, so far as advances go. He sells to farmers at cash prices and charges them per cent. interest. Of course. he secures himself; and he is getting rich He certainly deals fairly and lib- erally."