The age-herald., 1901-05-26
EGregoTy L Smith of Mobile Slated for Chairman of
 Judiciary Committee
PRESIDENT KNOX AT WORK
sJudge Coleman of Greene May Be the Chairman of the Purchase Com.
 nittee-Non-Partisan To
 Be Observed In Convention.

Age-Herald Bureau, Clancey's Hotel, Montgomery, May &.-(Special)-So few of the members of the Constitutional Convention have remained in Montgomery today that there is nothing to indicate that body of such extraordinary power and importance has been called to convene here. The rooms of. President Knox in his hotel. is the only place where con- vention matters are heard, and it may be stated that In the same rooms the negative of the instrument to be framed is being made
 MT Knox has given much of his time to the formation of the standing commit Ftees provided for the convention. He has undertaken to dispose of probably his most important duty with the same care and fairness that has enabled him to so triumphantly ascend to the most con- spicuous position in the State.
 The building of the standing commit tees is by no means small undertaking f1'he convention has provided for twenty three standing committees, ranging in samembership from five to twenty-five There is list of 155 delegates from which 4o work these selections and as matter of course each member will expect several committee assignments. and possibly a majority of the delegates have indicated to the committee-maker the positions for which they have a preference. Almost every member is either openly seeking or silently hoping for at least one of the more important committees, and 1t is this fact that causes the president most worry. The responsibility for the instru- p1ent to be framed is practically drawn upon the presiding officer as 1t is supposed that he shall study the special qualifica- tions of the members for the filling of the different committee positions
 "The position in which I am placed is most embarrassing President Knox stated to me today as he sat in his recep- tion room and talked of the situation ''Of course the positions of great honor are very limited, and I only too earnestly wish that there were more of them. It will be utterly impossible for me to sat- isfy all of the delegates, yet I shall fill the different committee positions as my best judgment dictates. I feel sure that when the list is read before the conven- tion Monday that the delegates will real ize my position in the matter and justly bear with me-
 Mr Knox did indicate the names of the delegates who are to get the impor- tant chairmanships. desiring to have no publicity given to them until the official announcement. The delegates who know the high character and absolute fairness of the presiding officer feel safe that the best positions are going to the men best fitted to fill them.
 Judiciary Craftsmanship.
 s.f hot At.a first chairmanship-the judiciary com 1nittee, will go to Hon. Gregory L. Smith of Mobile. Mr. Smith has already been named as the next man to the president on the rules committed, and persons versed in legislative matters understand that this honor usually carries with 1t the chairmanship first in importance. There Is no doubt as to the fitness of Mir. Smith for this responsible position, for he is generally conceded to be a law yer without peer in all the state.
 The next committee in importance-if indeed 1t be not first is the franchise committee. and popular opinion has 1t that this place will go to former Supreme Court Justice Thomas Wilkes Coleman of Greene. Judge Coleman comes from the Black Belt, the section most concerned in the franchise question, and his great learning, together with his lifelong as- sociations will qualify him for this posi- tion, as indeed he is qualified for any position in the convention These sugges- tions are in no way to be considered as inspired by President Knox.
 President Knox has already taken the game high stand with the vote of the con ventfton few days ago that the conven- ton which is to frame the fundamental law of the State should not become a par tisan political body. There are baker s dozen' of anti-Democrats in the conven- tion, and in just this ratio the president recognized them in making appointments to minor positions. There was very gen. eral surprise when 1t was learned that one of the ten pages named was the son of . Populite-Probate Judge Zell Gaston of Butler. Young Gaston inherits from the father much brightness, being one of the quickest and brightest of the bunch that have been chosen to look after the wants of delegates.
 This action on the part of President Knox has been very generally endorsed showing as it does an effort on the part of the great convention leader to unite the white men of the State in an effort to secure new constitution upon which all may agree.
 Tt Is a fact not generally known in Alabama that President Knox belongs to that class of men some times termed sself-made,'" said a Talladegian who was in Montgomery this week. "But this is a fact, and more because of this fact, the people of Talladega in which town the distinguished president of the constitu- ttonal convention was reared are wild in their enthusiasm at this act of the con- Tention.
 'T have watched John Knox grow from boyhood, and I can distinctly remember when as a lad of some twelve years that he 'toted brick in a Talladega brickyard to earn an honest dollar. From the posi- ton of brick carrier I saw him go as devil in a printing office and thence to a position. as clerk in a grocery store at a salary of $10 per month. Ills next promo ton was to clerksfiip in a hardware store and he will tell you today that 1t was one of the hardest trials of his life when he came to surrender a $40 salary fin this hardware store to read law in the office of the late Judge Hefiin.
 Knox. as everyone knows. was quick In the law for a boy without the assist