The Atlanta constitution., 1900-11-12
In Case Death Should Claim
the Governor-EIeCt, Will
liam J. Sanford
so SAY ABLE ATTORNEYS
Gordon Macdonald, of Montgomery,
Prepares far The Constitution
a Learned Opinion-Others
Differ A Knotty
Problem.

still seriously sick, it is thought he VIII
now continue onward to recovery.
Montgomery. Ma. November S.-(spe-
clal. 1.-The continued critical Illness OF
Governor-e.ect Sanford is exciting the
tenderest SYM a,L2 ot the peop.e Of Ala
bama and tho question of who would
succeed him IN case oC his death, at this
time. is naturally a matter Of very con
siderable anxiety through hout the state.
Lawyers aii4er widely as to this. Some
! able ones contend that Governor john
ston would . Va over for two years
longer. Otners .aslst that the president
of the senate. no VIII be cnosen wnen
the booy meets next week. would sue
ceed as soVeluo-
The Constant on's correspondent with
the intention Of swing the papers readers
corr ect eNpusii on OF the law and IacJs
~ the case, engaged the services OF Hon.
GOrCOn Mdcdohd.d, Of tn.s city, than
whom there Is perhaps no wiser, safer
attorney in the state, wno has prepared
/ the following opIn.On, wnlcn wall Ue oil m
Jerest at. over Alabama. ReferrIns to the
/ state or attairs mat would be qeYeiOpeU
I by Colonel SamiOrds S d-alh rs says.
40 one uuuOts 0uJ tAat tne constitu-
uol hd7 p-"N4oiu iH 9VlA1 ""S Au4 a"'" ="
COuuuA -uc!. auu tAat, hence tne trouble,
/ % dI4}, as ur!O O4t tnt uDner uI the lt+lS-a-
/ lg4e 30 lelu. US. lut question is, now are
/ tIe consutut ona! -roN.S4ons bearing Oh
/ iue nla.tcr tH uc construed. Secuon'J 81
aitele 81 Tire constitution prOy4ues -
+ follows:
.Iua governor. secretary Of state.
4 treasure. stu... auditor ANA attorney gen
I cta- -udH uu.H ..elE fespeCuNe JuIces IJi
+ t.e {. rm of tNa years tiom the tIme %
( the.r installation iu uuice. ana uuul tne.f
! successors a"e elected and QualLeu.' Sec
/ ton I3 ot tfr same article prov.Ics: Ia
I case or fht nlu1achmt M OF the governor,
u.s r,uoTa. .ram rtllcc sea .l Or r.tU-a.
F 10 c4l|tfs. .sfcutf.an. absence from the
/ sta4e or ai.er .d..aa.Itv. tne president O!
.r ...... r. .i., 49,, u,,,.er
, t..i. ..t r 49, H. IN, "a
..,t...-,,'r
~.rtn-ree tr Grst section mentioned is
! ou.lincl f4 ..ioe vay ~ rD, second
} t,.rl nam t na s,rbr .q. in c.ea
+ g'U.r. ... .t,r . rt.. mia FL. baf.,r..
r f. ts.. ...,r,.i sI..f.1 10 me .l,ea H.
~ .h. F..-. . resent, Iiye- as u.a-
tae1 II, I ~ fgs r.5p I'M.
.o.'~ .f..a would boio
KS .,.,...,r ,..t. sti.v aIa. ,,d-fh.f
at tha next general rleetfon-and quail
4 i0cd Bu H Is insisted section Is of the
+ ,tt,..,' : f ~ e,,,stif,,f{.n ,.ests i'm me
/ .tl,,t :, +4, ,l,..-,,, .,rv,cniD.. arfef.
/ ibe deaih ~ tba cove. oor-airct. rhe po,v-
/ r o,J ,,,,i',,,if,, ~ ~, ,b..r,.forisi nf
= ice
I u l.
! rb.t tI,, ...+f'.,, ,.-,,.i.4.. far tl,a rasg
~ 'n . stctl" 'prleS rISa io from me oi~a
4 Iistbilii,, IN n t-o,ernor-rot of a COVER
/ nor. .ais.2 W. e 6oes : r,erson who mas
-'e,,-04 t." -, Its raet
/ a. = .,,,i.r,,t'r n l.,..ti,,,, bac,,r,f aef ~
I * m - ~. ..,,,,..,,,e ~ AIoharn. ,
F M ,s. ~ ia s,,,.,t,,, ,,-ii H.. fotiuI
e,i,,'t.g ~ .'"@ ~ @+'ta saeti3n
~ tHg S'".u''H ~ VIZ ~, -. ~, ,.
~ ~ 'i, ,i -. 'I,' i ' - H.. .ie,-
/ OF tht o'"Iu ~ super l>.rs .'9 20 & .''e am,
i
u.."i' "nt ,o,te gor'
,.-.-i.d i, M ',,''Sr+5',r for me sneaker
I ~ ~. hons. o rcnr..eanfatives nj least
+ ~ ''i' 80, G,d or me
/ ,tu "dy uel"ie 'ns '..ir II - ,sa.,,,bi,,
30 '..'n7 ~ ~ s,i,.. dt.Ii,.srad
@ 49, nl'' ~ a.. - - H. stectfon
S,tt1., 80 - ~ ,.n1o nro,ides that n
-, a. - - : ~. .,,aok.r of tha
Si'"tt ~ ~ uuls -, ~ - 49, tbc nrsf
aDu9S 81 = ,,I, .erarat a =
/ nv u"S % ~ ,'l'.,,. of roaiorItv
7cHp'3' ~ 'ul ~ D,.i ~, yssJ,1 tl,,
ol me hciilne's gl 1'v MA rim mnJ.c
Z" open tie I''"l .ta az i ila,''| -, ~
SlctloA l.'io a ~" e. ,,6i+h s,,IJ,
resul. ~ "a, suS ''Si s'"n ~ "a - ~ ne ~
I y l'it. 3'''' ,..,,'',. - 80 st9fs subject 10
/ H. ~ l',i ~ ,ir - ',,,. ole.tor ~ ne stato
"a. l'rIaoi 'eN .'to &c - r. ...., -, n
+ 9i N"iva l"I tttic, 3 IT, q, -,
/ DE declared dLiE elected ttr. "eaS 80
7 mandatory provisions OF ihe i'W "H'. .. utt-
ul coup3rd win. thc ptia"'. lr' - ~ L - ,
4 the governor
both sections ana - OF "IllulJ = g., Ui
/ the coust tuition refer - lHc Put
I uou. Of the governor. Vhe Hlas pe ~
/ c.ared ana Iroc.allHed E'N ril'oi' -
! forth ~ section l,'i el lht CItty az,
/ may thereafter refuse - p0"'.. - y
/ reference 10 me 6"E'i4' 1,-,o" IN, mr.
! means 70 take tAe path "t ohIr- pr
/ sCrihcd by arlic.e ]" "a iht toH2ti'utl,, l,'.i
I and sections 3.tH- ana a''f OF 'hr '"o';
! The govarnor-eiect becomes me acl""i
/ governor when he Is declared ana pro-
/ claimed such in accordance " th me pro-
visions or section l.Gl Of the Coue; h5
l shall NOT ENTER upon the execution ct
tho duties ~ tho office before he takes
/ rbe r,qrfsite oath. These statutory pro-
/ VISIONS h9y.. been i'm force for many Yeas
+ fr ihis state. They throw all requisite
+ lfrNt ON The copetitutt nal provisions be-
: f,ra mentioned and ia my mind. make
/ q rlaar tbat I'm case the goVeruOr-eleCt
4 rt,,.,. hscnr1es The actual governor. by
! ,.eason of his death. the governor IN Of
! Gra ~ the time Of his death holds unit !
/ another governor is elected and qualified, >
ana fhat I'M such p case. there is no room
/ r.. tba onpratfou Of the provisions Of Sec
4 tfnp x ~ tbc article r Of tho constitution.
+ ,rh" roee n5uef bc Governed bv section )
+ - -, I'LL
"i t'' e,sd +bo ,,rovis{ons ~ seq
-NS H.s .;H .osrttonnd ,nvi,,
! unn - on ,t,I ,tt, s,,,.r,, ,ot IN a tsnt
/ nIiIl -" az ~ ~ .fte, tafnr Jeei9rad
/ I,tr ci,i,li set ror,f IN sacf}onI G51 ~
+ ~ eIlgI srof,see, =, o,,a1if,- .7iee or Is
,,,.,oacbad ar is removed from Office. etc.