The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-08-15
.AvEarY-FIRsT DAY:
 MONTGOMERY, ALA.


 The Fresident-The Chairman of the Convention would like to know what has become of the Committee to pro- yid, that the services of this Conven- tion shall be opened with prayer.
 MT. tWatts-A Doctor of Divinity promised to be here this morning to open with prayer, and we do not think II at it is oIr fault. sir.
 The President-The Chair regrets that on several mornings we have hac to open without prayer.
 Mr. Ashcraft-I move that Colonel Blackwell be asked to open the Con vention with prayer.
 The President-The Chair would be glad if ttc gentleman will serve.
 MT. Blackwell-I suggest that MT Ashcraft could serve.S
 MT. ReeseN suggest Mir. Craig oi Dallas.
 The Convention was opened with prayer by MT. Ashcraft as follows:
 "our gracious Heavenly Father. we pray Thee to teach us this morning that we are Thy temples. Our Father we pray Thee that we may recognize the sacred trust which is committed to us this morning, and may we not give place in these temples to the money changers and the sellers of doves. but in these hearts of ours may we cherish the truth that they are the sacred aitars on which the Shecinah must burn. Our Father, We pray Thee that we may be enlightened with Thy truth and do Thy work as patriotic citizens, recognizing our duty to the whole State. Teach us. we pray Thee, some- thing of the lesson of Hove thy neigh hnB~ a e fhxcolfb nl hnl Co s 1t is possible to guide our lives by the sacred truth. Amen.
 Upon a call of the roll. 110 delegates responded to their names.
 Leaves of absence were granted tc the following delegates: To Mir. Rey- mods tHenry) for today and tomorrow, on account of sickness; to MT. Kyle for today: to MT. Hodges, for yesterday, today and tomorrow.
 MT. Watts-I desire to state that Rev. Dr. Andrews was to have opened the Convention with prayer this morning, but his watch was slower than our clock. up there. which is fast, and that is the reason he was not here to open with prayer. He said he will be here during the rest of the week.
 The President-The Convention ap. ,reciates his kindness.
 The report of the Committee on the Journal was read, stating that the journal for the seventieth day had been examined and found correct. and the same was adopted.
 MT. White-The Committee on Order, Consistency and Harmony requests to be permitted to sit during the session of the Convention. We will he in reach of the Convention, and if necessary, to have a quorum. could be sent for.
 The President-This morning, or dur ing the morning sessions?
 MT. White-To sit during this morn ing's session.
 Permission was given to the commit tee to sit during this mornings session.
 MT. White-I wish to make a state ment with reference to the work of hard. trying to keep up with the work of the Convention. so that when the Convention has finished it's work the committee will be practically up with i:s work. thereby preventing a delay and the holding of the Convention in session to wait for our final action, and am exceedingly anxious that the articles now should be delivered to that committee as rapidly as possible. Of course. if they are kept till the end of the session 1t will necessarily delay us and thereby delay the Convention.
 MT. Long (Walker)-I desire to make a statement on a question of personal privilege. relative to the 5tenographic report that myself and the sheriffs of Alat anna may be put in a proper lighl. Some weeks ago. the distinguished gen. tleman from Tallad dega made the state ment on this floor that he was getting tired of threats CT intimations that the people of this State would not ratify the Constitution, provided certain things were contained in it. That, like smallpox. has seemed to become epidemic upon this floor and it has got so that a man cannot express an opinion for or against a measure as to It's with the people. unless he is accused of trying to create opposi- tion to the ratification of this Constitu- tion. On yesterday the distinguished gentleman from Montgomery in his opening remarks upon the question be- fore the House, used these words:
 "we are told by the gentleman from Walker if We did not !egislate accord ing to our fears rather than our con- sciences, certain of our officials would pull down our work over our heads. It is the first instance remember, MT. President, where so august an assem- ply has been met by such an argument and where the delegates of free peo- pie have been threatened. to incite fears instead of appealing to their con- science"
 All I stated was this, which is In the report. and the gentleman from Montgomery had to draw on his vivid imagination In order to put such a construction on it:
 ''It is a direct slap at every sheriff in this State and they are the men who. if they organize against this Con- will defeat it. and you know it."
 \ Now In order to place the sheriffs of this State right and myself right. want this correction made. It seems here we are so prone to initiate one another that If one gentleman came up here with a cent harp. other dele- gates in this Convention would come up here the next morning blowing a 5 cent harp.
 Mir. Jones (Montgomery)-I do not understand the gentleman from Walker. Is 1t his own remarks that he wants corrected or mine?
 Mir. Long-What is that?
 Mr. Jones-The gentleman from Mont g1merv wants to know if the gentle man from Walker desires to have my remarks corrected or his own.
 MT. I.ong-No. do not want mine cN"rN"ted. It is yours that want COZ re~.ed.
 Toe President-The gentleman from N"ntg0 0r'erv r7a" He his demurrer.
 MT. Sanford (Pike)-I desire unani- nous consent tn make a report for the