The age-herald., 1901-10-20
CONSTITUTION
 AIRED FROM TWO STUMPS Joint Debates in Sy|acauga and TaIIadega For and Against
 Its Ratification MR. BOWIE MEETS {. [. HALL
Congressman From Fourth District Delivers Strong Address at Syla- cauua-CoI. Denson Opposed
 By Joseph B. Graham.
BY BOHEMIAN c. RuLeER.

sylacauga, October 1s.-(special.) 1.-TWO dega county yesterday and the people of Sylacauga and Talladega got the benefit of a rapid fire from the big guns of the forces supporting and opposing ratifica- tion of the new constitution
 Hon. Sidney J. Bowie Congressman from the Fourth District met State Senator G. c. Hall of Jackson at Syla- cauga in the afternoon and for two hours broadsides were poured into the old and new instruments of organic law,
 The Talladega debate was held earlier in the day and a large crowd witnessed a three hours fight between Hon. w. H. Denson and Hon. Joseph B. Graham, one of the famous White Squadron" which aroused the state during the Johnston and Morgan campaign.
 On account of wreck on the Central of Georgia Railway the orators sched- uled for Sylacauga at 10 o'clock In the morning were six hours late and the greater portion of crowd or one thousand persons tired of waiting and left for their homes. At least three hundred who had come determined to henr the constitution discussed remained and iis- tened intently until the debate closed at nightfall.
 General Shelley Present.
 General Charles M. Shelley. chairman of the committee against ratification ac- companied MT. Bowie and Senator Hall, and occupied prominent seat on the temporary platform which had been erected or laid in pretty grove near an old blacksmith shop.
 Senator Hall had the opening speech of thirty-five minutes with the privilege O. replying in thirty-hve minutes to MT Bowie's speech of one hour.
 Besides stating in a general way his ob- lection to the new constitution Senator Hall was evidently little wary and kept back his thunder to answer any argument that MT Bowie might bring out He sue ceeded in carrying out his idea and gave the congressman no specifications on which to attack him.
 MT. Bowie evidenced slight disappoint- ment at not having a chance to answer the Senator from Jackson, but went into an exhaustive argument of his subject and made one of the strongest speeches of the campaign. He told no anecdotes but his earnestness evidently impressed the crowd with the seriousness of tho situation.
 In his closing speech Senator Hall at tackled the registrar system and told sev eral jokes which caused considerable laughter.
 Senator Hall First.
 J. B. Sanford introduced the sneakers and Senator Hall. in opening the debate, began by saying: MT Knox told us in birmingham just precisely what I told the Senators of Alabama in 1S99 That was that no two races had ever been known to live under one flag of civiliza- ton unless the one dominated the other.
 And l wish to be underst ood right here in saying that the friends of ratifi- cation do not represent the whole white people of Alabama. I want to say that want to do what I can to remedy the present evil that confronts us and make the white man dominant by law"
 The Senator, continuing, said the bring ing of Africans onto American soil was the main cause of the country being del uged by blood during the civil war.
 Fell Short of the Object.
 Referring to the new constitution, MT. Hall said The gentlemen who framed the constitution and are now seeking to have 1t ratified have fallen far of the ob- Jecl they originally started out with. I understand there were 110 lawyers in the convention. but, gentlemen, they framed a miserable makeshift which they have Haunted in the face of the people,"
 MT. Bowie being introduced as the gen. tieman from Calhoun. explained that he was from Talladega, and though he had moved to Anniston, he still was loyal to his native heath.
 My friends, I came here in advocacy or the new constitution and I come here with the banner of Democracy in my hands. But l also come with the propo- sition that this measure is in the ,ntersst