The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-09-19
rHE ExPEcTED HAs ARRIVED

Ex-Governor Joseph F. Johnston's op- position to the new Constitution has been well assured from the day the Conven- tion met in this city last May. From a violent advocate of a suffrage upon dis tinctly intellectual lines. which he sought to have incorporated in the Democratic plantform in 1892, he has become the violent opponent of a suffrage plan. which will permit every white man in Alabama to register as a voter between the date of ratification of the Constitution and the first day of January 1903. He signed the act of the Legislature of 18sS-99 calling a Convention, and after the delegates had been nominated, finding they were not of the material which he could use for his own advantage. by methods we'll known to the people of Alabama he had the same Legislature undo its own work. Since then the people have declared for a convention its work has been submit ted to the people. and this ex-Governor now seeks to defeat its ratification. The Advertiser publishes in full what he has to say and Is not afraid of any effect his utterances may have on the people. His arguments have all been met time and again and will be fully ventilated during LIE ChuiEdtkn SOOH lO
 While he was Governor he continually sought to create the impression that the tax rate could be considerably reduced, going to the extent of saying at one time that 1t might be lowered one-third. When he went out of office however. the rate was at the Constitutional limit. The new Constitution has reduced the tax limit, but distinctly provides that the State shall have the right to use any of its revenue, special or otherwise, to meet its obligations and preserve Its credit. It's credit will be more unassaila- ble than ever If this Constitution is adopted and the Governor will have no trouble in refunding the bonded debt at a rate of interest that will annually save over one hundred thousand dollars to the tax payers. There was no fear on his part of injuring the States credit when he advocated the policy of reducing taxa tion.
 As to the common, schools they are made safe from the caprices and whims of legislatures by a provision for nearly one-half the revenue derived by the State from taxation. It is infinitely better than the present Constitutional provision which provides for only $1OOOoO and leaves it to the legislature to appropriate more if 1t sees dt.
 He weeps tears over the fate of the old Confederate soldier who cannot read and write in case the courts knock out the grandfather clause. He seems oblivious of the fact that the grand father clause does not in any matter touch the old soldiers and that their right of suffrage is absolutely secured in case of ratification. As to the descendants of old soldiers, In this day of enlisht- ment and public schools 1t is not likely that many of them will fail to qualify themselves for exercising the right of suf- fraEe.
 His interview is simply an elaboration of what the opponents of me new Con- stitution have been saying. Its friends now have in black and white what they have to meet and we have no doubt of their ability to go before the people and show how full of distortion and false pretense are the declarations of the man who it has been known all along would be the main stay of those who seek to de- feat ratification,